Artisan producers are going the extra mile to support local causes and communities with their products, which are well worth showcasing on your cheeseboard this Christmas
words TRACEY COLLEY photograph HANNAH TAYLOR-EDDINGTON
1 Nettlebed
Nettlebed’s founder, Rose Grimald, is a firm believer in giving people a second chance. Working with local prison, HMP Huntercombe, the company runs an apprenticeship scheme, offering paid work to highly vetted offenders as part of their rehabilitation, where they work every morning with the creamery team.
Bix is a complex, triple-cream cheese made using pasteurised cow’s milk, with added double cream. It’s matured for three weeks, so a white, wrinkly rind develops to produce a soft, buttery cream texture within. Serve with a glass of festive fizz. (£6.40, 100g, at Waitrose & Partners) nettlebedcreamery.com
2 Mike’s Fancy Cheese
Mike Thomson set up Mike’s Fancy Cheese by securing crowd-funding investment. He created Northern Ireland’s only raw-milk blue cheese and nurtured its cheesemaking culture. He helps other cheesemakers in the region with retail support and collaboration.
Young Buck is a crumbly blue cheese, handcrafted in small batches. Similar in look and texture to stilton, it’s made with raw milk, giving it savoury, farmyard notes balanced with sweet, salty flavours and notes of dried fruit and spice. Superb with sweet port or dessert wine.
(£7.40, 250g) mfcheese.com
3 Caws Teifi
Established in 1982, Caws Teifi is the longest running artisan cheesemaker in Wales. They champion education of organic practices and open their farm to people from all over the world; inviting them to stay and learn to make cheese, and spirits in their distillery. They are one of few cheesemakers using fully certified, local organic cow’s milk and they support their local Welsh Wildlife Trust by donating 10p per kilo of their organic halloumi sales. Chilli Teifi is a Gouda-style cheese, with a dense, smooth and creamy texture. Chilli flakes give a gentle heat at first, leading to a real kick. Pair with sweet cider or IPA to balance the spiciness. (£4.95, 180g) teificheese.co.uk
4 St Andrews
Cheesemakers since 2008, the Stewart family has farmed at Falside Farm in Fife since the 1930s, priding themselves on top-quality milk from their own Friesian Holsteins cows. They recognise their responsibility for the environment and the need to ‘give back’. They welcome veterinarian students for dairy plac
