Our Christmas orders are now closed. You can still buy our Cheese Subscriptions to start in January, as well as book our courses and tasting events. If you want to purchase vouchers you can do so until the 20th December but please note that it can take up to 48 hours for the vouchers to be emailed to you as we process these manually.

We have a full counter of cheese in our shop in Pangbourne so you can still come in and purchase items in store

A picture of a wedge of Y-Fenni Cheese. It has a cream colour waxed rind and is positioned on a rustic wooden table

Y-Fenni Cheese

Price range: £2.80 through £16.80

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For me, Y-Fenni is a wonderful example of how local ingredients like Welsh ale and mustard can turn a classic cheddar into something playful, bold, and really satisfying. Whether you’re adding it to a cheeseboard, melting it into your favourite dish, or just enjoying it with a drink, it’s a cheese that brings a real taste of Wales to the table.
  • Cow’s milk cheese
  • Abergavenny, Wales
  • Medium
  • Pasteurised milk
  • Vegetarian rennet
  • Available in wedges or pre order a whole wheel
Description

Description

Y-Fenni Cheese

About Y-Fenni

Y-Fenni is one of those cheeses that really stands out on a cheeseboard. It’s a Welsh cheddar, but with a twist, wholegrain mustard seeds and ale are mixed right in, giving it a wonderful depth of flavour. Made with cow’s milk, it has that familiar creamy cheddar texture, but with a bit more moisture and a lovely bite from the mustard. You’ll often find it wrapped in a pale yellow wax.

The name Y-Fenni actually comes from the Welsh name for Abergavenny, a lovely market town in Monmouthshire, South East Wales. So when you’re enjoying a slice, you’re tasting a little bit of that region’s character.

The History

Y-Fenni isn’t one of those ancient farmhouse cheeses with centuries of history. Instead, it’s a more recent addition to the Welsh cheese scene, created in the late 20th century. The idea was to bring together classic cheddar-making with the bold flavours of Welsh ale and mustard, and it really works. The mustard and ale are mixed right into the curds, giving the cheese a lively, savoury kick.

Y-Fenni is more than just a cheese; it’s a little taste of Welsh food culture. Welsh cooking has always been about hearty, robust flavours and local drinks like ale, so it makes perfect sense to find those same notes in the cheese. The mustard and ale give it a tangy, savoury edge that goes brilliantly with Welsh breads, meats, and of course, a good pint.

Y-Fenni – Jen’s Tasting Notes

The cheddar base used to make Y-Fenni is rich and creamy, with that little tang I always look for in a good Welsh cheddar. The wholegrain mustard seeds bring an earthy tang and a bit of a kick, but not too much heat. They also add little pops of flavour and texture as you eat. The ale gives a gentle malty sweetness and a touch of bitterness, which rounds out the flavour and works really well with the cheddar’s sharpness.

Altogether, you get a cheese that’s bold and full of character, but still balanced enough to go with all sorts of sides and drinks.

 

How to Serve and Pair Y-Fenni
  • Make sure you take it out of the fridge a good hour before you want to eat it so it can come up to room temperature.
  • Classic pairings: A good brown ale or Welsh ale is the classic match; the malty sweetness balances the mustard and cheddar perfectly.
  • Something a little different: You can also try a crisp white, like Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling; the acidity is really refreshing alongside the richness of the cheese.
  • On the plate: Y-Fenni is right at home in a ploughman’s lunch, alongside cold cuts, pickles, chutneys, and some proper bread.
  • In the kitchen: Try it in macaroni cheese, gratins, or savoury pies; the mustard and ale really come through when it’s melted. It’s also lovely in stuffed chicken breasts or mushrooms, bringing a bit of Welsh flavour to the table.

 

Jen’s note: Abergavenny is known as the Gateway to Wales. The area has a long history as a trading centre for the Welsh borderlands, and you can really sense that connection when you try this cheese. For me, Y‑Fenni feels like a little taste of Welsh history on the plate, a reminder of the region’s deep roots in farming and food. It’s always a pleasure to enjoy a slice and think of the stories behind it.

 

Buying Y-Fenni
  • Brand or Producer: Croome Cuisine
  • Product name: Y-Fenni
  • Milk: Cow
  • Country: Wales
  • Region: Abergavenny
  • Strength: Medium
  • Vegetarian: Yes
  • Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
  • Allergens: MILK, BARLEY, MUSTARD

 

Sizes and Prices

  • 100g wedge, £2.90
  • 500g wedge, £14.50
  • Whole wheel (approx. 1.6kg), available to pre-order

 

Storage Advice

  • Keep refrigerated
  • Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
  • Remove from the fridge before serving
  • Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening

 

Delivery and Collection

  • UK wide courier delivery
  • Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
  • Free local delivery available for selected postcodes

 

Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)

Welsh cheddar cheese (89%) (MILK, vegetarian rennet, salt, cultures), wholegrain mustard (9.5%) (water, MUSTARD seeds, white wine vinegar, glucose-fructose syrup, MUSTARD flour, salt, acidity regulator (acetic acid), cinnamon, pimento, turmeric powder), real ale (water, MALTED BARLEY WHEAT FLOUR, hops), water, MUSTARD bran, preservative (E202)

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Christmas Opening Hours

Normal opening Monday – Saturday 9am – 4pm until:

Sunday 22nd 9am – 4pm
Monday 23rd 9am – 4pm
Christmas Eve 9am – 12pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Friday 27th Closed
Saturday 28th 9am – 4pm
Sunday 29th Closed
Monday 30th 9am – 2pm
Tuesday 31st 9am – 2pm
New Year’s Day Closed
Thursday 2nd January Closed
Friday 3rd 9am – 4pm then open as normal

After Christmas our courier delivery slots start from 8th January.