Glyde Farm Produce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bellingham Blue |
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Country of origin | Ireland |
Region, town | Mansfieldtown |
Region | County Louth |
Town | Castlebellingham |
Source of milk | Cow |
Pasteurised | No |
Weight | 3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lb), 1-2kg, 500–800 g (18–28 oz), 200g |
Aging time | 4 months |
Glyde Farm Produce is a company that makes special cheeses in Ireland. It was started in 1996 by Peter Thomas. He spent several years learning about the best dairy products for the Irish market.
Peter and Anita Thomas began making their famous Bellingham Blue cheese in 2000. They make it right on their family farm. This farm is located in Mansfieldtown, in County Louth, Ireland.
Contents
What is Bellingham Blue Cheese?
Bellingham Blue is a special kind of cheese. It is a firm blue cheese, meaning it has blue veins inside. This cheese is made from fresh, unpasteurized cow's milk.
The milk comes from their own cows, which are a type called Friesians. Bellingham Blue has a strong taste and a slightly salty finish. Its texture is crumbly and a bit grainy.
How Bellingham Blue Cheese is Made
Making Bellingham Blue cheese involves using raw milk. This means the milk is not heated to kill germs. Instead, cheesemakers carefully control the process to keep it safe. The cheese is then aged for about four months. This aging process helps it develop its unique flavor and texture.
Boyne Valley Blue Cheese
In 2011, a new version of the cheese was created. Peter Thomas teamed up with Michael Finnegan for this project. They started making a cheese called Boyne Valley Blue.
This cheese is similar to Bellingham Blue. However, it is made from raw goat's milk instead of cow's milk. This gives it a different, unique taste.
Awards for Bellingham Blue
Bellingham Blue cheese has won many important awards. These awards show how special and delicious the cheese is.
- In 2001, it won a Gold Medal at the British Cheese Awards. This was a big achievement early on.
- In 2008, Bellingham Blue received a silver medal. This award came from the World Cheese Awards.
- In 2010, it won the top prize at the Irish Cheese Awards. It was named the Supreme Champion.