Best English Semi-hard Cheese Types
This is not your regular Cheddar made across the world, but a unique one because of its maturity, distinctive full flavor, the source of milk and special methods of handmade production within the four Counties of Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
It needs to mature for at least 9 months before it is sold, either in cylindrical shape or in blocks of variable sizes. Its flavor can be described as full, sharp and nutty, and it is firm and creamy yellow on the inside, with a crumbly texture. West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is best paired with grapes, pears, apples, figs, celery or ripe tomatoes.
Applewood is an English cheese originating from Ilchester in Somerset, where it was first produced in 1965. Made from cow's milk, this cheddar cheese has a semi-hard, dense texture and a natural rind. It is also known as Applewood Smoked Cheddar – however, it is not smoked, but artificially flavored with smoke and dusted with paprika, giving it a golden-amber visual appearance on the exterior.
Its flavor is spicy and smoky. It is recommended to grate Applewood over pasta and baked potatoes, but it can also be served with raisins and apples for those with a sweet tooth.
Devon Blue is a semi-hard artisan cheese made from raw milk of Ayrshire cows. It is produced by Ben Harris and Robin Condgen of Ticklemore Cheese. In order for the blue mold to develop, Devon Blue needs to mature for 6 to 8 months.
The cheese has a dense, crumbly, and firm texture; the aromas are earthy, while the flavor is spicy, smooth, and buttery. It is recommended to pair Devon Blue with a glass of cider.
Derby is an English cheese hailing from Derbyshire. This semi-hard cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. It has a waxed rind that hides a creamy, smooth, firm, and open texture of the interior. The aroma is mild and the flavors are sweet, mild, and buttery.
Derby melts exceptionally well and it has been produced since the 16th century, making it one of England's oldest and most popular cheeses – there are also versions with port wine or sage. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc.
Pair with
VARIATIONS OF Derby
Cornish Yarg is an English cheese hailing from Cornwall. This semi-hard cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. It's wrapped in nettle leaves and matures for 5 weeks. The nettles give the cheese a latticed imprint, attract natural molds, and impart a mushroomy note to the cheese as it ages.
Underneath the nettle-wrapped rind, the texture is creamy and crumbly. The aromas are grassy and mushroomy, while the flavors are lemony and mushroomy. The cheese was first produced on Bodmin Moor by Alan Gray, who produced Cornish Yarg according to a 17th-century recipe found in his attic.
Cotswold is a variation of Double Gloucester, originating from Gloucestershire County. The cheese is made with cow's milk, and it's enriched with onions and chives. The color of this cheese varies from golden yellow to orange, and its texture is firm, dense, and crumbly.
Cotswold's flavor is sweet, buttery, and tangy, while onions and chives provide it with an extra layer of flavor. Cotswold is also known as pub cheese in England, so it is recommended to pair it with a cold beer on the side.
Pair with
Sage Derby is one of England's oldest cheeses, produced in the region of Derbyshire. The cheese is made with cow's milk, and it's characterized by its unusual marbled visual appearance, a result of infusion with sage, which also gives the cheese a subtle herbaceous flavor.
However, spinach, marigold, and parsley can also be used instead of sage, but the practice is not that common. Sage Derby is aged for 1 to 3 months, and due to its good melting properties, it pairs with vegetables, fresh fruit, rye bread, and poultry.
THE BEST Sage Derby Cheeses
Keltic Gold is a traditional semi-hard cheese produced in North Cornwall. The cheese is made from pasteurized Cornish cow's milk and has an edible washed rind that's dipped in local cider during the production. Due to the cider, the aromas are fruity and pungent with distinctive apple overtones.
The texture is smooth and creamy, while the flavors are fruity, rounded, and sweet, reminiscent of French Alpine cheeses. Keltic Gold melts exceptionally well, and it's recommended to melt it into a fondue sauce, with an added sprinkle of nutmeg.
Named after its producer, James Montgomery, this cheddar cheese is made from raw cow's milk from Montgomery's own Friesian cows. Most of these cheeses are matured for 12 months in muslin cloths, while the extra mature varieties are aged for 18 months.
When mature, the cheese has rich and nutty flavors, while the extra mature version is nuttier and spicier, with peppery notes. Underneath its natural rind, Montgomery's Cheddar has a crumbly and grainy texture that melts in the mouth, and it is recommended to eat it on its own, on a cheeseboard, or grate it and use it in a variety of dishes such as shepherd's pie.
Pair with
THE BEST Montgomery's Cheddar Cheeses
Malvern is a traditional cheese made in the Severn Valley. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk. It has a texture that's semi-hard and dry, yet creamy and dense on the palate. The flavors are sweet, herbaceous, and reminiscent of butterscotch, with hints of thyme.
Malvern is aged from 2 to 4 months and has a high-fat content of 50%. It's recommended to grill it or grate it over pasta dishes and various salads. Interestingly, at the 1997 British Cheese Awards, this cheese won a silver medal.
Best English Semi-hard Cheese Producers
Neal's Yard Dairy is a renowned British cheese shop and maturing facility dedicated to showcasing and nurturing the best of British and Irish cheeses. Established in 1979, the company is celebrated for its commitment to quality, working closely with small-scale producers to select, mature, and sell exceptional cheeses.
Their focus is on traditional, raw milk cheeses, which are aged in their own maturing rooms to ensure the best flavor development. Neal's Yard Dairy is not only passionate about curating a diverse range of artisanal cheeses but also about preserving and promoting the craftsmanship of British cheesemakers.
BEST Neal's Yard Dairy Cheeses
Belton Farm is a British cheese producer. The farm has been producing cheese since the 1920s, leveraging traditional methods to craft its products. They specialize in making British territorial cheeses, including Cheshire, Red Leicester, and Double Gloucester.
Belton Farm has won numerous awards for their cheeses, indicating a high standard of quality in their production processes.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
BEST Belton Farm Cheeses
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
BEST Bradburys Cheese Cheeses
Best English Semi-hard Cheeses
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
Montgomery's Cheddar is a distinguished British cheddar made using traditional techniques at Manor Farm in North Cadbury, Somerset. Aged for 24 months, it develops rich, brothy, and savoury flavors with a dry, almost crystalline texture that melts in the mouth.
The cheese is made with raw cow’s milk and clothbound with lard, which contributes to its characteristic texture and depth of flavor. The cheddaring process, where curds are hand-cut, stacked, and turned to drain whey, is a meticulous, time-consuming method still used by Montgomery's.
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
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