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
Price range: £4.00 through £24.00
At 48 months old, our Aged Gouda is the oldest cheese that we have in the shop. It is labelled as being a VSOC which stands for Very Superior Old Cheese! It is deliciously nutty with spicy undertones and an almost caramel like finish. The cheese itself is very hard and brittle with a crystalline texture.
Our Aged Gouda is made by CONO Kaasmakers in the Westbeemster area of North Holland. To them it is known as Weydeland Rijck. They take the classic Gouda profile and give it plenty of time to mature, at least 48 months, so you get those deep, developed flavours and a texture that’s really something special.
The cheesemakers are a group of dairy farmers who’ve been working in the Westbeemster area for over a hundred years. They stick to traditional cheesemaking but also care about sustainability; their cows have been on a GMO-free, local diet since 2021, which I think is a nice touch.
The name ‘Rijck’ is the Dutch way of spelling ‘rich’, which fits this cheese perfectly. The flavour is intense thanks to all that patient ageing. It might not be a centuries-old cheese itself, but it really carries on the tradition of Dutch Gouda and the Beemster area’s reputation for quality.
I’ve written a couple of blog posts about Gouda and the crystals that are found in aged cheeses. Click on the links to find out more!
This cheese has an aromatic intensity, with savoury tang and a hint of nuttiness. Taste-wise, there are lots of layers, starting with a bit of sweetness, like caramel or toffee (which you often get in long-aged Gouda), followed by deep savoury notes, and a lovely umami finish. This is a cheese for anyone who likes their flavours bold and full-on, rather than mild.
Jen’s note: We buy in the Aged Gouda as a whole wheel – it weighs 12kg and it’s always down to me to cut it into more manageable quarters!
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, 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.
