Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese |
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| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Region | County Cork |
| Town | Kanturk |
| Source of milk | Cows |
| Pasteurised | Yes |
| Fat content | 25% |
| Weight | 400g and 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) wheel |
| Aging time | Four to eight weeks |
Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese is a special type of cheese made in County Cork, Ireland. The farm, called Ardrahan Farmhouse, creates two main kinds of cheese: Ardrahan and Duhallow. Eugene and Mary Burns started making Ardrahan cheese on their farm in 1983. They used old-fashioned methods. Both cheeses are made only from the milk of their own cows, which are a type called Friesian cows.
Contents
What is Ardrahan Cheese?
Ardrahan is a semi-soft cheese. This means it's not super hard like cheddar, but not super soft like cream cheese either. It's made from cow's milk that has been pasteurised. Pasteurisation is a heating process that makes milk safe to drink. This cheese also uses something called vegetarian rennet, which helps the milk turn into cheese.
How Ardrahan Cheese Looks and Tastes
Ardrahan cheese has about 25% fat. It's shaped into round wheels that weigh either 400 grams or 1.5 kilograms. The outside of the cheese, called the rind, is washed with salty water. This makes it a bit bumpy and helps special moulds grow on it. Sometimes, you can even find a smoked version of Ardrahan cheese.
When you taste Ardrahan cheese, it has a rich, buttery flavour. It also has a fresh, tangy taste and a smell that reminds you of a farm. The inside of the cheese is smooth and a deep yellow colour. The rind is safe to eat and adds to the flavour. Ardrahan cheese becomes ready to eat in about four to eight weeks.
The Story of Ardrahan Cheese
The Burns family started making Ardrahan cheese in 1983. They used their own cows' milk and traditional methods. Over the years, their cheese became very popular.
Duhallow Cheese
Since 2006, the farm has also made another cheese called Duhallow. This cheese is a bit harder than Ardrahan. It's also made from pasteurised cow's milk and vegetarian rennet. A lot of the Duhallow cheese made on the farm is sent to the United States for people there to enjoy.
Awards and Recognition
Ardrahan cheese has won many awards for its great taste and quality. In 1994, it won a special award called the Irish Food Writers Guild annual Good Food award. Since then, Ardrahan has continued to win many more medals. These include awards from the British Cheese Awards and the World Cheese Awards, which are big competitions for cheeses from all over the world.
See also
In Spanish: Ardrahan para niños
