Description

Grant’s Oak Smoked Cheddar Cheese is our newest smoked cheese. Its base cheese is a deliciously creamy, medium strength cheddar. The cheesemaker then takes the cheeses to a local smokehouse. They then expertly smoke the quartered cheddar over oak chippings. This means that the smoke penetrates fully into cheese to give it a strong, smoky flavour.

It is thought that the first smoked cheese was discovered by accident. Probably the cheese was kept too close to a fire but it was soon discovered that it didn’t harm the cheese. This then led to cheeses being smoked to help preserve them. Nowadays we smoke cheeses because they taste amazing!

Some smoked cheeses are artificially smoked. This means that the cheese has a smoke flavouring added to it. We prefer to stock cheeses which have actually been smoked. Usually this involves a cold smoke process. Cold smoking means that the smoke is generated in one area whilst the cheese is in another unheated area. The smoked is then pumped into the area where the cheese is kept. Cheeses are generally smoked over oak, applewood, hickory or beech chips. These all impart a different, but fabulous flavour.

Smoked cheeses pair brilliantly with tart apples and white grapes. They also are amazing when used in cooking. We love to add a bit of smoked cheese to cauliflower cheese, macaroni cheese & fondues.

Grant’s Oak Smoked Cheddar cheese is great with a dry Riesling but it also goes well with darker ales such as the Bad King John from Ridgeway Beers that we stock in the shop.