Popular Cheeses That Everyone Needs This Christmas

Christmas is literally just around the corner and that means that it’s peak cheese season!  Whilst cheese is great all year round Christmas doesn’t pass us by without a cheese board or two.  Research shows that 32% of British people eat more cheese over the festive period compared to any other time of year.  People like to indulge in the finer things over Christmastime and cheese is usually at the top of the list.  

Christmas Cheese Traditions

Christmas is a time for traditions, the most popular is eating a roast turkey dinner but families may have their own traditions too such as new Christmas PJs for Christmas Eve or a Boxing day walk. Cheese related traditions date well back into history and there are many cheese traditions across the world. Here are some interesting cheese related festive traditions we wanted to share with you:

• It is traditional in Yorkshire to eat Christmas cake with cheese. Thought to have originated with Wensleydale, but cheddar and even stilton provide a good combination.
• The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses is an annual tradition dating back over 300 years. British cheese makers donate cheese in order to pay tribute to war veterans and the cheese is presented and enjoyed to the Chelsea Pensioners at a special ceremony.
• In Wales, it is customary on New Year’s morning to give cheese and bread to friends, family and neighbours.
• In Colombia, cheese fritters known as Bunuelos are popular at Christmas and are usually served with a sweet dessert called natilla, made with milk, butter and cinnamon.
• The Big Cheese Drop event takes place in Plymouth, Wisconsin every New Year’s Eve. At midnight, an 80lb replica cheese wedge is dropped in celebration of the town’s cheese industry.

Popular Christmas Cheeses

Stilton is usually a staple at Christmas and this is often down to its seasonality. There is usually a second growth of grass in September which is perfect timing for making stilton which then has 12 weeks to age perfectly, just in time for Christmas. Cheddar is also one of the most popular and our favourite too but here are some more varieties to add something different to your cheeseboard:

Camembert

Certainly one of the most popular cheeses to enjoy at Christmas, it’s soft, creamy and when melted it makes the most divine dip at a Christmas spread.  It goes well with crudites, crackers and even pigs in blankets! Don’t forget a good glass of Chardonnay to complement the delicate flavours.  Why not try Curds & Croust Boy Laity, Cornish Camembert.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese comes in many varieties and it’s always popular around the festive season.  Each will have its own unique flavour but will generally offer tang, sharp and salty flavours and the marbled blue mould will provide a hint of nuttiness. Blue cheese often goes well with dried fruits, crusty bread and wholegrain crackers and of course either port or red wine.  Devon Blue from Neal’s Yard Dairy is sweet and punchy and is sumptuously dense. 

Truffle Cheese

A little more sophisticated and exuberant, truffle cheese will bring the wow factor.  Popular at Christmas, truffle gives cheese a luxuriously, earthy flavour and a distinct aroma.  If you are looking to add something a little bit special to your cheeseboard then try  Curds & Croust - The Truffler Cornish Brie, an award winning artisan cheese that is robust, made with Cornish milk and flavoured with truffle oil.

Flavoured Cheese

Increasingly popular, flavoured cheeses bring something a little bit extra to the table. We offer two flavoured cheese varieties from The Snowdonia Cheese Company.  Red Devil - Red Leicester with chillies & crushed pepper and Green Thunder Mature Cheddar with garlic & herbs.  Both pack a punch and plenty of flavour and are wrapped in festive coloured wax great for making an impression at Christmas.  

If that’s enough to get your taste buds tingling, all you need to do now is start shopping our range of delicious local cheeses and cheese hampers to decide which ones to stock up on this Christmas.  

Sources:

https://jsbaileycheese.co.uk/2016/12/01/festive-cheese-traditions/
https://www.godminster.com/blog/the-most-popular-christmas-cheeses/