Price range: £4.40 through £26.40
A wonderfully smooth Somerset goat’s cheese with a washed rind, gentle sweetness and lovely nutty, savoury flavours.
Rachel is a multi-award-winning goat’s milk cheese made by White Lake Cheese in Somerset, and she’s rather different from the soft, fresh goat’s cheeses you might be expecting.
This is a firm, washed-rind cheese, matured for around three months to develop a wonderfully smooth texture and a gentle, nutty flavour. The rind gives Rachel her distinctive mottled appearance and adds a savoury depth without turning her into one of those washed-rind cheeses you can smell from the other side of the room.
Rachel has become one of White Lake’s best-known cheeses and has picked up an impressive collection of awards along the way, including recognition at the World Cheese Awards.
And yes, Rachel really is named after someone. More on that later…
Rachel is made from goat’s milk and matured for at least 12 weeks. During that time, the rind is regularly washed in brine, encouraging the surface bacteria that create its distinctive colour, aroma and flavour.
Washed rinds are more commonly associated with cow’s milk cheeses, so using the technique on a goat’s cheese makes Rachel particularly interesting.
Underneath that rustic rind you’ll find a pale, firm but supple cheese. It’s sometimes compared to a young Gouda because of its smooth texture and gentle sweetness, although I think Rachel has far more personality than that.
Rachel is a brilliant cheese for anyone who thinks all goat’s cheese tastes the same.
The texture is firm and smooth but still beautifully creamy in the mouth, particularly once it’s had enough time out of the fridge. The flavour starts with a lovely gentle sweetness before becoming nuttier and more savoury.
I often pick up a little citrus, something slightly biscuity and an earthy note from the washed rind. There’s still enough of that characteristic goat’s milk freshness to remind you what you’re eating, but it never becomes overwhelmingly ‘goaty’.
Make sure you eat some of the rind too. It brings a completely different savoury flavour to the sweeter, creamier middle and is very much part of the Rachel experience.
Jen’s note: Rachel is named after a friend of the cheesemaker who was apparently described as “sweet, curvy and slightly nutty”. As cheese descriptions go, I think that’s rather fabulous. More importantly, Rachel herself was apparently quite happy with it!
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet
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.
