TigerChef

One of the most popular cheeses used in many summer recipes is Cheddar cheese. However, there are many proclaimed Cheddar cheeses that are actually not the real thing.

According to the European Union, only Cheddar cheeses that are produced in the British countries of Somerset, Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall can actually be called “West Country Farmhouse Cheddar.” The reason is actually quite simple- Cheddar cheese was originally made in a village called- can you guess? Cheddar!

Decades ago, there were no temperature-controlled factories, and the village of Cheddar had a great advantage over the surrounding villages that would have liked to have been part of the Cheddar cheese making process. Cheddar Gorge has scattered caves between steep cliffs that have just the right temperature that is needed for the cheese making/storing process. The farmers in the industry realized this and took great advantage of the natural temperature-controlled refrigeration system.

Although most people think that Cheddar cheese has a deep orange color, the fact is that naturally, Cheddar cheese is actually a pale yellow or off-white color. So, how does it get that deep orange color? The producers add some food coloring to the mixture which results in a deep orange color.

Most Cheddar cheeses have a distinct sharp taste, which is exactly what made it such a hot trend among the English kings. In fact, King Henry II (1133-1189) loved it so much, that he ordered 10,420 pounds (!) of cheddar cheese. At one point in history, during the rule of Charles I, the demand for Cheddar cheese was much greater than the supply, that it was only available at the royal court.

With close to 15 varieties of Cheddar cheese now available, it is no longer an exclusive food fit for kings. In the United Kingdom, Cheddar is the most popular choice of cheese. In the United States of America, it comes in as second, with Mozzarella taking first place.

Filed under: General • History • Food Quality

Tags: cheddar cheese