Best British Pasteurized Milk 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.
Y Fenni is a Welsh cheese made from a combination of mature Cheddar, wholegrain mustard, and Welsh ale. It melts easily, so it is often placed on steaks for the final grilling. The cheese is coated in either red or yellow wax, and its flavor is spicy without being overbearing.
The name of the cheese is derived from the Welsh name for Abergavenny, a market town specializing in its production. This unique cheese is often a part of the popular ploughman's lunch.
This sharp cow's milk cheese is one of the most popular cheeses in the world today, and it was first produced in the village of Cheddar in Somerset county, England in the 12th century. Cheddar is a hard cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk, and it ranges from white to pale yellow in color.
When young, its texture is smooth, and when it is left to mature, the texture becomes more crumbly and it gets a sharper flavor. Joseph Harding—a cheesemaker often referred to as the "father of Cheddar"—said that the authentic Somerset Cheddar should have a close texture, a full, fine flavor reminiscent of hazelnuts, and a melt-in-the-mouth quality.
Pair with
VARIATIONS OF Cheddar
THE BEST Cheddar Cheeses

Fiscalini Cheese Company
Bandage Wrap Cheddar
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002



Little Black Bomber is a Welsh extra mature cheddar that's coated in black wax, hence the name. It's produced in the town of Rhyl by Snowdonia Cheese Company. This hard cheese is made from cow's milk and has a smooth and creamy texture.
The aromas are rich, while the flavors are strong and caramel-like. It's recommended to serve it with crackers, pickles, or a crusty baguette. Interestingly, Little Black Bomber has won awards at the World Cheese Awards, the Great British Cheese Awards, and a Super Gold at Mondial Fromage in France.
Pair with
Seriously Strong Cheddar is a Scottish cheese produced in Stranraer. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. It ages from 18 to 24 months, and there are six different versions of the cheese – apart from the Seriously Strong one, there are also grated, spreadable, chili-flavored, smoked, and vintage Strong Cheddars.
The basic version is crumbly, firm, flaky, and dense. The aromas are rich and strong, while the flavor is full, tangy, and savory. It's recommended to serve it with crackers, use it in sandwiches, or add it into cooked dishes.
Shropshire Blue is a British blue cheese produced in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and is best described as a cross between Cheshire and Stilton. Shropshire Blue ages from 10 to 12 weeks and develops a natural rind that hides a creamy and smooth texture of the carrot-colored body with blue veining throughout.
The orange color comes from annatto. The aromas are strong and rich, while the flavors are intense, sharp, tangy, creamy, and full. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Pinot Noir or Riesling.
Pair with
THE BEST Shropshire Blue Cheeses


Colston Bassett & District Dairy
Colston Bassett Shropshire Blue
International Cheese Awards - Gold 2024
Blue Wensleydale is an English cheese hailing from the town of Hawes. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it was invented in the late 19th century by Thomas Nuttall. Underneath its cloth-wrapped rind, the texture is dense and hard, with blue veining dispersed throughout the paste.
The aromas are rich, while the flavors are mellow, creamy, acidic, and salty, with savory and slightly sharp notes. The cheese is usually left to mature for 6 months before consumption. It's recommended to pair it with light red wines and use it in pear and walnut salad or serve it with prosciutto.
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.
Double Gloucester is an English cheese produced in Gloucestershire, hence the name. The cheese is made with full fat cow's milk using the cream from one night's milking and also the following day's milking – hence the word double in its name, but Double Gloucester is twice the height of Single Gloucester, so that might also be a reason for the word double in the name of this cheese.
Its texture is smooth and buttery when young, but as it ages (for at least four months) the texture and the rind become very hard, which is the reason why Double Gloucester is used in the popular Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling event. The flavors of this cheese are nutty, creamy, citrusy, rich, and buttery.
THE BEST Double Gloucester Cheeses


Oxford Blue is an English blue cheese produced in Buckinghamshire. The cheese is made with cow's milk, and its texture is semi-soft and creamy. The flavors are spicy, salty, sharp, and tangy, while the aromas are strong. Oxford Blue was first produced at the Oxford Cheese Company in 1994 by Baron Robert Pouget and Steve Peace.
It is recommended to serve this cheese with a glass of white wine on the side.
Best British Pasteurized Milk Cheese Producers
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2019, 2018
BEST Sharpham Dairy Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022, 2021
BEST Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2021

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Lynher Dairies Cheese Cheeses
Best British Pasteurized Milk Cheeses
Devon Blue is a variety of English blue cheese that is produced by Ticklemore Cheese in Devon, United Kingdom. This cheese is noted for its firm texture and moist, crumbly body, striking a balance between creaminess and a mild, gently tangy blue flavor.
Made with pasteurized cow's milk sourced locally, Devon Blue typically matures for a period of approximately 6 to 8 months. During this time, it develops a natural rind and a dense, evenly veined interior. The cheese is suitable for vegetarians, as it is made using vegetable rennet.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2022
Hard 18month gouda style cheese, cows milk, past, veg is a specific cheese product made by Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers. This cheese is made from cow's milk and aged for 18 months, giving it a distinct, robust flavor typical of Gouda-style cheeses.
The term "past" likely refers to pasteurization, indicating the milk used has been pasteurized. The inclusion of "veg" suggests that it contains vegetarian rennet, making it suitable for vegetarians.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2022
Cornish Kern is a cheese produced by Lynher Dairies Cheese, which is most famous for its Cornish Yarg. Cornish Kern is a distinctive, hard cheese that has won multiple awards, including the prestigious World Cheese Awards. Matured for around 16 months, it features a firm yet smooth texture, with some likening its flavor to a mature Gouda.
The cheese is noted for its deep, rounded buttery flavors with caramel notes and a slight nuttiness. It is crafted using pasteurized cow's milk, adding a unique profile that distinguishes it from other British cheeses.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
Cornish Yarg is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese produced by Lynher Dairies Cheese Co Ltd, which is located in Cornwall, England. This cheese is distinctively known for being wrapped in nettles, giving it an edible, though slightly tough, rind that imparts a unique, earthy flavor as the cheese matures.
The nettles, which are hand-picked, are applied to the cheese in a traditional manner, and as the cheese ages, they help to develop a natural mold, contributing to Cornish Yarg's characteristic creamy texture and mild, lemony flavor. The cheese itself is light-colored, crumbly in the center but becoming creamier under the rind.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2021

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 78 British Pasteurized Milk Cheeses” list until March 21, 2025, 1,803 ratings were recorded, of which 1,451 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.