Caboc facts for kids

Caboc is a special Scottish cream cheese. It's made using rich double cream or milk that has extra cream added. This cheese doesn't use rennet, which is a common ingredient in many cheeses. Caboc is shaped like a log and then rolled in toasted pinhead oatmeal. People usually enjoy it with oatcakes or dry toast.

What is Caboc?

Taste and Texture

Caboc has a very smooth texture. It's a bit thicker and slightly grainier than clotted cream. Its color is a pale, soft yellow, like a primrose flower. This cheese is quite rich, with about 67-69% fat. This is similar to other rich cream cheeses from Europe, like mascarpone.

Caboc for the Wealthy

Historically, Caboc was considered a cheese for rich people. This was different from another Scottish cheese called Crowdie. Crowdie was made from the leftover milk after the cream was taken out. So, Crowdie was known as a "poor man's cheese."

The Story of Caboc

Scotland's Oldest Cheese

Caboc is known as Scotland's oldest cheese. Its history goes all the way back to the 15th century. It was first made in the Scottish Highlands.

Mariota's Secret Recipe

The first person to make Caboc was Mariota de Ile. She was the daughter of a powerful leader from the Clan MacDonald of the Isles. When Mariota was just 12 years old, she was in danger. Another clan, the Clan Campbell, wanted to kidnap her. They planned to make her marry one of their own to take her family's land.

Mariota managed to escape to Ireland. While she was there, she learned how to make this special cheese. When she returned home, she taught the recipe to her own daughter. This secret recipe has been passed down from mother to daughter ever since. Today, Mrs Suzannah Stone of Tain makes Caboc. She works with eight local women, and their cheese is sold by Highland Fine Cheeses Ltd.

The Oatmeal Legend

There's a fun story about why Caboc is covered in oatmeal. A long time ago, a cattle herder was carrying his cheese in a box. He had used the same box earlier to carry his oatcakes. The cheese accidentally picked up some oatmeal from the box. Everyone loved the taste of the cheese with the oatmeal coating so much. From that day on, Caboc has always been made with its unique oatmeal crust!