Goot Essa Cheese Giveaway (Plus: A Closer Look at Cheese Caves)
We’re doing a cheese basket giveaway for Goot Essa. You can enter to win simply by leaving a comment on this post. I’ll post the winner here Friday.
The assortment that owner John Esh and co. are giving away is called “Amish Tastes” (see below):
From the description:
This medium-bodied cheese trio features a palate-pleasing array of flavors. From our buttery Old German Weissa Kase to our rich and smoky Mountain Home Woodsmoked Cheddar and the savory-sweet Mountain Valley Sharp Cheddar, there’s something for everyone.
It includes the following, and serves 3-4:
Cheeses:
- 4 oz. Old German Weissa Cheese
- 4 oz. Mountain Home Woodsmoked Cheddar Cheese
- 4 oz. Mountain Valley Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Condiments:
- 1.5 oz. Autumn Dawn Apple Butter
- 1.5 oz. Reuben’s Stone Ground Mustard
- 1.5 oz. Sweet & Spicy Dipping Mustard
To enter for a chance to win, just leave a comment on this post. I’ll draw a random winner and announce it this Friday, so be sure to check back.
You can also subscribe in the box at the bottom of this post (free) to make sure you’re notified through our email newsletter.
John Esh on Cheese Caves & Running A Family Business
I put together a video with some excerpts from my extended conversation with John Esh.
John explains cheese caves, different types of cheeses, and the family aspect of his business – something that always seems to be important in Amish businesses.
Check out the video or read the full transcript below. You’ll also see some photos below of the cheese caves from my visit to Goot Essa.
John & Erik Talk Cheese
John Esh of Goot Essa: …So he kept asking me there in the nineties, John, how do you plan to keep your family on the farm? Because I know that you cannot compete on the same scale as a herd that’s 3,000 cows with your 70 cows.
Well, we knew we had a quality product – milk. We came up with the idea – Let’s let’s get some cheese made.
We started selling our cheeses to restaurants, to some cheese shops. And the restaurants, they were looking for some more European-style cheeses, the cheeses with a natural rind.
So we’re talking cheeses like manchego, pecorino, camembert, blue cheese, Gruyere style, the European style, in addition to the cheddars, the flavored cheddars, those types of cheeses. So that’s where we’ve now come, where we have 19 cheeses that we produce.
Cheese Caves
Erik Wesner: What is a cheese cave? What’s that for? Why is that important?
John: Basically, what we have is three different rooms in the side of a hill here close to the mountain, and we encased it in concrete. And the reason for the cave environment is the humidity needs to be about 90%. For the natural rind, the cheese rests on wooden boards.
John: The room is, like, 14 feet wide, 52 feet long is the largest room. The soft cheeses, we have in a much smaller room.
But, again, the the reason for the cave is the high humidity and the cool environment. About 52 degrees, 85% humidity, and that’s where the cheeses will rest on the wooden shelves and develop a natural rind.
After the cheese is brined, we’ll put them on the shelf, and that creates a, like, a hard skin around the outside, and that that will then become a natural rind, which protects the interior of the cheese.
John: And the reason the humidity is so critical is if it gets too dry in the cave, the rind will crack and allow unwanted molds to get inside there.
And the only cheese we want to have be moldy on the inside is the blue cheese. And that one, we probe to allow the oxygen to get inside there. And then it’s also in a separate room. That’s in a separate cave. So that’s one of the three caves.
Erik: So you’ve got to keep it pretty precise there, it sounds like. Someone keeps an eye on that, I guess.
John: Very precise. Yes. In fact, that’s Jacob’s job. He does a really good job with monitoring that humidity and the temperatures in there.
The Milk
Erik: Where does the milk come from, and what kind of milk do you guys use? It’s not all cow milk, is it?
John: That is correct. The cow milk comes from our herd here on the farm. The sheep milk comes from our daughter Sadie and her husband Sam. And then the goat milk comes from another Amish farm family, Henry and Ruta Wengerd.
It really is our mission, is to keep families on the farm. We do what we can to create a market for these farm families.
Family
Erik: And you’re also working with, at least one family member, with your daughter?
John: That is correct. And then our son John is quite involved in the business as well, including quality control and shipping. Our son Jacob is involved in order fulfillment, and then my wife, Anna Mary, makes the fudge, the apple butter.
My niece, Linda, makes the jellies. Then we also have several other children who have been involved, particularly seasonally.
Erik: Sounds like it’s pretty useful to have a big family then.
John: [laughing] Well, there are some advantages. That is correct. And we’ve been blessed. We’ve been really blessed with some really nice children.
Favorite Cheeses
John: The most popular one really is the Mountain Valley Sharp Cheddar. That’s our aged cheddar that we age for three and a half years.
Erik: I had it. I think yeah. Tasty.
John: That’s years. Three and a half years. That’s a that’s a long time. Yes. It is. And it’s you know, there’s a lot of challenges with trying to guess what you’ll need three and a half years down the road.
John: In the gift baskets, a very popular gift cheese is the Old German Weissa Kase. That means “old German white cheese”, and that’s a very popular gift cheese. It’s a nice, creamy – has a creamy mouthfeel, a bit of a tang. It’s not intimidating, and it’s not super assertive.
We do have some that are pretty intense, but the people who buy those perhaps have tasted them before, are familiar with the style and know what they’re getting.
We’re not McDonald’s in any way. This is a handmade artisanal product, so you have some variation batch to batch. But we work hard to make sure that the variation isn’t too great, because the American palate really expects that one experience will be very similar to the next.
John: About 15 years ago, we started putting these in gift assortments. So in addition to making these cheeses and selling, to restaurants and wineries, we now also do gift baskets that we ship nationwide.
We have quite a group of people who have learned to appreciate the value in having some really good cheese along with the condiments packed together in a in a gift assortment.
But here at the shop, we do quite a bit of tastings as well, where people come and they taste the samples and then make their selections, for whatever gifts they want.
But online, we also have a lot of descriptors. So the people who choose to buy online, they can they can see the descriptors quite easily of what to expect from this cheese.
Browse Goot Essa cheese assortments here.
Update: Find the Goot Essa contest winner & more here
For more, see:
Goot Essa Cheese
Great article. We are fortunate that we are only one hour away from Holmes County Ohio. Holmes County has a very large Amish population and multiple cheesemakers. We have a Mennonite market locally and all of their cheeses come from Holmes County.
Thanks!
Thank you, Erik, for all you do. I love reading your articles, and I would love to win some Goot Essa cheese!
Thank you Lisa, glad you are here!
My happy place
Holmes County Ohio is where my mom and I go at least monthly to find happiness and center ourselves.
Great article
the cheeses sound great wish I had some. Hope I can win some. would love to visit the operation.
Tennessee Amish Cheese Lover
My wife and I traveled to Amish country in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and always love the Amish made cheeses. That’s one of our special treats. They always have a great taste, Yum Yum. Ready for another visit to Amish country and chow down on their cheeses.
Cheese
Love Amish cheeses. And your emails are always so interesting.
Merry Christmas.
Alright, I admit it, this is a cheesy comment.
😀 😀
Amish Cheese
Clean and wholesome way of life based on our Savior. Thanks you Lord for the gift of the Anabaptists.
Cheese
Cheese caves-who knew? and 3 types of milk used-very interesting!
Would love to have a taste!
Thanks!
I love the Amish cheese. I wish I could afford more of it but I can’t. We had the Amish to build our barn & it was perfect. Then my neighbors had an Amish crew to come in & finish what someone else could not do. Thank you
Cheese sampler
My heavens it sounds scrumptious!
I haven’t met a disappointing cheese yet, and these are oooh so tempting me!
Cheese Giveaway
Very interesting article about the making of Amish cheese. Looks like an interesting collection of cheese and condiments.
Wow! Sounds really good!
Cheese basket give away
I would love to win the cheese basket giveaway
Mmmmm!
Great video Erik! Because of that GOOT Essa cheese, watching a little over 6 min video was extremely easy to do. The three room cave was very interesting. What another great lesson!
Glad you liked it Jacob, the on-site “cheese research” was a lot of fun!
I enjoy your articles and videos. We always visit Holmes County Ohio and Lancaster, Pennsylvania at least once a year. I would love to visit some of the other communities
you talk about.
Thanks Lori, love those places too. I recommend trying to visit a smaller community if you have a chance, different but can be a really nice experience too.
Cheese lover.
I remember when I was younger going to Amish country in Pennsylvania and going to a place where they made cheese. It was very interesting to see how they made the cheese and the ones which were put away to age. Always a tasty part of the trip.
I joined your newsletter because I love hearing about the Amish. I love going to Lancaster. I actually hired an Amish farmer one year to make furniture for me. He did a great job. I love everything they make. Visiting the bakeries and the cheese factory was always a highlight of visiting. They make beautiful quilts.
Cheese giveaway
Hi Erik , I would love to enter this giveaway.
Have a blessed Christmas
You too, Urica. You’re in! Will draw the winner tomorrow
It looks great, thanks for the chance
Yum!
Reading this and seeing the photos makes my mouth water!
Thank you
Thank you for all of the great articles that we get to read. I love learning about the Amish life, and would absolutely love to win the cheese giveaway. Best of luck to everyone!
Cheese Contest
I always enjoy reading your posts I learn so much about the Amish from reading them. I have enjoyed them for years. I enjoy trying different kinds of cheese. I always have cheese and crackers for a snack.
Thank you Susan, thanks for sticking around over the years.
Good Essa Cheese
I would love some cheese. I really enjoy this site. It is very informative. Thank you
Roxie S
Thank you Roxann!
Cheese
It’s very interesting how you make your cheese. I enjoy watching and listening to John and Erik talking about how Erik makes their cheese. And how the whole family gets involve in the business. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Kathy, I’ve really enjoyed learning from John myself.
I would love to win some Goot Essa cheese and products!! Love the Amish and respect them so much!! Cheese is my go-to snack for myself and to serve company.
Food of Life
Cheese is the food of life!
free cheese
never tried the German one hope i win
Lyoder2919@yahoo.com
I ordered a box to send to a friend for his birthday. He is a big cheese lover. He loved it
Awesome!
Yum!
I love that the owner John Esh is helping to keep his family, neighbors, and other farmers in business while making some really good cheeses. Cheddar cheese is always a favorite among my family and friends.
Love Amish
I Love Everything made by the Amish. The beautiful Quilts, preserves, cheeses, and of course the homemade furniture.
Cheese giveaway
I had just been thinking about this cheese yesterday and thinking I’d order some for Christmas presents.
It’s fascinating to read about all the work that goes into producing this cheese.
I’d love to win and share it with family and guests this holiday season.
I Like Cheese and I Like Caves
Thanks for this story, Erik. Fascinating process and I’m glad they can make a go of it.
Bradford
Absolutely!
Cheese!
Cheese is one of my great weaknesses in life. We have a local goat cheese maker that is addictive. Can’t make a good cheesesteak without a pound of mozzarella!
Used to get the bacon cheddar from Rise n Roll in Middlebury! Just so… ugh good!!!!!!
Cheese Caves
These cheese caves are so interesting. I would love to visit one. The cheese process — fascinating…
Foot Essa
We visit the cheese shop yearly when we go to The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle Stare Park! It is an amazing place. Everyone is so kind and so informative. The cheese tasting is over the top delicious!
Cool!
What an informative article!! We’ll have to check out Goot Essa next time we’re in the area.
Great Gift Idea
I purchased this exact gift package this year for my parents and I would love to win one for myself as it looks SO good. Shipping was fast and they did a good job keeping me updated via email and it is nicely packaged as well.
Awesome to hear that Michelle.
Goot Essa
The cheeses sound delicious, and I’d love the chance to try them. Thanks!
rhonda_19567@yahoo.com
I hope I win.
Merry Christmas to you and yours
Thank you!
Hello Erik and all,
We are two brothers living with our mother in California. Our father passed away recently. He lived a life that reminded me of the Amish: faith, beard, farming background, and all. He wanted us to be happy and work through the gifts that God has given us already, and to not try to force ourselves to conform to the world.
This is to say that we appreciate your website.
Cheese and Thanks
As a Wisconsinite, I do love cheese! But I also love your posts and look forward to reading each one. I really appreciate that you transcribe your videos so I can read the material rather than watch the video. Thanks for all you do to keep us informed!
cheese?
I am getting to the point where Amish cheese is all I seek. It’s a bit out of the way to travel to an Amish store in my area, but we do it about twice a month. Love Amish cheese!
Cheese Basket by Goot Essa
Sounds wonderful. Another informative article from Erik.
Interesting about the caves. Also what different venues Amish are doing as the family self supportive farm is continuously more difficult to sustain as it is for ‘Englischers’.
Being in central MN we do have an Amish presence. Unfortunately not real close by but close enough to vist the Store /Bakery. We were also blessed to have an Amish family put a metal roof on for us. Have been able to have some meaningful interactions.
And thank you Erik for the articles available thru Amish America. It has been helpful to understand the culture better and also clear up many misconceptions people have.
Enjoy checking out your newest stories. Thanks.
Love the Goot Essa sheep milk cheeses!
Have sent their cheeses to friends in the past and they really loved them. As shepherds ourselves, we really appreciate being able to find sheep’s milk cheeses to share.
Laura Dunn
Toad Hollow Cheviots
Tennessee
Interesting article
I really enjoyed the article. I’ve never understood the cheese making process, but now I’m interested in learning more!
Fascinating article!
I learned a lot about cheese reading the article. I love cheese and have a little just about every day.
free cheese
need this
Love local made cheeses
Who won the cheese?
I must have missed it, but who won the Goot Essa cheese?
Hi Eddie I just posted it yesterday here – congrats to Nancy! https://amishamerica.com/goot-essa-cheese-winner-10-favorite-pairings/
Giveaway
Im fascinated by this cheese cave and having a long hertige of Amish blood it would be great to try some fresh Amish cheese.