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: £3.30 through £19.80
Cornish Yarg is a real gem. It is a fresh, young cheese that is deliciously crumbly and captures everything I love about Cornish cheese. Tradition, flavour, and a sprinkle of flair. Whether you’re enjoying it with a glass of wine, some fresh fruit, or just on its own, it’s a cheese that always impresses.
If you haven’t had Cornish Yarg before, you’re in for a real treat. It’s one of those cheeses that always catches the eye, thanks to its beautiful nettle-wrapped rind. For me, it’s a taste of Cornwall. The story behind Yarg is a favourite of mine, and it’s a cheese I always recommend for a cheeseboard. It’s versatile, delicious, and never fails to get people chatting.
The story of Cornish Yarg is a lovely mix of old and new. In the 1980s, a Cornish farmer called Alan Gray found an old recipe for a nettle-wrapped cheese and decided to give it a go. I always have to smile at the name Yarg is just Gray backwards, which is a clever little nod to its maker, and if you say it in a pirate accent, it sounds very Cornish! It’s one of those cheeses that feels properly traditional but still has a bit of a modern twist.
Alan Gray might have brought Yarg back to our tables, but wrapping cheese in nettles is an old idea that goes back centuries. Nettles were used to help the cheese ripen and to add a gentle, earthy flavour.
Since its reintroduction, Cornish Yarg has become a bit of a star in Cornwall and beyond. It’s picked up plenty of awards over the years, mostly for its smooth creaminess and that distinctive look.
It’s that nettle-wrapped rind that really makes Cornish Yarg stand out. When it’s young, the texture is smooth and creamy, but it firms up a bit as it matures. The flavour is gentle and fresh, not too strong, but with a lovely richness that gets you coming back for more. The lactic tones from the milk, coupled with the minerality from the nettles, make a pleasing taste explosion in the mouth.
Cutting into a wheel of Yarg always feels like a treat. You get that pale, creamy centre and a texture that’s almost buttery. There’s a gentle sweetness, and the nettles add just a hint of earthiness, never taking over but adding something special. As it ages, the flavours deepen and a little tang appears. It’s the sort of cheese everyone seems to enjoy, whether you’re a cheese fan or not.
Don’t let the nettles put you off; the rind is completely edible and adds a gentle herbal note that works so well with the creamy centre.
Jen’s note: The edible wild nettles that surround the rind are all foraged each spring from the Cornish countryside surrounding the dairy. They are then frozen before being hand-painted onto each cheese in concentric circles. There’s a team of three ladies who are responsible for the nettles. Each has their own style, so each cheese is covered slightly differently.
Sizes and Prices
Storage Advice
Delivery and Collection
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, nettle leaves, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet, calcium chloride, penicillium candidum
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.
