Best West Midlands Cow's Milk Cheese Types
Double Worcester is an English cheese hailing from Worcester, where it's produced as a smaller version of Double Gloucester. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and annatto. It's typically aged from 5 to 7 months. Underneath its hard natural rind, the texture is flaky and firm.
The flavors are nutty, robust, complex, citrusy, tangy, and slightly sharp. In 2001, Double Worcester won a silver medal at the British Cheese Awards.
Staffordshire is a cylindrical, hard or semi hard cheese made from Staffordshire cows' milk with a smooth and crumbly texture. Its taste is creamy and fresh with a hint of citrus, and the cheese itself is pale cream in color. When sold, it must be cloth-bound.
The young cheese is left to ripen for two to four weeks, but it can be left to mature for up to twelve months. Its unique flavor and texture come from the specific Staffordshire pastures and warm, wet climate in the region.
St Oswald is an English cheese hailing from Broadway, Cotswolds. The cheese is based on the recipes of Chaumes and Munster - made from cow's milk, it's left to age from 1 to 3 months. Underneath its sticky washed rind, the texture is smooth, semi-soft, and supple.
The aromas are pungent, while the flavors are rich, full, and meaty, with hints of onions. As it ages, the flavors become even stronger. It's recommended to serve St Oswald with dried fruit and pair it with a glass of full-bodied red wine.
Finn cheese is produced in Herefordshire by Charlie Westhead of Neal's Yard Creamery, who named it after his dog. This triple-cream raw cow's milk cheese has a creamy texture underneath its bloomy rind. Interestingly, extra cream is added to the milk before the cheese is made, making it rich and smooth in texture.
The aromas are fresh, lemony, and earthy when young, while the flavors are buttery, sweet, and salty, getting mushroomy and nutty as it matures. The maturation period is 2-3 weeks.
Best West Midlands Cow's Milk Cheese Producers
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
Best West Midlands Cow's Milk Cheeses
Wensleydale Block is produced by Belton Farm. This traditional British cheese is celebrated for its crumbly texture and slightly sweet, milky flavor with a hint of honey. Made using high-quality cow's milk, the cheese has a fresh, clean taste and is often enjoyed as part of a cheese board, in sandwiches, or as an ingredient in cooking.
The 20kg block format is particularly suited for commercial use in restaurants and catering businesses, providing a substantial quantity for large-scale culinary needs.
AWARDS
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Caerphilly Block by Belton Farm is a carefully crafted type of cheese originating from the United Kingdom. Known for its distinctive, crumbly texture and slightly tangy flavor, it is a product of meticulous cheese-making traditions. This cheese has a pale color and a firm yet creamy texture, ideal for both cooking and direct consumption.
Caerphilly is typically aged for a few months to develop its characteristic taste, which includes notes of earthy and fresh dairy undertones. Belton Farm, a renowned cheese producer, ensures that each block of Caerphilly adheres to high standards of quality and flavor.
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2019
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
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