A smooth, firm texture and a nutty, deliciously piquant taste: Tesco Farmhouse Cheddar ticks all the boxes that a great cheddar should. There's one simple way to guarantee that the standard remains consistently high, and that's to source it from cheese-makers who really know what they're doing. Which is why Tesco Farmhouse Cheddar is made the traditional handmade way, by just three family farms in the West Country, where Cheddar first originated.*
Our Standard Mature Farmhouse comes from Ashley Chase Farm in South West Dorset, where the Pullin and Littman families have been making Cheddar for over 25 years. Mature and Extra Mature are made by Parkham Farm, on the North Devon coast, where the Willes family have 29 years of cheddar-making experience. And Finest Farmhouse Handmade Vintage Cheddar is made on Leaze Farm, in Somerset; here, the Baker family have been making cheddar since 1966.
All of the cheeses are matured for different lengths of time (9 months for Standard, 11 -14 for Mature, 14-18 for Extra Mature and Vintage for 18-24 months) but the key thing they have in common, aside from the high quality of milk used, and the expertise behind them, is the strictly traditional process used. All of the farms stir the milk by hand in open vats to separate the curds (the solids from the milk that go on to form the cheese) from the whey, and the cheese is then pressed in moulds overnight before being allowed to mature. And once the maturing time is up, how does a traditional cheddar maker like to enjoy the results? Neil Baker, from Leaze Farm, is quick with his answer: ‘Or I'll have it with chutney - tomato is great - and a few slices cut from a fresh, crusty white loaf. When you're eating cheddar like that, just remember to take it out of the fridge about an hour before you use it, as the flavour's best when it's at room temperature.'
Try this delicious recipe for Ham and leek macaroni cheese
*All our Farmhouse cheddar is handmade on just 3 West Country farms. Selected UK stores. Subject to availability. Applies to Tesco brand pre-packed Farmhouse Cheddar.