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 showing a piece of Westcombe Cheddar Cheese placed on a wooden table

Westcombe Cheddar Cheese

Price range: £2.65 through £26.50

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Westcombe Cheddar is a super cheddar made in Somerset on a farm with a long history of making cheese.  It has a deep complex flavour with a mellow lactic tang accompanied by long notes of citrus, hazelnut and caramel.

  • Cow’s milk cheese
  • Somerset, England
  • Mature
  • Raw milk
  • Animal rennet
  • Available in wedges or whole wheel
Description

Description

Westcombe Cheddar Cheese

About Westcombe Cheddar Cheese

Westcombe Cheddar starts its journey with fresh, unpasteurised cow’s milk. The milking parlour is just a stone’s throw from the dairy, so the milk arrives at the vat still warm from the cows. Rennet and a traditional starter culture are added at this point, and the magic begins as the milk gently separates into curds and whey.

Once the curds are ready, they’re drained, gathered up, and cut into slabs. Then comes the real workout: turning those slabs by hand, over and over. It’s hard graft, but this is what gives Westcombe Cheddar its character. The cheesemakers wouldn’t have it any other way. Next, the slabs are broken down into smaller pieces using a traditional peg mill. Salt is added at just the right moment (something you only get the hang of after plenty of practice!).

The curds are pressed into Cheddar moulds, wrapped in lard and muslin, and then it’s off to the ageing cellar. The cellar is tucked into the clay hillside next to the dairy, making it perfect for slow, natural ageing. Westcombe Cheddar usually takes between 12 and 18 months to reach its best, but really, the cheese decides when it’s ready, not the calendar.

 

Protected by PDO Tradition
Westcombe Farmhouse Cheddar is protected under the name ‘West Country Farmhouse Cheddar PDO’. This PDO, or Protected Designation of Origin states that the cheese has to be made on the farm, using the producer’s own milk or milk from nearby. It must be clothbound and has to be at least nine months old.

 

Westcombe Cheddar – Jen’s Tasting Notes

Westcombe is packed with flavour, but it never overdoes it. I always pick up those lovely notes of toasted nuts, browned butter, and a bit of sweet grass. There’s a gentle tang and a savoury finish that just keeps going. The texture is spot on too, firm, with just the right amount of crumble.

 

How to Serve and Pair Westcombe Cheddar
  • 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: West Country Cheddar calls for a West Country Cider.
  • Something a little different: If you’re more into beer, I’d go for something malty to complement the savoury nites of the cheese.
  • On the plate: For something really special try drizzling some truffled honey over your Westcombe. Add in some cured meats and you’ve got yourself an easy lunch.
  • In the kitchen: Grated Westcombe works really well on a jacket potato or adding a topping to beans on toast.

 

Jen’s note: Westcombe is known as the 5-mile cheddar. If you take a bite and drive 5 miles down the road the flavour is still developing on your taste buds the whole way!

 

Buying Westcombe Cheddar
  • Brand or Producer: Westcombe Dairy
  • Product name: Westcombe Cheddar
  • Milk: Cow
  • Country: England
  • Region: Somerset
  • Strength: Mature
  • Vegetarian: No
  • Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
  • Allergens: MILK

 

Sizes and Prices

  • 100g wedge, £2.65
  • 500g wedge, £13.25
  • Wheel (approx. 6kg), available to pre-order

 

Storage Advice

  • Keep refrigerated
  • Wrap in waxed paper or foil
  • 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, starter cultures, rennet, salt

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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.