# Tell me about English cheeses **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338 "2008-12-16T02:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/21 "2008-12-17T00:01:09Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I am kind of baffled how the OP, a self confessed _Vegemite_ eater, appears to have never tried Australian cheese, which is just about the best on earth (well Jindi alone have 3 best in the world awards). Lack of availability, frankly. I can find vegemite if I look for it, but not so Australian cheese. Send me some? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/22 "2008-12-17T00:02:17Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > SDMB pedant rebuttal: > > **esĀ·say** > _tr.v._ > > 1. To make an attempt at; try. > 2. To subject to a test. Heh. SDMB pedant always trumps SDMB nerd! šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/23 "2008-12-17T00:03:25Z")
Thanks all, lots of new cheeses to put on my list now. Especially stinking bishop! ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/24 "2008-12-17T00:35:12Z")
QtM - Trader Joes does some good NZ cheddar. Sharp enough to lift the roof of your mouth off. Match it up with crusty bread and a good chutney or better yet with Branston Pickle ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/25 "2008-12-17T14:10:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I look forward to trying a truly sharp english Cheddar. Most american cheddars are junk. But Iā€™ll match my local cheese factoryā€™s ultra-aged cheddars against any other, and expect it to be at least a contender. They once gifted me with an 11 year old 5 pound wheel of their cheddar; Iā€™ve had nothing like it since, and I regularly consume 5-7 year old cheddars. I should point out that the best cheddar I ever had was from Vermont - Sugar Bush Farm 5-year matured. Astonishingly good. > [@](#): > > I do thank you for your input, especially as regards chutney. We go thru a lot a chutney in our house, but mostly with indian food; Iā€™ll have to start adding it to my cheese snacks. Different kind of chutney from the Indian variety. I mean [traditional English fruit chutney](http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,english_chutney,FF.html) or [Branston pickle](http://www.britishdelights.com/branston.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/26 "2008-12-17T16:58:46Z")
Six pages of [English cheeses](http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/shoppe.aspx?cat=Cheese+By+Country&subcat=England). This is one of the best online sources for exotic cheese. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/27 "2008-12-17T18:33:03Z")
Iā€™ve always thought that English cheeses are the best in the world. I live in Somerset, which is the home of Cheddar. There is always a large selection of local cheeses at our weekly farmersā€™ market. One of my favourites at the moment is a cheddar from Cornwall which is very strong and crunchy (crunchy because it contains lactate crystals). Itā€™s matured for two years and has a sharp, strong taste. The range of English cheeses is huge: from cows, goats and sheep, from blue to white, from runny (Somerset brie for example) to hard. One of the joys of travelling around the country is sampling the local cheeses. Upthread it has been mentioned that cheeses like Wensleydale and Caerphilly are bland and boring. Good ones should be delicate and subtle. Others - like the Cornish Cruncher - are ferocious with a massive taste. Itā€™s a bit like wine: you get delicate Pinot Noirs and huge Shirazs; if theyā€™re well made, the nuances of taste will show through in both cases. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/28 "2008-12-17T18:34:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Six pages of [English cheeses](http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/shoppe.aspx?cat=Cheese+By+Country&subcat=England). This is one of the best online sources for exotic cheese. I love the way you equate English with exotic. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/29 "2008-12-17T18:36:03Z")
Cheeses are just all right with me, Cheeses are just all right, Moliere! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/30 "2008-12-17T18:37:40Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I should point out that the best cheddar I ever had was from Vermont - Sugar Bush Farm 5-year matured. Astonishingly good.Different kind of chutney from the Indian variety. I mean [traditional English fruit chutney](http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,english_chutney,FF.html) or [Branston pickle](http://www.britishdelights.com/branston.asp). I have a big jar of Branston pickle, it goes great with a mature cheddar (I know, boring!). I havenā€™t tried Pickalilly, does it go well with cheeses? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/31 "2008-12-17T20:22:36Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > I love the way you equate English with exotic. šŸ™‚ For many Americans, as Iā€™m sure you know, the height of exotic is swiss cheese. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/32 "2008-12-17T20:33:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > For many Americans, as Iā€™m sure you know, the height of exotic is swiss cheese. Iā€™ve never understood why American cheese is so disappointing. (My daughter has just said itā€™s because you donā€™t have proper cows. šŸ˜•) Iā€™ve travelled across a lot of the US, and Iā€™ve never thought that cheese is a major priority for Americans. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/33 "2008-12-17T21:21:31Z")
This is my new favorite: > **[List of British cheeses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_cheese)** > > This is a list of cheeses from the United Kingdom. The British Cheese Board (now part of Dairy UK) states that "there are over 700 named British cheeses produced in the UK."\[betterĀ sourceĀ needed\] British cheese has become an important export. > Blue cheese is a general classification of cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk cheeses that have had cultures of the mould Penicillium added so that the final product is spotted or veined throughout with blue, blue-grey or blue-green mould, and carr... Iā€™ve only ever seen it onceā€“at a new UK-based grocery store called Fresh and Easy. We just got an outlet here and they have a good selection of English and Irish cheese. I picked up the Huntsman on a whim and it was just incredible. They havenā€™t had any since when Iā€™ve been there, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/34 "2008-12-17T22:30:56Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > Iā€™ve never understood why American cheese is so disappointing. As with most parts of the world, it depends on where you shop. Grocery stores here in Canada, for instance, usually have the ā€œgenericā€ cheeses in the dairy section, but keep the better/more unusual cheeses in the deli section. There is an exceptional mass-market cheddar cheese here (available even in discount grocery stores) called Baldersonā€™s, thatā€™s better than anything Iā€™ve found in a British supermarket\*. There are truly divine cheeses made in the US, as well, especially the north/north-eastern states. As an [ex-]Brit, it pains me to say that the UK has no monopoly on great cheese. - Which is meant only to indicate that _Iā€™ve_ never had better, not that better isnā€™t to be found in British grocery stores! ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/35 "2008-12-17T23:13:00Z")
Iā€™ve travelled a lot and had excellent cheeses in many countries. Iā€™ve decided that that good cheese, made properly and bought within a few miles of where it was made is a far, **far** superior beast to the same cheese, shipped halfway across the world. Or in some cases, even if itā€™s sent by road fifty miles away. Cheese doesnā€™t travel. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/36 "2008-12-17T23:16:22Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > Iā€™ve never understood why American cheese is so disappointing. (My daughter has just said itā€™s because you donā€™t have proper cows. šŸ˜•) Iā€™ve travelled across a lot of the US, and Iā€™ve never thought that cheese is a major priority for Americans. There are small U.S. dairies that produce good cheese. The same site I linked to above lists eight pages of American cheeses. Itā€™s just that a lot of people here have simple tastes and prefer not to be adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/37 "2008-12-18T12:02:07Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I havenā€™t tried Pickalilly, does it go well with cheeses? Itā€™s pretty overpowering and would drown out all but the strongest cheese taste (better with ham IMO), but in Cyprus they do make really nice toasted paninis with grilled halloumi and picallili. Nom nom nom. ::drools:: ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/38 "2008-12-18T12:29:50Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Lack of availability, frankly. I can find vegemite if I look for it, but not so Australian cheese. Send me some? šŸ˜‰ Gladly if I can work out how to ship it. I notice that the results of the [2008 World Cheese Championships](http://www.wischeesemakersassn.org/wccc/2008/past-results.php) indicate that I may have been a little partisan. This is the largest cheese competition on earth and most winners are American or Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/39 "2008-12-18T12:36:31Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I should point out that the best cheddar I ever had was from Vermont - Sugar Bush Farm 5-year matured. Astonishingly good.Different kind of chutney from the Indian variety. I mean [traditional English fruit chutney](http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,english_chutney,FF.html) or [Branston pickle](http://www.britishdelights.com/branston.asp). Cranberry chutney! I just made a batch from a [Domus Cafe](http://www.domuscafe.ca/) recipe where the chef makes the most awesome chutnies and jams. Now I just have to get some Wensleydale to go with itā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338/40 "2008-12-18T12:43:53Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I notice that the results of the [2008 World Cheese Championships](http://www.wischeesemakersassn.org/wccc/2008/past-results.php) indicate that I may have been a little partisan. This is the largest cheese competition on earth and most winners are American or Canadian. Iā€™m amazed at this. Either there has been a huge amount of bias, or the USA has been very remiss in spreading the word about the quality of their cheeses. I would be interested in knowing what the proportion of USA to the rest of the worldā€™s cheeses submitted was. Or if there has been a world cheese championship held outside of Wisconsin, and what those results are. Donā€™t get me wrong. American cheeses may be the greatest in the world. Itā€™s just its reputation is more as purveyors of Monterey Jack than high quality cheeses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-english-cheeses/477338.md?page=3)