Abstract:Gouda cheese originates from Netherlands and has a long history.The excellent flavor and unique appearance make Gouda cheese popular among the public.The market of Gouda cheese in China is vast with great development potential.This article summarized the flavor，appearance，and texture characteristics of Gouda cheese.Characteristic flavor compounds such as ketones，acids，aldehydes，and esters in Gouda cheese were listed and the formation mechanisms of the compounds were illustrated.The factors affecting the flavor formation of Gouda cheese were sorted out，including raw milk，nitrate，calcium chloride（CaCl2），fermentation agent，auxiliary fermentation agent，coating，and ripening process.Finally，the future research direction of Gouda cheese was prospected based on the current status of cheese consumption in China.This article hopes to provide a reference for the development of Gouda cheese that suits Chinese tastes and the expansion of the domestic market for Gouda cheese.