Description
Oxford Isis Cheese
About Oxford Isis
Oxford Isis is one of those cheeses you often smell before you taste.
With its sticky orange rind, soft creamy centre and unmistakably savoury aroma, it sits firmly in the washed-rind family of cheeses. But don’t let the smell frighten you. Once you actually taste it, Oxford Isis is much gentler than your nose might have led you to believe, with fruity sweetness, plenty of savoury flavour and a lovely soft texture as it ripens.
What makes it particularly unusual is what the rind is washed with.
Mead.
Washed in Mead
Oxford Isis was developed by the Oxford Cheese Company as a British take on the great washed-rind cheeses of Europe.
During maturation, the rind is washed with mead — an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey and water — which gives Oxford Isis one of the more unusual stories in our cheese counter.
Washing a cheese changes the environment on its surface and encourages the development of the bacteria responsible for that characteristic orange, sometimes slightly sticky rind. Those bacteria also produce the aromas that make washed-rind cheeses so recognisable.
In other words, if you open the box and think, goodness, I can smell that, everything is going according to plan.
The mead adds another dimension to the story, bringing its association with honey and fermentation to a style of cheese already known for developing wonderfully complex flavours as it ripens.
And while Oxford Isis might have quite a powerful aroma, the cheese underneath is surprisingly approachable.
Another perfect example of why you should never judge a cheese by its smell.
What’s in a Name?
The name Isis has a particularly Oxford connection.
The stretch of the River Thames that flows through Oxford is traditionally known as the Isis, a name you’ll still hear regularly in the city, particularly in connection with rowing.
So while Oxford Isis belongs to a European tradition of washed-rind cheeses, its name gives it a very deliberate Oxford identity.
Oxford Isis – Jen’s Tasting Notes
Let’s start with the smell because there’s really no avoiding it.
Oxford Isis can be pretty pungent.
Its orange-yellow rind can become slightly sticky as the cheese ripens and has that unmistakable washed-rind aroma: savoury, funky and occasionally rather farmyardy.
But then you taste it.
The paste underneath is soft and creamy, becoming increasingly gooey as the cheese ripens. The first flavours can be surprisingly sweet and fruity before the savoury side starts to develop.
I get plenty of brothy, umami flavours, particularly towards the rind, and they linger beautifully after you’ve finished the mouthful.
This is exactly why I always tell people not to assume a smelly cheese is going to taste incredibly strong. Your nose and your taste buds don’t always agree.
And Oxford Isis is a very good example.
How to Serve and Pair Oxford Isis
- 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: I’d go for a good bitter or amber ale. The maltiness works really nicely with those savoury flavours while the freshness helps with the richness of the cheese.
- Something a little different: Given that the rind is washed in mead, why not try a glass alongside it? I’d choose a drier style rather than anything overwhelmingly sweet.
- On the plate: Sourdough crackers work brilliantly, and I’m quite partial to crunchy vegetables with a cheese like this — celery, peppers and carrots all give you a lovely fresh contrast.
- In the kitchen: Oxford Isis melts beautifully, but rather than losing it in a pasta sauce, I’d put it somewhere you can really taste it. Try melting it onto sourdough with a few caramelised onions for a seriously good cheese toastie.
Jen’s note: The Thames is known as the Isis as it flows through Oxford, which is where this cheese gets its name. Combine that with a rind washed in mead and you’ve got a cheese with a very Oxford story — although, if I’m honest, it’s usually the smell people remember first!
Buying Oxford Isis
- Brand or Producer: The Oxford Cheese Company
- Product name: Oxford Isis
- Milk: Cow
- Country: England
- Region: Oxfordshire
- Strength: Medium
- Vegetarian: No
- Suitable for pregnancy: No
- Allergens: MILK
Sizes and Prices
- 100g wedge, £3.90
- 500g wedge, £19.50
- Whole cheese (approx. 800g), 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)
MILK, cultures, salt, rennet, mead (honey, yeast, water)
