Original Mexicana Cheddar

What started as a way to torment a friend at cheese nights has transformed into a personal favourite.

A running joke at cheese nights is to select at least two cheeses which are likely to be unappetising to those among us with a less adventurous palette. Traditionally this takes the form of a strong blue cheese (an obvious staple of cheese nights anyway) and a Mexicana Cheddar, which we buy specifically for the purposes of being unpalatable. How then has this cheese captured my heart?

I first noticed this cheese’s potential when 10 cheeses deep in a cheese night. The lactose haze had truly set in and enthusiasm was plummeting, until the Mexicana hit. The spice cuts through the lethargy, reinvigorates the soul and, more importantly, the tongue.

The spice is perfectly curated, not too hot as to be painful or unpleasant, but not so weak as to be disappointing. There is a good variation throughout the block, with chunks of chilli pepper providing additional spice. There is a pleasant warm aftertaste to accompany the afterglow of spicy food.

Too often with flavoured cheeses the cheese itself is an afterthought. The underlying cheddar in Mexicana has a distinct and refreshing flavour, and an extremely creamy texture, both of which blend harmoniously with the spice. While it is obviously not the best cheddar on offer, I could not imagine a way to make a spicy cheddar better. It is dangerously moreish!

The brand is affordable and readily available in most UK supermarkets. It is firmly one of the best supermarket cheeses. With that in mind, I give it 8.1 out of 10.

Joe

Lover of strong flavours and interesting experiences.