Fabulous Cheddar Cheese Tastes Like Nothing Else With The Best Dishes And Wines

No one who has tasted cheese goes without enjoying cheddar. This very popular cheese variety is used in so many dishes and is known for its particular sharp taste. It is the U.K’s most widely produced cheese variety and finds its origin in the 12^th century. Cheddar cheese is made through a process called ‘Cheddaring’, which is unique to this variety. Here curds in a warm temperature are kneaded with salt, drained and then cut into slabs, which are turned, stacked and then restacked. The fermentation of the cheese is done with plant based enzymes and also through animal rennet. The method used to make this cheese gives it a distinct taste.

Why Is Cheddar Cheese So Special And How Does It Taste?

Cheddar cheese is made in the English village of Cheddar and for many centuries this was the only place from which you could get this variety of cheese. Its earliest production was in the 12^th century and it was the favorite of royalty. Now, it is produced by many countries across the world.  English cheddar cheese is known for its smooth and firm texture, which is unlike what is seen in cheddar cheeses from other parts of the world. It is made from pasteurized cow’s milk and is matured for a period nine months before it is sold.

The color of this cheese ranges from white to orange, with the orange varieties being dyed with a natural dye called annatto. The taste varies from mild to sharp, with aged ones having a very dry and sharp taste. As the cheese ages, it becomes very dry and crumbles easily. Cheddar cheese that is 12 months or a year old is very sharp in its taste and one that is 18 months is more so. The optimal ageing period for cheddar cheese is five to six years, but mostly what you seeing the market is ones that have been matured for a period of three years.

Cheddar Cheese Forms That You Should Know About

There are many forms of cheddar cheese, which gives you so many different ways to enjoy this fabulous cheese variety. Here is look at what they are:

·         Fresh and un-pressed form in which unripe curds are used to made the cheese. These are best for snacking and serving with hors d’oeuvrs

·         Mild cheddar, which is a soft variety with a mild flavor, ripened for three months.

·         Medium Cheddar cheese, ripened for nine months and has a firm texture and has hazelnut taste

·         Old cheddar cheese which has been ripened for three years and has a very dry and granular texture, taste is very sharp.

·         Extra old cheddar has been ripened for almost ten years and has a very strong and pronounced flavor.

Cheddar cheese is a very unique cheese variety and one that you will really enjoy with dishes that it is especially meant for it, which can range from chicken to biscuits. When buying, look specifically for smoke-flavored cheddar or cheddar that is blended with herbs, spices or fruits as you will find them to have a very lovely taste and can match it with the choices of wines.