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: £3.95 through £23.70
Cornish Kern really shows off the creativity and confidence of today’s British cheesemakers. It draws inspiration from Alpine traditions but is firmly rooted in Cornish pastures, with a lovely mix of nutty, sweet, and savoury flavours. Whether you enjoy it in big shards on a cheeseboard or melted into something comforting, it’s a cheese Cornwall can be proud of.
Cornish Kern is a bold, Alpine-style hard cheese from Cornwall that has quickly made a name for itself. It has a lovely golden rind and a dense, slightly crystalline centre, bringing together the nutty richness of mountain cheeses and the sweet, grassy notes you get from Cornish milk. Made with plenty of care and patience, it’s a great example of how exciting British cheesemaking has become.
Cornish Kern first appeared in 2015, made by Lynher Dairies near Truro, also known for Cornish Yarg. Catherine Mead and her team aimed to create something more mature and continental, inspired by Alpine cheeses but keeping a distinct Cornish character.
The name comes from the Cornish word ‘kern’, meaning ’round’, hinting at its truckle shape. While you can detect Alpine influences, Cornish Kern remains distinctly Cornish. The region’s mild climate lets cows graze outdoors, giving the milk a rich, grassy sweetness that shines in the finished cheese.
It’s made with pasteurised cow’s milk from local herds. The curds are cooked and pressed to give that dense, firm texture, then left to mature for at least 16 months. Each wheel is regularly turned and checked, so every batch gets the attention it deserves.
The cheese is encase in a plasticoated rind (don’t eat it!). Inside, the paste is firm and smooth with scattered small holes and the occasional crunchy tyrosine crystal, an indicator of careful maturation.
Unlike a crumbly Cheddar, Cornish Kern is much more like the Alpine cheeses it takes after. The long ageing gives it plenty of depth and balance, while still maintaining a smooth, slightly creamy feel. Its flavour is complex but really well balanced, and it keeps changing as you eat it.
I love how warm and inviting its aroma is. I pick up notes of toasted nuts, caramel, and sweet hay as I cut into each wheel. It has a surprisingly firm and dense texture; it’s one of our hardest cheeses to cut.
Kern’s flavour is rich and nutty at the forefront, followed by hints of brown butter, malt, and a subtle sweetness that always reminds me of pineapple. Its finish is long and savoury, with a gentle tang and lingering nuttiness.
The grassy Cornish milk lends a rounded, almost honeyed character, while the extended ageing adds umami depth without excessive bitterness. It is powerful but not aggressive, bold yet beautifully balanced. With its firm texture and layers of flavour, Cornish Kern is just as happy taking centre stage on a cheeseboard as it is melted into your favourite dish.
Jen’s note: When Cornish Kern won Supreme Champion at the World Cheese Awards in 2017, it came as a surprise to many who associate Alpine cheeses with Switzerland or France, not Cornwall. Amazingly, we also won a World Cheese Award for our cheese counter that same year!
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet, salt
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.
