The Waiting Game

Once bitten by the cheese-making bug, you will go to extraordinary lengths to provide the perfect maturing cave.

Moorlands has dedicated, imaginative customers sharing their solutions to ensure their home-made cheese has the best start in life.

UK cities are particular hot spots, with cheese making happening in flats, terraces and even bedsits. Under stairs cupboards are being turned into caves; insulated boxes are springing up on balconies, in garden sheds and garages. Very important to make sure your insulated box is rodent proof though ...

Of course, most modern fridges have much better temperature control nowadays, with the bottom salad compartment being perfect for maturing soft cheeses and great to store matured, hard cheese between meals.

Making hard cheese is all about the waiting game, but making cheese regularly will reward you with a succession of delicious achievements.

For more cheesemaking tips and information about our kits and products, please visit www.cheesemaking.co.uk

Top Ten Cheese Making Tips

Making cheese at home is something most people are capable of doing, it’s just a case of bearing in mind a set of basic tips, which will enable you to get great results.

 

1.    Be sure to keep all equipment and preparation areas really clean to prevent unwanted mould growth.

2.    Get organised. Check that you have everything to hand before you start with regard to ingredients and equipment. If you don’t already have them, you’ll need to invest in some basic equipment before starting out in cheese making, including a large bowl, long-handled spoon or skimmer, cheesecloth, a colander, large pan, thermometer and measuring cups/spoons. If you’re making hard cheese, then a press will also be required. You can buy good quality equipment at www.cheesemaking.co.uk

3.    Write everything down. In the back of 'An Introduction To Cheesemaking At Home' there are blank pages to do just that. When you turn out your first home made cheese and it tastes delicious, you will be able to do it all again. Perhaps it may need tweaking, i.e. a little less salt or a few more herbs, keeping notes will help you create your ideal cheese.

4.    Use good quality, fresh milk to make your cheese – UHT milk is not suitable! Ideally raw (untreated) milk is best, although you can use pasteurised milk, preferably organic. The most important point about the milk is that it must be non-homogenised.

5.    Depending on the type of cheese you choose to make, you will need rennet and specific cultures, all of which can be obtained from the Moorlands website.

6.    If you’re just starting out in cheese making, the best option may be to purchase one of our comprehensive kits that include full instructions, together with items such as rennet, starter, cheesecloth, thermometer, mat etc, depending on which kit you choose www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-making-kits

7.    The best place to make low temperature cheese is in your kitchen sink! To gently heat your milk, place it in a pan placed in a sink of hot water, topping up the water from a kettle as required.

8.    You don’t necessarily need to buy specific cheese salt, fine grade cooking/table salt will suffice.

9.    If applying wax to your cheese, ensure that the cheese is completely dry before you start, to prevent mould growth.

10.  Be adventurous. Cheese making is not an exact science.

For more information and advice please visit our Q&A page

www.cheesemaking.co.uk/qa

A New Start

With the start of a new year you may be considering taking up a new hobby or pastime. There are so many great activities available, but if you’re looking for something really different that provides a tasty end result, then cheesemaking could be the pastime for you.

Cheese is a very nutritious foodstuff (an added bonus if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to eat more healthily) as it is a great source of protein, calcium and vitamins. The options you have when making cheese are also endless, with a great variety of hard and soft cheeses to choose from and the scope to add herbs, seasoning and flavourings of your choice to create even more possibilities.

A great way to get started is with one of our comprehensive kits that include the essentials to get you started, together with full instructions. www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-making-kits

We also supply a range of equipment and ingredients, such as rennet, to provide you with everything that you need to make delicious cheese.

So what are you waiting for? Take up cheesemaking today!

Christmas With Moorlands

It’s that time of year again when you find yourself scratching your head, trying to think of unusual Christmas gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people.

Maybe you’re looking for a present for someone who seems to have just about everything! Or perhaps you’re searching for something to give to a couple or a whole family as a joint gift. You may be totally out of ideas, so we have a great suggestion - choose one of the great cheese making kits from our selection at Moorlands!

From budding young chefs to seasoned food connoisseurs, our kits are sure to please everyone. Our popular kid’s kit is a definite winner, whilst our combined kit contains what you need to make both hard and soft cheeses. Take a look at these and more at:   

www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-making-kits

Of course, by giving a cheese making kit this Christmas, you’re not only giving the opportunity to enjoy a pleasurable pastime, but the ongoing gift of lovely fresh cheese to enjoy!

Merry Christmas from Moorlands!

The Big Cheese Move

If you’ve visited our website recently, or if you follow us on Twitter, you will have seen that Moorlands has recently moved our premises from the beautiful setting of Castle Cary, Somerset to the equally beautiful Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire.

Of course Somerset is known for being the home of Cheddar cheese, which originated from the village of the same name. It is thought to have been around since the 12^th century, when it was purchased by Henry II, and it’s still a hugely popular buy today.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire is the home of the popular, semi-hard Gloucester cheese, which is actually available in single and double varieties. Double Gloucester is aged for a longer period, creating a stronger taste, and is often blended with ingredients such as chives and spring onions. It also features in Gloucestershire’s annual cheese-rolling contest.

But whatever your taste in cheese, and regardless of where we’re actually based, you can be sure of purchasing premium quality cheesemaking kits, equipment and supplies from http://www.cheesemaking.co.uk

Roll Up For Cheese!

Cheese, a versatile food that you can serve with crackers, on toast, in sauces, on pizzas, in quiches, as part of a ploughman’s lunch … the list goes on. Whether you enjoy it with a cup of tea or a glass wine, it’s a delicious food, rich in protein and calcium, which you can indulge in at any time. 

There are those, however, who have found other interesting uses for cheese. In Gloucestershire, an annual cheese-rolling contest (thought to date back to the 19^th century) is held at Cooper’s Hill, Brockworth, with the 2017 champion, soldier Chris Anderson, recently crowned – or rather presented with a Double Gloucester Cheese. The race involves chasing downhill after a 9lb Double Gloucester Cheese, which can apparently reach speeds of 70mph! A May Day programme of cheese-rolling events is also held yearly in Stilton, Cambridgeshire.

But if all this seems a bit too energetic for you, we have an idea for a cheese activity that you can enjoy in your own home – cheesemaking. If you’re new to the craft, then one of our comprehensive kits is an easy way to get started. Visit http://www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-making-kits to see our full range.

You can get the whole family involved in making delicious cheese, whether hard or soft, made with cows’, goats’ or sheep’s milk and with the addition of herbs and spices if desired. So why not give it a go, with a little help from Moorlands?

Marvellous Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a fresh tasting, firm but creamy curd cheese that is often added to pizza toppings or pasta bakes as it melts easily. Traditionally made from buffalo’s milk, but now more commonly produced using cows’ milk due to high demand, you can make tasty Mozzarella in your own home.

The first Mozzarella was made near Naples, Italy, and legend has it that it originally came about by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water, although it has also been attributed to third century Italian Monks who gave out “Mozza’ to the poor.

For a traditional Italian salad, slice Mozzarella and ripe tomatoes, drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top and add torn basil leaves and a little salt to taste.

Need a supply of fresh Mozzarella? Then simply make your own – it’s easier than you think!

At Moorlands, we’re pleased to offer a complete Mozzarella Cheese Kit containing full instructions, dial thermometer, cheese curds, citric acid and vegetarian rennet – just add milk and a little of your time! Click here to order your kit.

To view other cheesemaking kits that we offer, please visit www.cheesemaking.co.uk

Waxing Lyrical About Cheese

With Christmas approaching, it’s worth remembering that it’s not just our cheesemaking kits that make great presents, as cheese hand made by you can make a great gift too! To make your cheese look all the more festive, you can give it that finishing touch with one of our colourful waxes. www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-wax

  

These waxes give a beautiful airtight finish to hard and semi-hard cheeses, keeping the good bacteria in and the harmful out and preventing the cheese from drying out. Just melt down the wax in a heavy pan, a little larger than the cheese to be dipped. We recommend dipping the cheese twice for a perfect finish before allowing the wax to cool. You can then simply place the lid on the pan and store the wax somewhere cool between batches.

Whether you choose to give one of our popular Moorlands cheesemaking kits www.cheesemaking.co.uk/cheese-making-cheese-making-kits or a cheese lovingly made by you and encased in one of lovely waxes, we’re sure your gift will be very well received. 

Why Make Your Own Cheese?

There are many reasons for making your own cheese at home. In addition to the enjoyment of the process and the satisfaction of achievement, there are the added benefits of making cheese to your own taste and to suit your personal dietary requirements. Then of course, there are the health benefits.

Much publicity has been given over the years to controlling the amount of salt that we consume in our diet, encouraging us to stay within guidelines set for its recommended daily intake. By definition many cheeses require salt to aid with the cheesemaking process and act as a preservative. However, certain soft cheeses may be made without the introduction of salt, whilst when making other types of cheese you are able to control the amount, type and quality of salt that you use. At Moorlands we recommend using our fine grade, organic sea salt (see here)

And of course, cheese is a great source of calcium needed for healthy development of bones and teeth in children and to stave off osteoporosis in later life. In fact, why not get the kids involved in the cheesemaking process with one of our Kids Cheesemaking Kits (more here) that help to make cheese healthy and fun?

Whether you use cows’, ewes’ or goats’ milk, make cheese to a traditional recipe or add your own herbs or spices, the beauty of making your own cheese is that you’re in control and can enjoy making the cheese that you really want to eat.

For more information please visit www.cheesemaking.co.uk

Or you can call 0196 335 0634 or complete our form here

Welcome to Moorlands

Welcome to the blog for Moorlands Cheesemaking Ltd, suppliers of professional-style cheesemaking kits that allow you to make delicious cheese tailored to your individual tastes, in your own home.

Originally established in 1969, Moorlands is based in Somerset, home of traditional English Cheddar and the popular Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show. People from all walks of life including top London restaurateurs and well-known celebrity chefs have purchased our cheese kits.

The beauty of making your own cheese is that you can take into account your own personal food intolerances or tastes. For example, if you are unable to digest cows’ milk, you can use goats’ or ewes’ milk instead or if you like a cheese flavoured with herbs or spices you can add these when making your cheese.

Our cheesemaking kits come complete with liquid rennet (an enzyme complex that curdles milk) and high quality starters (cultures containing lactic-acid producing bacteria used in the fermentation process). They also contain the necessary equipment to get started with the cheesemaking process including cheese moulds, thermometer, cheesecloth, full instructions and, in the case of hard cheese kits, a press. 

Whether you’re looking to take up a new interest yourself or are seeking a slightly more unusual gift, a Moorlands cheesemaking kit is the ideal choice.

For more information please visit www.cheesemaking.co.uk

For enquiries please call 0196 335 0634 or use our customer enquiry form at www.cheesemaking.co.uk/index.php?route=information/contact

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing our love of cheesemaking.