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In defence of cheddar cheese

(80 Posts)
giulia Sun 17-Nov-19 08:12:05

Living out of the UK, a good piece of Cheddar is one of the things I miss most.

My kind butcher/delicatessen, at my request, has brought some into his shop (E32/kg my dears!). It is an award-winning west country variety and is almost orange.

Hence my problem: my Italian family and friends refuse to taste it. They say it must contain food colouring to be that colour! I am sure this is not so but it is true that all Italian/French cheeses are all pale.

I read somewhere that it is carotene which causes the colour but surely the cows don't eat carrots!

If I remember rightly, Leicester cheese is almost red.

How do I explain this orange colouring?

Ps: I saw some sliced, packaged "cheddar" here in a supermarket - it was made in Belgium!

GrandmaMoira Sun 17-Nov-19 10:28:42

I've never seen orange cheddar. I thought only Red Leicester and Double Gloucester were red or orange. It never occurred to me that people would be put off by the colour. If it is an issue for the French, why do they eat blue cheese?

Gonegirl Sun 17-Nov-19 10:31:19

Doesn't the blue happen naturally (mould!) Not for me though. Eurgh.

EllanVannin Sun 17-Nov-19 10:41:57

I'm partial to a bit of Danish Blue. I get it around Christmastime by way of a change and for something different than the usual cheeses.

NemosMum Sun 17-Nov-19 10:51:53

Yellow and orange colouring in cheeses are usually turmeric and/or annatto. They are harmless, but, in my view, unnecessary.

CosyCrafter Sun 17-Nov-19 12:04:23

living in France, cheese is life! wink however I still love a bit of cheddar, luckily prepacked versions are on a lot of supermarket shelves, mainly UK made but have seen Belgian as mentioned on earlier post. The best thing is some supermarket deli counters are selling cheddars, various strengths ranging between 12 - 17 euros a kilo.. I have never seen any red coloured cheddar over here, though as a scot I am familiar with it. There are hundreds of french cheeses but sometimes only cheddar will do.

MaizieD Sun 17-Nov-19 12:08:40

A good stilton and gorgonzola are delicious cheeses, GG grin

But Danish Blue just tastes of mould and, IMO, is horrible...

Merryweather Sun 17-Nov-19 12:19:49

Just off to make a cheese and pickle sarnie.
Roast later, mmmmmm cheese.
I may have missed the point of the thread!
Sorry ? x

Greyduster Sun 17-Nov-19 12:30:30

My mother used to buy orange cheddar - she probably thought it was exotic!? I have always always shied away from buying it. I like cheddar, but love a bit of Wensleydale or Farmhouse Lancashire myself. My only leaning toward continental cheese is Roquefort - much the best blue cheese with its subtle flavour. When we lived in Belgium we couldn’t get English cheeses unless we made a one hundred and forty kilometre journey to the nearest British base with a NAAFI shop. Our base commissary sold American cheeses which are a travesty, and there were good local cheeses, but sometimes you just crave a bit of cheddar, don’t you?

Aepgirl Sun 17-Nov-19 12:41:21

Why share it? Let the Italian friends eat their pale cheese and leave your lovely cheddar all to you.

Callistemon Sun 17-Nov-19 12:44:05

I don't think I've seen orange Cheddar either

I did buy some smoked cheese o Friday and think that he orange coating is Annette.

No auto-correct stop it please!
annatto

grannybuy Sun 17-Nov-19 12:58:08

There's always orange cheddar in Scottish supermarkets. I actually bought some in a New York supermarket last month. I think some people prefer the orange type when grated for the topping of dishes that are finished under the grill.

Gonegirl Sun 17-Nov-19 13:00:48

I like white stilton Maizie (when I can get it) but none of yer blue stuff.

EllanVannin Sun 17-Nov-19 13:07:41

A good Danish Blue has a " bite " to it and doesn't taste of mould.
I can't stand any other smelly cheeses though.

SueDonim Sun 17-Nov-19 13:13:00

I first came across red Cheddar when we moved to Scotland and were stranded on a train in the snow. British Rail, as it was then, produced some red cheddar cheese sandwiches for us. To say the cheese was like rubber is an understatement. We chewed and we chewed and we chewed. It gave our jaws a workout! grin

PamelaJ1 Sun 17-Nov-19 13:13:11

My DH used to feed carrots to his cows. Don’t think they made the cheddar orange though??!

M0nica Sun 17-Nov-19 13:25:19

Follow the link given by Yorksherlass www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk/blog/cheese-musings-and-tips/why-is-red-cheese-red/

The story is really fascinating and the colouring dates back to 16/17th century and possibly earlier

Thank you Yorksher. I have posted your link around my family of cheeseholics.

Urmstongran Sun 17-Nov-19 13:56:01

For blue cheese I adore St Agur

Ooh, that almost rhymes!

annodomini Sun 17-Nov-19 14:14:00

I've had red Cheddar from Aldi quite recently. I don't think it adds anything to the flavour, so can't imagine what colouring has been added. Red Cheshire is also well known.

Phloembundle Sun 17-Nov-19 14:16:59

I dislike cheese snobs almost as much as wine snobs, or any snobs come to that!

Cabbie21 Sun 17-Nov-19 14:26:35

Brought up in Leicestershire, my favourite cheese is Red Leicester, and red cheddar is not anywhere near as tasty. It also makes an excellent topping for dishes which brown in the oven.

grandtanteJE65 Sun 17-Nov-19 14:29:06

But orange cheddar and the pale cheddar don't taste the same!

If your Italian family still won't try it once you explain that it is a plant seed that colours it, just enjoy it yourself.

Theoddbird Sun 17-Nov-19 15:30:37

More for you....

lemongrove Sun 17-Nov-19 16:01:17

I have never noticed any orange coloured Cheddar cheese around in the UK ( am sure it exists though ?).
The mousetrap DH likes is a pale yellow, but we also buy Wensleydale ( just gorgeous toasted) Double Gloucester,
Smoked cheddar, brie, and Stilton.Other cheeses are available.?

MaizieD Sun 17-Nov-19 16:16:22

I have never noticed any orange coloured Cheddar cheese around in the UK

You're not likely to have done so if you've never ventured north of Watford, lemon. grin

Urmstongran Sun 17-Nov-19 16:16:53

Ooh ‘Mexicana’
❤️