Lancashire cheese facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lancashire
Country of origin	England
Region	Lancashire
Source of milk	Cows
Pasteurised	Depends on variety
Texture	Hard, creamy to crumbly
Aging time	1–24 months
Certification	Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese only: PDO

Lancashire cheese is a special type of cheese made in England. It comes from the county of Lancashire. This cheese is made from cow's milk.

There are three main kinds of Lancashire cheese. These are Creamy Lancashire, Tasty Lancashire, and Crumbly Lancashire. The first two are made using old, traditional methods. Crumbly Lancashire is a newer type, made for larger-scale production. People often enjoy Lancashire cheese with sweet pastries like Eccles cakes and Chorley cakes.

Discovering Creamy Lancashire Cheese

For many years, farmers' wives in Lancashire made cheese from extra milk. Small farms did not have enough milk in one day to make a whole cheese. So, they would curdle the milk each day and save it up. After a few days, they had enough curd to make a cheese.

How Traditional Lancashire Cheese is Made

Lancashire cheese is unique among British cheeses. It blends curds from two or three different days. This mix of curds, which are at different stages of maturity, gives Lancashire cheese its special taste.

In the 1890s, a man named Joseph Gornall helped standardize this method. He worked for the county council and visited many farms. He created a standard way to make the cheese, which is still used today. It is called the "Gornall method." He even sold a special "Gornall Patent Cheesemaker" machine.

What Makes Creamy Lancashire Special?

Creamy Lancashire cheese is made using this traditional method. It is aged for about four to twelve weeks. This cheese has a soft, fluffy feel and a rich, creamy taste. It is great for melting, especially on toast, because it stays smooth and does not get stringy.

Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese

Some Creamy Lancashire cheese has a special name: Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese. This name is protected by a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This means only cheese made with milk from a specific area north of the River Ribble can use this name. The cheese must also be made in that same area using a special method. The name comes from Beacon Fell, Lancashire, a hill in the designated area.

Exploring Tasty Lancashire Cheese

Tasty Lancashire cheese is made in the same traditional way as Creamy Lancashire. However, it is aged for a much longer time. It can be aged from 12 weeks up to 24 months. This longer aging gives it a stronger, more mature, and nutty flavor.

Special Varieties of Tasty Lancashire

There was once a version of Lancashire cheese called Leigh Cheese. It was made in Leigh, Greater Manchester but stopped being produced in the 1800s.

Another interesting type is the Lancashire Bomb. This is a round ball of Tasty Lancashire cheese. It is covered in black wax. Andrew Shorrock makes these special cheeses in Goosnargh.

Understanding Crumbly Lancashire Cheese

Crumbly Lancashire cheese is a more modern invention. It was first made in the 1950s. Unlike the other types, this cheese is made from just one day's milk. It is similar to other crumbly cheeses like Cheshire and Wensleydale.

Crumbly Lancashire is the only type of Lancashire cheese that can be made outside the county of Lancashire. It is usually aged for a shorter time, about 6 to 8 weeks. This shorter aging makes it crumbly, fresh, and a bit tangy.

Images for kids

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  Eccles cake and Lancashire cheese at a restaurant

See also

In Spanish: Queso Lancashire para niños