Norbury Blue facts for kids

Norbury Blue is a special English blue cheese that comes from Surrey. It's made completely by hand, which means a lot of care goes into every piece! This cheese is unique because it's the only blue cheese made in the South of England using milk from a special group of Friesian cows. These cows live in a "closed herd," meaning no new animals are brought in, which helps keep them healthy. They also eat only "GM-free" food, which means their food hasn't been changed using genetic engineering. Norbury Blue cheese was first made at Norbury Park Farm until 2018, when its home moved to Sherbourne Farm in Albury.

How Norbury Blue Cheese is Made

Making Norbury Blue cheese is a careful process. It starts with fresh, unpasteurised cow's milk. "Unpasteurised" means the milk hasn't been heated to kill germs, which helps give the cheese its special flavour.

• Special Ingredients:

* A vegetarian rennet is added to the milk. Rennet is a substance that helps the milk thicken and separate into solid curds and liquid whey. * A special type of mould, called P. roqueforti, is also added. This is the same kind of mould used in famous cheeses like Roquefort. It's what creates those beautiful blue lines inside the cheese!

• Maturing Process:

* After the cheese is formed, it's left to mature, or age, for about three weeks. * During this time, it's kept in a cool place, around 12–14 °C (54–57 °F). This temperature is perfect for the blue mould to grow and spread throughout the cheese, creating its unique marbled look. * Norbury Blue is completely natural, with no artificial colours added.

What Norbury Blue Tastes Like

Norbury Blue cheese has a wonderful taste and texture that many people enjoy.

• Texture and Smell:

* It feels moist and creamy in your mouth. * It has a pleasant, slightly earthy smell, sometimes called "musty," which is common for blue cheeses.

• Flavour:

* The taste is tangy, a bit like the strong flavour of Roquefort cheese. * But it also has a rich creaminess, similar to a soft Brie cheese. * The blue veins inside the cheese have a smoky, earthy taste that adds to its unique flavour.

• Appearance:

* The outside of the cheese has a dark, rough rind that looks a bit like tree bark. * Inside, the cheese is mostly white with delicate blue lines running through it, making it look very appealing.