Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, Cheddar, Somerset
Britain’s best-known cheese is named after the Somerset village of Cheddar. Although it’s now made all over the world and the name has no legal protection, the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is the only dairy still to make it in Cheddar itself.
Visit the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company to watch this world famous cheese being made.
There’s no escaping the fact that the village of Cheddar is very touristy so it may not be your cup of tea. But it does have a rightful claim to a slice of Cheddar cheese history which is fascinating. Before you pick up a packet in the supermarket without a second thought, make a trip to the dairy to watch it being made and then go down inside Cheddar Gorge where you can literally smell it ripening in the ancient caves.
- Watch the ‘cheddaring’ process
- Taste Cheddar cheese
- Visit Cheddar caves
- Walk or cycle the Strawberry Line
A Co-operative Cheese
Its original production started as a way of using up leftover milk. Local dairy farmers would work as a co-operative to produce one large cheese which would take months to mature. For Queen Victoria’s wedding, an enormous Cheddar drum was produced using the milk of over 700 cows giving it a 3 metre wide diameter.
Watch Cheddaring in Action
What makes Cheddar so distinctive is the way that it’s made, a process that’s known as ‘Cheddaring’ which normally takes 8 hours. The curd is cut into pieces, layered and then pressed so that the whey drains away. The result – the cheese lasts much longer. At the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, they have a special viewing gallery where you can see this process in action and then taste the cheese afterwards. Their cheese is made with unpasteurised milk to retain the characteristics of the local pastures and it develops a rind as it matures.
Cheddar Gorge
What makes the company even more unique today is that some of its Cheddar is matured for 11-12 months in Gough’s Cave in the heart of Cheddar Gorge giving it a unique flavour and texture. So if you decide to visit Britain’s biggest gorge which is a major tourist attraction, you can literally smell the cheese maturing in the caves.
Tips
- Visit Cheddar Gorge to see the magnificent stalactite caverns but be aware it gets very busy in the summer
- Hire bikes and cycle along the Strawberry line. Treat yourself to a cheese tasting at the end
- Continue your cheese tasting tour of Somerset by visiting the Godminster Cheese Shop in Bruton
- Looking for a gift? Check out our guide to the Best Gifts For Cheese Lovers
Cook’s Tip
Add cheese rind to the pan when making stock to give it extra flavour.
Where to Stay in Somerset
The Bath Arms
Cheddar, Somerset
Offering a restaurant and a bar, The Bath Arms Hotel is located in the picturesque village of Cheddar.
Rooms from £95 a night.
Dogs
Please check with the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company.
How to Find The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company
The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, The Cliffs, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3QA
Website: www.cheddargorgecheeseco.co.uk
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.