Cheddar (Sainsbury’s British Mature)
Of the varieties of cheese to review, cheddar is by far the most popular and most competitive. At any tasting evening we are likely to have multiple different varieties to compare and contrast.
My first impression of this cheddar is that it is not in fact particularly mature. It does not smell particularly strong and there is no intense flavour. No calcium lactate crystals form on the surface and it lacks the mature crunch you can get in other cheddars. I would not buy this as a mature cheddar.
However, that is not to say that the cheese is bad. It is a pleasant medium cheddar with a very palatable taste. The texture is very smooth, with only a slight crumble, which makes the cheese very easy to cut or grate. This would make an excellent sandwich cheese.
I also tried melting the cheese. The texture when molten is quite runny and stringy, unlike other mature cheddars which maintain more of their structure. A word of caution however, it does burn fairly quickly under the grill.
This cheese is unlikely to score too well at a cheese tasting night, but is an excellent and affordable choice for when the cheese isn’t the focus of the meal. I also anticipate this being a good cheese for children, due to its smooth texture and inoffensive flavour. I rate this cheddar a respectable 6.5/10.
Lover of strong flavours and interesting experiences.