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Local Food Heroes
Leicester & Leicestershire Food Producers
Stilton Cheese
Blue Stilton, the ‘King of Cheese’, has a history that is so well-documented it is unneccesary to repeat it here, save to say that it now has the status of a ‘protected designation of origin’, which means that only cheese made in Leicestershire, Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire, to strictly enforced standards, can be called Stilton.
It takes its name from the village of Stilton in Cambridgeshire, where it was sold to travellers on the Great North Road, who called at The Bell Inn.
There are only seven licensed Stilton producers in the world. Four in Leicestershire, 2 in Nottinghamshire and 1 in Derbyshire. Other than the Derbyshire dairy, they are all within about 20 miles of Melton Mowbray, of pork pie fame.
A full Blue Stilton weighs approx. 16lbs and it takes about a gallon, or 4.5 litres, of milk to make each pound of cheese.
It is available as Blue Stilton, aged about 8 weeks, or Mature Blue Stilton, aged about 14 weeks. Organic and Vegetarian Stilton is available.
White Stilton is also made and also has a protected name. It is the same cheese, without the blue mould spores added, and is sold after about 4 weeks maturing. It is an excellent cheese on its own but, some may say regrettably, it is usually sold blended with things like apricot or cranberry.
Stilton dairies:
- Long Clawson, Leicestershire – one of the oldest farmers' co-operatives in the UK.
- Tuxford and Tebbutt, Leicestershire – part of the Milklink group
- Webster's, Leicestershire – a small dairy who also produce organic Stilton.
- Quenby Hall, Leicestershire – the birthplace of Stilton.
- Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire – family owned creamery.
- Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire – another farmers' co-operative.
- Hartington, Derbyshire – established by the Duke of Devonshire.
Stilton web-sites:
- Stilton Cheesemaker's Association – Everything you need to know about Stilton.
- Stilton Village web-site – The village that gave the cheese its name.
- Geronimo Stilton – The famous Italian Cheese loving mouse!