Stihians Cornish Yarg (Lynher Dairies)
A trip to the cheese counter at the deli is always a delight. You can almost bank on finding a new and interesting cheese to sample. So it was with my next 3 planned reviews. You might pay a premium for these offerings so is it worth it?
Cornish Yarg is a hard cheese with a slightly crumbly consistency. This Stithians variety is one of the Yargs produced by Lynher Daries in Cornwall. Their website boasts the awards won by this particular cheese so I was keen to get stuck in to see what the fuss was about!
So how does this offering present itself? Initial thoughts are a that pleasant odour emanates from the cheese itself. It has a pleasant yellowish tinge with some crystallisation which usually bodes well. The taste hits you pretty hard out of the blocks (no pun intended) and gives both a long-lasting flavour and a surprisingly creamy texture. There is a distinct sweetness to the taste which is a pleasure to linger on the tongue! One thing to watch for is the rind. I am normally the first to boldly consume the rind of any cheese (unless its wax or I am specifically requested not to by the packaging). However, this rind is very much at the inedible end of the spectrum. I mean, I haven’t fallen ill from eating a bit but the taste is overwhelming and certainly not a pleasant addition to the cheese. This is no matter as the actual product certainly offers a lot of taste. Another bonus is that this cheese performs admirably straight out of the fridge so for a punchy little snack it certain has a lot going for it.
I sit here nibbling a little slice from the fridge and I can say I am suitably impressed. I suspect this would certainly hold its own in a sandwich as well as on a cheeseboard. I might even try melting it on toast which, I suspect, will no doubt prove an excellent option (update – it did).
RATING – 9.0
RECOMMENDATION – East slowly and savour every bit. The long-lasting flavour deserves to be enjoyed and it seems like a versatile cheese that holds it own in a variety of eating options
Consummate copious consumer of cheese. Lover of a good strong cheddar!