Best cheese in class.
Rightfully so, cheese from the Northumberland Cheese Company is pretty much ubiquitous now. Think youāve never had it? You have – itās used in menus across the North East – soufflĆ©s, on cheese boards, and in tarts at all your favourite restaurants. Weāve had probably too much of it over the years, and itās popular across the region because it is amongst the best. WhetherĀ at the dairy/tea room itself, orĀ chomping wedges from the Quayside market, itās just great that we have such a reliable and reputable producer in our region.
Presumably for the festive season this year, they have launched a few new gift boxes (Ā£13), one of which āSouth Tyneā, they were kind enough to send us. As weāre always more than happy to get the cheese board out, it was a very much ācheese on everythingā this week. Not a bad thing.
Filled with four 115g cheese wedges, you can either choose the North/South Tyne box, or visit at a farmers market where you can fill it with your favourite four cheeses from their choice of sixteen. Price is a little favourable vs. buying individual wedges, so itās a decent buy.
Original is a cheddar-like cheese with gentle creamy flavour thatās probably a great starting place for a cheese newbie. Just by itself, with figs & celery or melted on a cheese toastie like we did, itās versatile and hard not to like.
Similarly cheddar-like isĀ nettle.Ā This is a more vibrant cheese which was particularly good with the āboozerās relishā from Coquet Valley producers – made with Newcastle Brown ale, this was one of the best chutneys in recent memory. The cheese, made with nettles, stands up well toĀ wine, and has a deeper flavour than you first think, with an inviting chive-y zing.
Elsdon is a milky chalk-white goatās cheese, but again is an excellent choice for the many people who ādonāt like goats cheeseā. Itās a lot more mellow, with a fresh taste – not as harsh or crumbly as a traditional goatās, and probably our favourite of the lot here.
Finally there is an Oak Smoked cheese, which has a not too subtle smoked flavour, and was great with the Berwick cheese cracker from nearby Doddington Dairy. Also had this in a sandwich with some proscuitto which wasĀ delicious.
Weād love this a gift, and no doubt itād make an ideal addition to any hamper this year. If you havenāt quite tried all of the companiesā cheeses, we also love the Cheviot, and theĀ Reiver. Either way, keep it local and try some real cheese – you will love it.
*DISCLAIMER: The South Tyne Gift Box is available online or at the many farmers markets in Newcastle/Northumberland, and the Doddington Dairy biscuits and Boozerās Relish chutney were bought from Blagdon Farm Shop ~Ā£3each.Ā We were sent the South Tyne gift box complimentary for review.
Contact: northumberlandcheese.co.uk/
