Yesterday I picked up an English cheddar cheese with chives and shallots. This first caught my attention with its distinctive lime green wax covering; I immediately admired how the color of the wax also complimented the bright green on the label. Despite the label being ill-fitting for the shape of the cheese, its boldness of color and typography brought a pleasant balance of modernity to a more traditional-looking illustration and physical cheese appearance.
Chive Got My Mind Made Up
This cheese is beautiful to look at, with the flamboyant (as far as cheese goes) green wax complimenting the green flecks of chives and shallots throughout. After unwrapping it, the first thing I noticed was the slightly pungent aroma; unlike most cheddars I've had in the past, it gave off a scent that I can only describe as being tangy and savory.
The texture is creamy yet with a some crumble, making it a tad harder to keep on my crackers. I enjoyed the onion-like tanginess that the chives and shallots add to what would otherwise be a very mundane flavor; they create a fairly well-balanced taste and aroma throughout.
Whey, Whey Back
This type of cheddar cheese is know as Tintern, which originated in a village of the same name located in Southern Wales. Tintern Abbey was built in 1131, and for hundreds of years the monks who lived there were known for farming chives, which—as you may have guessed—made its way into the cheese.
Sometimes called a "pub cheese", this English cheddar is accepted as workingman's cheese, meaning it's something simple that you can settle down and drink with a beer after a long day's work. It seems unclear whether its humble beginnings in the 12th century monastery are factual or just a creative marketing strategy, but it seems to have developed a stable standing in the cheese world regardless.
If I Could Tintern Back Time...
...I would definitely buy this cheese again. The flavor is distinct without being too overpowering, and all-in-all this English cheddar is a pretty snappy dresser. The only downside is the shallot breath you get after eating a lot of it.
...I would definitely buy this cheese again. The flavor is distinct without being too overpowering, and all-in-all this English cheddar is a pretty snappy dresser. The only downside is the shallot breath you get after eating a lot of it.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $12.99/lb
Pairs well with: cheap beer and Netflix
Rating: 7.5/10