Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co
What’s the product?
Rich, buttery cheese straws, packed with proper Cheddar cheese made in Cheddar – anyone else’s mouth watering already?
Who’s behind it?
Katherine and John Spencer, Cheddar residents who decided to bring this noble cheese back to their home village!
What’s the story?
People have been making cheese in Cheddar for hundreds of years, using the caves in the Cheddar Gorge as a natural refrigerator to age their cheeses. But during World War II, the pressures of rationing meant that almost all the milk in Britain was commandeered to make a single generic type of cheese (often, ironically, called ‘Government Cheddar’), and this almost wiped out the artisan cheese industry. For decades afterward, there was no one making proper Cheddar in Cheddar!
In 2003, local couple Katherine and John Spencer decided it was time to change that. With the help of experienced professional cheesemakers, they spent six years researching and developing to create a truly authentic Cheddar – it’s even aged in those very same caves in the Cheddar Gorge, where the natural conditions allow rich and complex flavours to develop.
Why we love it…
We’re deeply passionate about brilliant local food, and you can’t talk about food in the Westcountry without Cheddar! The combination of this fantastic cheese and buttery, melt-in-the-mouth pastry makes for a snack that is genuinely irresistible – we don’t think you’ll be able to stop at one…
