What is Mature Cheddar?

Mature cheddar is one of the most popular varieties of this iconic cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. 

The Cheddar cheese family includes a spectrum of flavours, from buttery, mild cheddar to intense and tangy mature cheddar. All cheddar is made the same way, and the different flavours result from variations in the ageing process.

How is cheddar cheese made? 

Cheddar is made using cows' milk and is typically produced in round cheeses. 

A traditional feature of the cheese-making process is cheddaring, in which the cheese is cut into slabs which are stacked on top of one another and then repeatedly turned and restacked. The cheese is then shaped into rounds and left to age.

Cheddaring allows moisture to escape from the cheese, making it harder and creating a stronger, more acidic flavour.

How is the extra-strong taste of mature cheddar created?

As cheese matures, the flavour intensifies. 

Mild cheddar is a young cheese left for two to three months. It has a creamy, almost buttery flavour. 

Mature cheddar is aged for up to a year, resulting in a stronger, sharper flavour that lingers on the tongue. Our Vintage Special Aged Mature Cheddar is a fine example.

Sometimes, white crystals develop on well-aged mature Cheddar cheese. These are calcium lactate crystals, which are natural and add to the taste and texture of the cheese.

The taste of different mature cheddars varies as artisan cheese makers often tweak their cheese cultures to create a unique flavour for their products. 

Is mature cheddar a darker colour? 

Some mature cheddars are almost orange in colour. This darker colour has become associated with the more intense flavour of mature cheddar, but extending the ageing process has little impact on the colour of the cheese. The orange shade is often due to the addition of a tasteless plant-based food colouring, annatto. 

Annatto has been added by generations of cheesemakers to ensure that their cheese is a consistent colour. Without annatto colouring, the cheese would be the colour of the milk used in its manufacture. The colour of the milk itself would alter through the seasons as the quality of the grass in the pasture changed. 

Consumers may prefer their mature cheddar cheese to be the same rich colour every time they buy it, but this does not affect the taste of the cheese.

Is mature cheddar suitable for vegetarians?

Vegetarians can happily eat all our delicious mature cheddar as all our cheese is VegSoc-approved

Traditionally rennet from animal sources was used in cheese making to separate the curds from the whey. Like many modern cheese makers, we only use vegetarian rennet.

How do I store mature cheddar? 

Mature cheddar is best eaten at room temperature but should always be stored in the fridge at 5°C to 8°C when not being used. Our cheese can be kept refrigerated for up to three months if it is unopened.

Cheddar cheese can also be frozen for up to a year. Be sure to double-wrap your mature cheddar well to protect other frozen food items from its strong odour. 

Do mature and mild cheddar have different culinary uses? 

A mature cheese like our Black Bob Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese is the king of the cheese board. It has a robust and tangy flavour with a delicious crunch and deserves to be experienced at room temperature. Although, the richness of mature cheddar also makes simple cheese on toast sensational.

Mature cheddar can be a good choice for anyone who doesn't want to overeat, as even a nibble gives a robust aftertaste and creates a thoroughly satisfying experience. 

Mild cheddar is creamier and sweeter than mature cheddar and is more suitable for people who prefer a less intense taste experience. It is excellent for cooking, especially sauces, as it adds luxurious cheesy creaminess without overwhelming the other ingredients and seasoning.

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