Cheese is one food that my family cannot be without! Especially when it comes to the festive season! From purchasing items at Christmas markets to even asking for them as Christmas presents, it really is the food that keeps on giving in our home! What about yours? If it is, then let me introduce you all to the incredible Long Clawson Dairy’s creations!

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Honestly, can you really go wrong with cheese when it comes to serving it at Christmas? There isn’t a person I don’t know who doesn’t love it! Something I find so interesting though is that everyone has a different kind that they love! Especially within our house! 

My mum is the biggest cheese fan, however, her ultimate kinds are ones either with a bit of flavour or extra strong. My brother Gio loves a fruity Wensleydale, whilst I used to like a more mild kind, such as a hearty Brie or mild cheddar in a cheese toastie. I was also a sucker for a Babybel and Cheesestring! 

Every Christmas, my mum is guaranteed to go wild buying every kind of cheese she can find to put out on the Christmas buffet table. Or to hide for herself to enjoy over the course of the festive season. Often, she will be found hunting the aisles or local cheese stores and Christmas markets to find her chunks. Yet, this year, she has fallen under the spell of Long Clawson Dairy’s magical creations. 

Having been making cheese for over 100 years, the team recently won the Supreme Champion award for their 1912 Artisan Stilton, which they claim is like no other. Championing the famous cheese, in hopes to get it appreciated more, the team want people to love it not just at Christmas but all year round too, so they have  really gone all out with it. As well as their truckles that really capture the heart of cheese making!

Kindly, the team asked me if I would like to sample their cheeses and with my mum looming over me, I of course said yes. I honestly think I would have been disowned if I had said no, as she is that much of a cheese lover. 

Arriving quickly, the cheese came in no time at all and featured two of the 1912 Artisan Stilton packs, the Captain Bulldog Vintage Cheddar, Dormouse’s Delight Wensleydale with Cranberry, Elderflower and Marmalade, the Castaway Wensleydale with Mango & Chilli, the Gunpowder Oak Smoked Mature Cheddar, Wizard’s Fire Red Leicester with Scotch Bonnet & Harissa and the Truffle Seeker Extra Mature Cheddar with Truffle and Honey. All of which that were taken out of my hands as soon as the box of them landed on my desk. 

Gorgeously packaged, it was actually a bit sad to cut them open, however, my mum took on the job with full force. Grabbing her cracker box from the cupboard, she quickly unwrapped the Stilton to give it the honour of going first. Probably her favourite kind of cheese of all time, she absolutely devoured the cheese. Going in for seconds, she stated that the flavours were rich, making it perfect to enjoy with crackers, in her famous tomato soup and on its own. She literally had to hold herself back from eating it all to allow for room for the rest. 

Deciding to go with her least favourite kinds next, she picked the two Wensleydale options. Starting with the unusual Castaway, she opened it before taking a quick sniff. Placing a reasonable chunk onto her cracker, she took a bite. Although she may not choose it again, she said that the ginger gave it a good kick that would make it great in a heart cheese toasty or on top of a sweet tomato pasta or chunked up on a salad. With Wensleydale in the air, she then picked up the more traditional cranberry kind. However, the team at Long Clawson Dairy have added a twist, with elderflower and marmalade being present too. 

This was the cheese my mum was most worried to try, however, upon the first bite she said it wasn’t as sweet as some, as the elderflower gave it a more mild taste. One that really worked for her. When discussing how she would have it, she stated that it would be perfect with pork in a post Christmas festive sandwich. A must for pigs in blankets in fact. 

Heading further into the cheese tasting, she decided it was time to up the heat. Wizard’s Fire had got her a bit worried when she read the scotch bonnet addition. Yet, she loved it! Whilst she said it was a warm one, she was excited to have it again but this time on top of a chilli to give it a real kick. She also said it would pair beautifully on top of a jacket potato. Something we regularly have in our house! 

Finally, we headed into her favourites territory. Cheddar is the ultimate cheese in our house. I loved a mild one but my mum and dad were and still are in my mum’s case big strong flavoured fans. Deciding to go with the Truffle Seeker next, she loved the way that the hearty flavour had that wonderful woody sweet taste that complimented every tastebud in the mouth. A cheese she said that would go great with a good fig chutney.

With the two plain cheddars to go next, she opted for the Gunpowder one next. Instantly taking a big bite of it on its own, she moaned in pure delight at the hearty nature of it. Loving every bite, it was another piece that she had to stop herself from eating all of it. Especially when she had the Captain Bulldog one to go next. The ultimate vintage cheddar, my mum declared after only one bite that it would be going in her cheese box and no one else was to have it. She has since seemed out how she can order more, as it is in her words, “the best cheddar I have ever had!” 

Long Clawson Dairy was not a brand that my family were familiar with. However, if my mum has anything to do with it they will now be within our home for life. The Stilton is a classic, whilst the trickles are a true gem that can’t be beat in my family’s eyes. If you are putting together your cheeses for Christmas, take a look at their website to find out more about each one and how to buy them! If you are anything like my mum then you will be in cheese heaven upon eating the first bite! 

Joey X