Nagelkaas, also called Frisian Clove cheese,[1] is an unprotected name variant of kanterkaas, a Dutch cheese developed in the Friesland region of the Netherlands.
It is a firm-textured gouda-style cheese made from skim pasteurized cow's milk.
Its 23% butterfat content results in a mild flavor, which is augmented with the addition of cloves and cumin for a pronounced spicy taste.
Its name comes from the Dutch word for clove, kruidnagel (literally 'spice nail', from the cloves's nail-like shape).
It is locally known as "nail cheese" or, in Dutch, Nagelkaas.