Semi-Soft Cheeses

Type: semi-soft
Country: France
Name: Chimay with Beer
Description: Just north of the French border lies Chimay, a town in the Belgian forest of Mont du Secours. In 1850, Trappist monks built a Cistercian Abbey there as a place to study, pray and work. In 1862, the monks added a dairy and a brewery to the Abbey to help generate funds for their livelihood. Soon thereafter, they started making cheese from milk produced at the dairy that became quite popular at the local marketplace. Our Chimay cheese is a variation of their original recipe, but is even more special, as the rind is washed with their already famous Chimay beer rather than ordinary spring water. This new variety developed an incomparable flavor that delighted the nose as well as the palate. The cheese is semi-soft and has a nutty, well-finished flavor with just a hint of hops and malt. While its aroma is quite strong, the taste of the cheese itself is somewhat mild but not at all bland. · Made from scalded cow’s milk

Type: semi-soft
Country: Italy
Name: Bra Tenero
Description: Although it is named after a small town in the Italian province of Cuneo in Piedmont, this cow’s milk D.O.C. cheese was never actually made there. The farmers and herdsmen in this area, however, let it mature in their cellars and sell it everywhere. Bra is most closely linked to the nomadic herdsmen of Italy who come from the valleys of Italy to winter on the plain of Cuneo. They provide the milk for the cheese and often even make and/or age the cheese. Bra is available in soft and hard versions. The type that we carry is aged for approximately six months to develop a piquant, yellow-orange paste that is hard enough to grate and is, therefore, wonderful for use in baking, as well as being a flavorful table cheese. · Made from raw cow’s milk, aged over 60 days

Type: semi-soft
Country: Ireland
Name: Ardrahan
Description: Ardrahan is a type of semi-soft cheese with a pungent aroma, Ardrahan cheese has buttery textured honey-coloured centre with a complex delicate flavour. It has a washed rind which grows into a golden colour, and its size and weight tend to vary slightly due to the fact that it is a hand-made product. In general the large wheel weighs about 1 kg. There is also a small consumer wheel which weighs 300g. It is yellow-coloured. Ardrahan also develops a nutty flavour with maturity. It has a unique flavour that lingers, leaving a very pleasant after-taste. It contains only 25% fat approximately. It is hand made using traditional methods and only whole milk and vegetarian rennet are used.

Type: semi-soft
Country: France
Name: Morbier
Description: The first wheels of Morbier ever produced were made from milk leftover from Gruyere de Comte production. The cheesemaker would press the leftover curd from the evening production of Comte into a mold and cover it with a thin layer of ash to prevent it from both drying out and attracting flies. The next day he would add the leftover morning curd on top of the ash. The result is a two-layered semi-soft cheese with a complex fruity flavor and a slight tang. The two layers of the cheese have slightly different flavors, with the layer from the evening milking tasting fruitier than that from the morning milking. The ash not only separates the two layers of the cheese, it also serves an aesthetic purpose as it makes a dramatic presentation. Morbier is made using raw cow's milk and has a complex, bold flavor. Its yellow-ivory interior has a smooth texture, wrapped inside a creamy-brown crust. This cheese pairs well with French Saucisson or is great on a sandwich made with a crusty bread. It also melts beautifully. Made from unpasteurized cow's milk

Type: semi-soft
Country: Ireland
Name: Blarney Castle
Description: The Blarney Castle is one of Ireland's most visited tourist attractions. The castle contains the Blarney Stone, believed to be half of the Stone of Scone which originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers. Named after this famous landmark, Blarney Castle cheese is a semi-soft, part-skim cheese of exceptional quality and original character. Wholly natural, containing no artificial flavors or additives, its subtle flavor is reminiscent of a fine young Dutch Gouda. It comes from the heart of Ireland, a country with a lush green, unspoiled countryside, giving the cheese a wholesome purity. Varieties sold separately.

Type: semi-soft
Country: England
Name: Stinking Bishop
Description: Winner of the 2001 Best Exported British Cheese Award, Stinking Bishop is a washed rind cheese dating back to the Cistercian monks who once settled in Dymock where this cheese is made. Washed in fermented pear juice (also called "Perry"), the cheese develops a stinky, pungent, orange-colored, sticky rind. Named after the Stinking Bishop pear varietal, this cheese is a spectacular dairy experience. Suitable for Vegetarians.