Cheddar is undoubtedly one of the true workhorses of the cheese world. With a very competitive market it can be hard to stand out. For me (and many others in these more austere times) price can be a big motivating factor. I have found that some of the big names in the cheddar world tend to be marketed at a premium in the supermarket. I was therefore quite surprised to see this tasty 500g offering for just £2.99 at my local Farmfoods. Not having been a consumer before, I was eager to slap it down in my metaphorical basket!

The offering from Seriously offers an excellent all-around package. Initial impressions of colour and form were encouraging. The lack of any real odour makes the surprise of the taste all the better. The taste is punchy without being overwhelming. It lingers for just long enough with a slightly earthy undertone. It sits at the Extra Mature level which I think is a fair reflection of the flavour. Whilst it lacks the crystallisation you might find in a more vintage offering, the cheese has an excellent balance between body and crumbly-ness.

If I had to find fault, it would be that the cheese doesn’t tend to hold up so well when it has been cooked or melted (which I have found other extra mature cheeses have done). This is a pretty minor gripe overall though and if you are enjoying the cheese in a sandwich or on a biscuit you will have little cause to complain. This particular purchase comes in at just 60p per 100g so there is certainly no need to skimp on portions! (other shops are selling it for slightly more but still good value). As an added bonus, the packaging is resealable in case you decide not to demolish the whole block in one sitting like some of my colleagues here might be tempted to do if not properly restrained…

RATING – 8.5

RECOMMENDATION – Best enjoyed cold!

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