Delicious solidified cow fat (Cathedral City Mature Cheddar)

Member Name: kerrypanda

Product:	Cathedral City Mature Cheddar
Date:	11/10/09 (98 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's yummy.

Disadvantages: The fat!

Way back in 1996, and I only remember the year because I was pregnant, I was working as an office manager for a little country hotel. So one night someone called down and asked for cheese on toast but did we have Cathedral City cheddar?

It turned out we did, and the cheese on toast looked so nice I asked chef very nicely if I could have some too. I took it back to the office, and from first bite I was hooked.

I developed a habit of nipping into the larder during quiet moments to peel back the wax paper and chip a bit off the block to nibble. Yes, it was stealing, technically, but I was well into the cravings phrase of pregnancy and anyone who's experienced that knows how fanatical a pregnant woman can become over her favoured foods!

Also it was hard to find back then as it had only been on sale for a year. Of course now it's widely available, in fact according to the cheese's official website 'Cheddar Gardens' it can be found in 1 out of 3 British fridges. The packaging also states that it's the UK's favourite cheddar brand.

Cathedral City cheese is made to a 25 year old traditional West Country recipe. It's vegetarian which is great as not all cheese is vegetarian, it often contains rennet.

The packaging is a plastic resealable packet with a russet and yellow colour scheme and a little cathedral logo. It has to be cut open and it's advisable to use scissors for the job, I have tried to open the packet with my teeth before (when I'm hungry I'm desperate!) and ripped the thin plastic, rendering the resealable feature useless.

The fat content is huge. In my current 600g block the fat content works out at 209.4g (and 2496 calories). Not that I intend to eat it all in one go but still!

According to the instructions on the reverse of the packaging, the cheese should be consumed within 7 days of opening. That's a bit of a challenge for two people when faced with the 600g family block but we often manage it. Anyway, in my opinion it can keep for a couple of weeks without any change in taste.

To me, no other cheddar tastes as good. Cathedral City has a lovely richness and creaminess to it, standard supermarket cheddar tastes very bland and flavourless by comparison. The Cathedral City slogan 'Mature yet Mellow', sums it up perfectly.

The only thing I can think of to dislike is the strong whiff reminiscent of rancid feet that I encounter when I first open the packet!

The range has grown to include ready-grated and ready-sliced cheddar, and mild, lighter, extra mature and vintage versions. You can also buy Snack Packs, Mini cheeses, and Lunch Packs with crackers, pickle and relish.

Cathedral City is not the cheapest cheese on the market, but you will usually find it on price-cut or offer whatever supermarket you go into. I bought the 600g pack for £4, saving 99p on the regular price. The 400g block is usually priced at £3.85, and the small 200g pack is £1.94.

Summary: The cheese of choice in my household.