Colby is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from the United States. Colby is similar to Cheddar, but does not undergo the cheddaring process. Considered a semi-hard cheese, Colby is softer, moister, and milder than cheddar because it is produced through a washed-curd process. During this process, the whey is replaced with water during the cooking time, reducing the curd’s acidity, and resulting in Colby’s characteristically mild flavor. Monterey Jack cheese is produced almost identically to Colby, but Colby is seasoned with annatto which gives it a sweet nutty flavor and its orange color.

Credits: Wikipedia