🧀 Cheshire
Also known as: Cheshire cheese, Red Cheshire, White Cheshire, Blue Cheshire
An English hard cheese from cow's milk from Cheshire, crumbly and moist with a mild, slightly salty taste.
Cheshire is an English hard cheese from cow's milk from Cheshire and neighbouring areas, with a crumbly, moist texture and a mild, slightly salty and tangy taste. It is regarded as one of the oldest known English cheeses. It belongs to the hard cheeses.
The milk is coagulated with rennet; the curd is cut and broken up, salted and lightly pressed. This is why the paste is open and crumbly rather than dense like Cheddar. Ripening lasts from a few weeks to several months: young cheese is fresh and tangy, aged cheese fuller and richer.
There are three kinds of Cheshire. White has its natural pale colour. Red is coloured with the plant dye annatto, like Red Leicester; this does not change the taste. Blue has veins of blue mould and a stronger flavour.
Cheshire is crumbled into salads, eaten with apples, bread and chutney, or melted on toast. Cider, ale and fruity red wines go well with it (see Wine and cheese).
Why it matters to you. Cheshire is a lighter, milder alternative to Cheddar: it crumbles easily and pairs well with fruit. Keep it in the fridge wrapped in paper; crumbly cheese dries out quickly, so an opened piece is best eaten within a few days.
Facts
| Raw material | Cow's milk |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom (England) |
| Region | Cheshire and neighbouring areas |
| Duration | From a few weeks to several months |
| Taste | Mild, slightly salty and tangy |
How it connects to Cheese
🧀 Cheshire → similar → 🧀 Cheddar → kind of → 🧀 Cheese
Links
- Made from which milk
- 🥛 Cow's milk
- Part of
- 🪨 Hard cheeses, 🇬🇧 British cheeses
- Similar and different
- 🧀 Cheddar
Frequently asked questions
What milk is Cheshire cheese made from?
From cow's milk.
How is Cheshire different from Cheddar?
Cheshire is crumbly, moist and milder, while Cheddar is denser and gets sharper with age.
Is it true that Red Cheshire tastes different from White Cheshire?
No. The red colour comes from the plant dye annatto; white and red Cheshire taste the same.
Similar
🧀 Red Leicester · 🧀 Double Gloucester · 🧀 Sbrinz · 🧀 Shanklish · 🧀 Appenzeller · 🧀 Mimolette
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.