Squeakers Cheese from Canada – A Taste of Tradition
Discover Squeakers cheese from Canada: a fresh, mild curd cheese perfect for snacking, salads, and poutine. Try it today!
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Cheddar Heritage Cheese
Definition and Scope
Cheddar Heritage Cheese refers to traditional Cheddar produced using historical methods and regional ingredients. This category emphasizes raw milk, animal rennet, and cloth binding to preserve authentic characteristics. It is distinguished from mass-produced Cheddar by its adherence to time-honored cheesemaking practices.
The scope includes farmhouse Cheddars aged naturally for extended periods, often exceeding twelve months. These cheeses must originate from designated regions like Somerset or Dorset in England. They showcase terroir through variations in texture and flavor influenced by local microbiota and aging conditions.
Production Process
Traditional Cheddar production begins with raw cow’s milk heated gently in open vats. Cheesemakers add starter cultures and animal rennet to coagulate the milk into curds. The curds undergo cheddaring, a process of stacking and turning to expel whey and develop density.
After cheddaring, the curds are milled, salted, and pressed into molds before being wrapped in cloth. Aging occurs in temperature-controlled cellars for months or years, allowing complex flavors to mature. This method contrasts with block Cheddar production, which uses accelerated aging and plastic coatings.
Sensory Profile
Heritage Cheddar exhibits a firm, slightly crumbly texture that becomes more granular with age. Its flavor profile ranges from nutty and creamy in younger cheeses to sharp and crystalline in older varieties. Distinct earthy or grassy notes often reflect the pasture diet of the dairy herds.
The aroma is clean and dairy-forward with hints of fermentation and cellar characteristics. Well-aged examples develop tyrosine crystals that provide a pleasant crunch and concentrated savory taste. These sensory attributes result from slow lactose conversion and protein breakdown during extended maturation.
Culinary Applications
Heritage Cheddar performs excellently in cooked applications where its complex flavors enhance dishes. It melts smoothly in sauces and gratins while maintaining its distinctive taste profile. The cheese’s robust character stands up well to pairing with full-bodied wines and artisan breads.
In culinary presentations, it serves equally well as a table cheese or cooking ingredient. Chefs value its ability to add depth to soufflés, tarts, and burger toppings. Its crystalline texture makes it particularly suitable for cheese boards where it can be appreciated unadorned.
Regional Examples
West Country Farmhouse Cheddar from Somerset represents the pinnacle of heritage production. These cheeses must be made within the designated counties using local milk and traditional methods. Montgomery’s Cheddar exemplifies this style with its distinctive earthy notes and firm paste.
Keens Cheddar from Somerset demonstrates the style’s diversity with its rich, tangy flavor developed over eighteen months. In North America, producers like Fiscalini Farms in California create heritage-style Cheddar using similar techniques. These examples maintain the fundamental characteristics while expressing regional variations in milk composition and aging environments.