This came all the way down from my penfriend W who lives on a windy Scottish Island (but not the one on the cheese label). It was in a container and wrapped in Christmas paper with a message that said put in the fridge straight away.
I checked the postmark date and thankfully it had only taken 3 days to get here. (Compared to some Christmas cards that took 9 to 12 days). So I put it in the fridge and opened on Christmas Day.
Oh my goodness, this was a delicious cheese - strong and punchy, thank you so much W.
I looked up more details of the farm and found they had been farming on Mull for 50 years and making cheese for 40. They are the only dairy farm on Mull and make a few different cheeses.
They even use the whey from the cheesemaking to make a distilled whey spirit. HERE is their website
Our Hebridean Blue is made in 7kg cheeses. It is a semi-soft blue, punchy, wonderfully rich and creamy, with a long lasting taste and many layers of flavour.
It is made with raw cows milk, produces a lovely natural rind and is around 8 weeks old when sold
Thank you W for an interesting cheese to taste and investigate.
Your friend is very thoughtful. I visited the farm when I was on on the Isle of Mull, back in 2019. There is a photograph of the maturation room on my blog post https://alongthewaywithj.blogspot.com/2019/08/summer-holiday.html
ReplyDeleteTheir cheeses are delicious. And I remember the goats there were very entertaining. Xx
That looks very tasty.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It was!
DeleteI gave Snowdonia slate cavern aged cheeses, so they went off with the same instruction to put in the fridge! Yours sounds a good cheese to have with a sip of port.
ReplyDeleteWhen you think of it, we're rather blessed with great cheeses from small manufacturers right across the UK.
I'm sure when I was young there was just cheddar and not much else
DeleteThat looks delicious. We bought a local cheese for my BIL for Xmas which he really enjoyed. Arilx
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought our local Suffolk Blue and Suffolk Gold for ages, must remedy that
DeleteI've some Cornish Yarg in the fridge. Forgot to cut myself some to have with Christmas cake this morning. Christmas cake and cheese... heaven!
ReplyDeleteChristmas cake, cheese and an apple were a favourite for me for years, until I went off cake this year
DeleteThe web site is interesting and would make good presents for cheese lovers, think I can feel some purchases coming on. Thank you and your pen friend. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting farm story.
DeleteGlad you like the island cheese-It’s a favourite in our house but only in small quantities as it’s quite salty. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI like a good strong cheese - actually I like any cheese!
DeleteI love a sharp blue cheese. Thank you for highlighting the maker.
ReplyDeleteThey have an interesting story but don't think I will try the whey spirit!
DeleteI bet Alan would love that one.
ReplyDeleteI reckon he would.
DeleteLovely gift The farm and dairy look so attractive Hard work, though
ReplyDeleteFarming is always hard work with animals!
DeleteOoh, that cheese sounds and looks yum! I do love blue cheese....well, let's be honest, ANY cheese pretty much.
ReplyDeleteYes and me - although perhaps not Edam - that's just boring!
DeleteThat looks like a great present. Cheese ftw.
ReplyDeleteA lovely gift - I like edible!
DeleteWhat’s nice gift. I tried some blueberry cheese lately, and it was tasty. Cali ag
ReplyDeleteI like cheese with fruit in too but prefer a stronger blue cheese
DeleteMy husband would adore this cheese!
ReplyDeleteMight be a bit too far to send it!
DeleteKroger store has a clearance bin in their dairy dept. where I find wonderful cheeses from all over Europe, Canada, and the US. I recently bought a piece of a French D Affinois w/ Herbs which was originally $18.00 lb. I got a piece about 1/3 lb. for $3.83. It was fantastic - served with sliced fruit and crackers. I would never be able to experience such wonderful cheese if I had to spend full price. Sometimes great cheese like that with fruit and crackers is my light meal in the evening. I have tried some of your British blues and love them also. If you like a good cheddar and can get your hands on some, try some Tillamook Cheddar from our Northwest, or nice Vermont cheddar.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many small cheese producers in this country, not sure if many are imported from the US
DeleteNothing better than a really good bit of cheese! Thank you for the link - what an interesting family and business!
ReplyDeleteI love finding out about these small cheese producers from other parts of the country
DeleteCanadian cheese is rubbish. It is rubbery, tasteless and dyed revolting shades of bright orange and yellow. Even the rubbish costs an arm and a leg. A 250gm piece of rubbish was 18 dollars in the store yesterday, that's about 10 pounds sterling. When I come to England my diet consists of cheese, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding and custard. I try and lose a few pounds in weight before I come so I can put it all back on. Before other Canadians start to protest there are a very few independent cheese makers who make lovely cheese. They are hampered by antiquated rules and monopolies consequently the high price means, for us, it is the occasional treat.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about Canadian cheese, how strange. There are small cheese producers all over the country and it looks like this is the 13th I've tried and written about on the blog! I could do one a week!
DeleteActually Quebec produces some excellent cheese.
DeleteI agree Quebec has lovely cheeses but by the time they reach BC the price has rocketed up.
DeleteWell, here in Toronto I can find many Canadian made cheeses and they are delicious!
DeleteThat looks delicious! What a wonderful gift.
ReplyDeleteStay safe & warm.
It was a lovely Christmas present.
DeleteWhat a thoughtful gift. Even Tesco is getting to the stage (like Aldi) where there is 4/5 Cheddar and just a small selection of cheeses which are not to my palate. They don't even do Edam now - only thin slices of it for rolls.
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm at youngest daughters I'll stop in and see what Waitrose have. Co-op are quite good for having some from other places. I can remember when the Asda cheese counter was huge - now very limited.
DeleteHow fortunate you are! That cheese looks delicious beyond compare with anything I have ever eaten.
ReplyDeleteIt was delicious
DeleteThis might be your new best source for outstanding blue cheese. Lovely present and a great find. Finding quality is not always easy today.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long way to fetch it!!
DeleteI love me some good blue cheese. Growing up we called it "stinky cheese" and I was the only one other than Dad who loved it. He actually did not like to share it very much, but I could always beg a bite or two.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Don't think Mum ever bought anything exciting like blue cheese
DeleteHow absolutely delicious - I love a blue cheese and it sounds great. xx
ReplyDeleteIt’ll be putting hairs on your chest Sue! X
ReplyDeleteIt's the ones on the chin that are worrying!!
DeleteNow that sounds bloody delicious m'dear, m'thinks I will be checking out the link
ReplyDelete