What Makes Handmade Cheese So Special?
Handmade cheese is created using traditional methods that have been passed down through generations. These cheeses aren’t pumped out in large factories. Small batches are made with love and care, often using milk from nearby farms. This keeps the flavours fresh, rich, and full of character.
When cheese is made by hand, the cheesemaker checks everything personally. The temperature of the curd, the right moment to cut it, and even the way it’s stacked or pressed make a real difference. No shortcuts, no rushing. Just time, skill, and dedication.
At the Cheese Shop Nantwich, we partner with skilled artisan producers who take pride in every step of the cheese-making process. This ensures every bite delivers bold, deep flavours that industrial cheeses simply can’t match.
The Traditional Cheese-Making Process
Making cheese by hand is both an art and a science. It all starts with high-quality milk. This milk is usually from cows, goats, or sheep living close to the cheesemaker, grazing on grass and breathing fresh air. These small herds produce milk with subtle flavours that change with the seasons.
Once the milk is collected, it’s gently warmed and mixed with cultures to begin fermentation. After that, rennet is added to form curds. The curds are then cut, heated, stirred, and drained. Every step requires skill, timing, and a deep connection to the cheese in the making.
The next part varies depending on the cheese type. Some curds are pressed into moulds, others are shaped by hand. They may be brined or dry salted and flipped several times to develop the right rind and texture.
Once aged, or sometimes even enjoyed fresh, what you get is a cheese with a story, a bit of the land, the animals, and the cheesemaker’s personal touch all wrapped into one.
Popular Handmade Cheese Varieties
There are hundreds of different handmade cheese varieties out there. Some are world-famous while others are hidden gems. Here are a few you might come across at the Cheese Shop Nantwich that are always worth trying:
1. Farmhouse Cheddar
This British classic is rich, sharp, and crumbly. Handmade farmhouse cheddar is aged for several months, often wrapped in cloth and matured in special cheese rooms. The flavour sharpens with time, giving it a nutty, tangy kick.
2. Blue Stilton
Another traditional British favourite. Stilton is known for its marbled blue veins and bold, savoury flavour. When made by hand, it’s creamy but crumbly and delivers a powerful depth unlike anything you’d find in most supermarkets.
3. Brie de Meaux
From Northern France, this handmade brie uses raw cow’s milk and has a buttery, oozy centre with a strong earthy aroma. With a white bloomy rind, it’s a soft cheese that sings with rich flavour.
4. Goat’s Cheese (Chèvre)
Fresh and tangy, handmade goat’s cheese is a treat. It’s soft, sometimes rolled in herbs or ash, and has a clean and slightly acidic taste that makes it perfect for salads or paired with honey.
5. Manchego
From Spain, Manchego is made using sheep’s milk. It has a sweet, nutty flavour and a firm texture. When handmade, it often comes wrapped in traditional woven baskets that leave a pattern on the rind.
Flavour You Can Feel
So why does handmade cheese taste so different? It’s all about the care and the touch. No two batches are exactly alike because the process depends on the maker’s senses. A cheesemaker knows when the curd is ready just by feeling it between their fingers.
The milk used is often unpasteurised or only gently heated, which means the natural bacteria aren’t destroyed. These good bacteria give the cheese its character. Add to this different techniques, tools, and maturing times, and the final flavour stands out in every bite.
Handmade cheese doesn’t need artificial flavours or colours. Everything good about it comes from time, skill, and patience.
Pairing Handmade Cheese with Food and Drink
One of the joys of cheese is pairing it with other flavours. Handmade cheese, with its strong personality, pairs wonderfully with many foods and drinks.
- Farmhouse Cheddar: Try it with apple chutney or a crusty bread, alongside cider or a dark ale.
- Blue Stilton: Goes beautifully with port wine or topped on a steak.
- Goat’s Cheese: Lovely with beetroot salad or drizzled with honey. Try it with chilled white wine.
- Brie: Pair with fresh figs or dried apricots and a smooth red wine.
- Manchego: Pairs wonderfully with olives, almonds and a glass of Rioja.
The Cheese Shop Nantwich team is always happy to help you put together the perfect cheese board, whether for a quiet evening or a full family party.
Caring for Your Handmade Cheese
These cheeses are special, so they need a little care when storing at home:
- Keep it cool: Store in your fridge, ideally in the vegetable drawer to maintain moderate humidity.
- Wrap it right: Use wax paper, baking paper, or special cheese paper, then loosely place inside a plastic container.
- Don’t use cling film: It’ll suffocate the cheese and make it sweat.
- Let it breathe: Before eating, take it out of the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Enjoy within a few days: While hard cheeses can last weeks, soft handmade cheeses are best eaten fresh.
Good cheese is alive. Look after it, and it will taste even better.
Supporting Local Cheesemakers
When you buy handmade cheese, you do more than enjoy good food. You support small-scale farmers, animal welfare, and local communities. The people behind these cheeses work hard, often in small dairies, using skills handed down from grandparents and great-grandparents.
At the Cheese Shop Nantwich, we’re proud to champion local and regional cheese producers across the UK and Europe. We believe their passion and traditions deserve to be shared and celebrated.
Every purchase, every bite, is a way of saying thank you to the cheesemakers keeping these traditions alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between handmade and factory-made cheese?
Handmade cheese is crafted in small batches with traditional methods. Factory cheese is mass-produced, often using automated processes. This affects taste, texture, and overall quality.
Can I freeze handmade cheese?
We don’t usually recommend freezing cheese, especially soft varieties. It changes the texture and can dull the flavours. If you must freeze hard cheese, wrap it well and use it for cooking when thawed.
Are handmade cheeses safe to eat for pregnant women?
Some handmade cheeses use unpasteurised milk, which may not be recommended during pregnancy. Always check the label or ask at the Cheese Shop Nantwich for safe options.
How long does handmade cheese last in the fridge?
It depends on the type. Hard cheeses like cheddar can last several weeks if stored properly. Soft cheeses like brie or goat’s cheese should be eaten within a few days of opening.
Why does the same type of cheese taste different each time?
Handmade cheese can vary due to the season, the animal’s diet, and the natural bacteria in the milk. This variation is part of what makes it special.
Discover Handmade Cheese at Its Best
The world of handmade cheese is full of textures, scents, and flavours you won’t find in standard supermarket blocks. There’s something honest and comforting about tasting food that someone has poured their heart into.
At Cheese Shop Nantwich, we’re passionate about bringing you the finest traditionally made cheeses from small artisan producers. From the rolling hills of Cheshire to the farms of France and Spain, our cheeses tell a story in every bite.
Whether you are new to handmade cheese or a lifelong fan, come and explore our range. Our shelves are packed with unique cheeses ready to be enjoyed with good bread, fine wine, and great company.
Pop into our shop or browse our collection online at cheeseshopnantwich.co.uk and discover your next favourite cheese today.
