New Traditional Derby Cheese

At Hartington Creamery, it’s always an exciting time when we release a new cheese product. Whether it’s a limited edition to celebrate an event, or something that will be a permanent fixture in our hampers and subscription boxes, having a new flavour to brag about is always a delight.

This time, we have something very special to share. Our new Traditional Derby Cheese is actually a returning favourite – we’re producing it again for the first time in 16 years! So you can only imagine how amazing it is for both us and the cheese enthusiasts that have known our brand for a long time.

To celebrate, here’s everything you need to know about our Traditional Derby Cheese.

The Origin of our Traditional Derby Cheese

The history of Derby cheese is a history of cheesemaking in Britain. Back in 1870, when the first purpose-built cheese factory opened its doors in Longford, Derbyshire, the iconic Derby cheese was one of the first products to roll out.

Derby Cheese is a historic regional cheese that is worth getting to know again for its unique texture and flavour. Although it is not a PDO cheese, we are now officially the only producers of this cheese in Derbyshire and the UK, making it incredibly exclusive.

When the acquiring business closed the former Hartington Creamery in 2009 and we reopened in 2012, this was not one of the cheeses we decided to put back into production due to its long maturation times. Until now!

The Importance of the Traditional Cheesemaking Process

For over a hundred years we’ve been proud to preserve more than just our cheese. Many traditional methods have been replaced with machinery and techniques designed to produce as much as possible, as quickly as possible. However, we’ve seen first-hand how much flavour is lost when this is the case and insist that you shouldn’t have to settle for second-rate cheese.

By using the same techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation, our artisan cheese is the only one that truly deserves the word ‘traditional’. From our award-winning Stilton to our bolder flavours like chocolate chilli cheese, everything is only crafted using traditional methods.

When we decided to revive our Traditional Derby cheese, we knew that it had to be done right. Thankfully, every step of the process is done at our farm. From milking our 300 cows, to ageing, to packaging and shipping, it’s all done right here in the heart of Derbyshire. Every member of our team shares our commitment to tradition, and is equally proud of our cheese, so quality control is stringent throughout.

But that’s enough about us, you want to know about the cheese itself.

Why our Traditional Derby is better than Cheddar Cheese

The most popular mass-produced cheese in the UK has been cheddar for a long time. When most people think ‘cheese’, a wedge of cheddar often springs to mind before any stilton, brie, or a lovely blue Dovedale.

When we say our Derby cheese is more than just another block of cheddar, we mean it. Derby is similar to cheddar in colour, and that is where it ends. The methods we use are traditional, and the flavour you experience is like nothing an off-the-shelf cheddar it is more complex and unique something different for a change. You don’t need to be a cheese expert to notice either; any taste buds are in for a treat!

The texture of our Traditional Derby is spot on. It’s effortlessly smooth, which only serves to enhance its buttery flavour. We understand that not everyone likes a cheese that is too sharp; Derby cheese has plenty of richness but is never overwhelming.

How to Enjoy our Traditional Derby Cheese

Before you rush off to place your order, it’s important to know how best to enjoy our Traditional Derby Cheese. Although it flies well solo, there are ways to enhance the experience, so not a crumb will be wasted.

One of the best things about cheddar is its versatility. Our Traditional Derby is no different, it can be used on a cheeseboard among its fellow cheeses, a few biscuits, some chutney, and maybe a glass of wine or port. But it can also be used in cooking, adding an artisan touch to one of your favourite recipes.

Although sharing something so delicious can be challenging, our Traditional Derby Cheese is a perfect choice for a cheese tasting evening, or just some artisan nibbles at an event or party. You’ll see plenty of double takes when people realise how much better it is than the vastly different mass-produced cheddar!

You can also add Derby Cheese to one of our cheese gift hampers, potentially replacing a flavour you don’t think the giftee will enjoy, or giving them a safer flavour option that no one wouldn’t enjoy. It’ll also soon be added to our subscription boxes, so now’s the time to place your order, or one more reason to look forward to your next box!

Doing Artisan Cheese Differently

Our Traditional Derby Cheese is yet another way that we can showcase how we approach our cheese. It’s a community effort from start to finish; we work with local farmers and use sustainable methods wherever possible, for all of our products, not just cheese.

For a unique taste experience that you can only have from our humble farm in Derbyshire, our marvellous artisan cheddar is an absolute treat. We’re thrilled to have it back and can’t wait to share more of our upcoming cheeses, chutneys, and other products.

To find out more, or if you have any questions about us or our products, check out our blog or don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We look forward to hearing from you!