Stinking Bishop (cheese) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stinking Bishop |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Region | Gloucestershire |
| Town | Dymock |
| Source of milk | Cow |
| Pasteurised | Yes |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy, semi-soft |
| Fat content | 48% |
| Aging time | c. 4 months |
| Certification | - |
| Named after | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 70: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Stinking Bishop is a special type of washed-rind cheese. It has been made since 1972 by Charles Martell and Son. This cheese comes from Hunts Court Farm in Dymock, Gloucestershire, in the west of England. It is made using milk from Gloucester cattle.
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The Story Behind the Cheese
In 1972, there were only 68 female Gloucester cattle left in the world. Charles Martell bought many of these cows. He started making cheese from their milk. His main goal was to help people become interested in this rare cow breed.
Since then, his own herd has grown to 25 cows. Other farmers have also become interested in Gloucester cattle. This has helped the total number of these cows grow to about 450. Because Martell's herd is still small, the Gloucester milk is mixed with milk from Friesian cows from a nearby farm. All the milk is pasteurised, which means it's heated to kill germs. The cheese has 48% fat.
How Stinking Bishop Gets Its Name and Smell
The color of Stinking Bishop cheese can be white, yellow, or beige. It has an orange or gray rind (the outer layer). The cheese is shaped into round wheels. Each wheel weighs about 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds). They are 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) across and 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) thick. Only about 20 tonnes (about 22 tons) of this cheese are made each year.
The cheese gets its strong smell from how it is washed. While it ages, it is soaked in perry (a drink made from pears) every four weeks. This perry comes from a local pear called the Stinking Bishop pear. This is also where the cheese gets its name! To make the cheese moist and help good bacteria grow, salt is not added until the cheese is taken out of its mold.
A Famous Cheese
This cheese became very famous in 2005. It was featured in the Wallace & Gromit film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. In the movie, Gromit uses the cheese to wake up Wallace. After the film, people wanted to buy Stinking Bishop cheese much more. Demand for it went up by 500%! This meant the cheesemaker had to hire more people and make more cheese.
Where to Find Stinking Bishop
Stinking Bishop is a special, handmade cheese. It is not usually sold in big supermarkets. You can find it in over 130 stores across the UK. These include small, local food shops and delicatessens. You can also find it in famous stores like Harrods and Selfridges.
Awards Won
- 2010, Gold Medal Winner at the British Cheese Awards
See also
In Spanish: Stinking Bishop para niños
