22 April 2009Britains Love Cheddar Cheese

Here in the UK we love our cheese. There are over 700 varieties to choose from. However, the favourite by far is Cheddar. In fact over 50% of all the cheese consumed is Cheddar. Its popularity doesn’t end at our shores. There are variations as far away as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

 

 

First produced in Somerset, probably in the 16^th century. The original Cheddar was matured in the cool dark caves of Cheddar Gorge and crafted thirty miles away in the city of Wells.

 

Cheddar is a fairly hard cheese ranging from white to reddy-orange in colour, its flavour also has a great variation; from mild and creamy, to sharp and tangy. This span of flavours is one of the reasons for the popularity of Cheddar, it means that for anyone who likes cheese there will be Cheddar that they will enjoy.

 

 

A lot of the huge flavour variation is down to the individuality of every cheese maker, as he or she will have his or her own recipe. Not only this, but the age of the cheese will also affect the final outcome. And this can vary from three months old for a mild Cheddar to two years or more for some of the extra mature brands.

 

 

The range of flavour is matched by its versatility in day-to-day use. Cheddar is great for everything from simple sandwiches to being used in cooked main meals, not forgetting the classic cheese-board at the end of a good dinner. In fact cheese is one of the few foods that can be used in all three courses of a meal!!

 

 

Dairy Crest’s Cheddars are made at the famous Davidstow site in Cornwall where Cathedral City variants are produced. Our cheeses have won numerous awards at cheese shows, including the Supreme Champion at Nantwich (reputedly the largest cheese show in the world). Cathedral City is the UK’s number 1 mature brand. The site also produces Davidstow’s own well-known recipe – “Davidstow” mature or extra mature.