Damn you, Shepherds Purse...
...you've ruined us for other cheeses.
We'd found the occasional bit of Yorkshire Blue or Harrogate Blue in supermarkets down south, but treated ourselves to 'A Bit of Blue' for Christmas so we could compare and contrast properly.
Delivery was great, packaging was lovely, but what about the cheese?!?
Bluemin' White - creamy, delicious, approachable and great for those who are just getting into blue cheese if they don't like the look of full veins. Also really nice baked with some heather honey.
Organic Yorkshire Blue - yummylicious creaminess and tanginess, particularly from the rind and perfect with a Peter's Yard Rye & Charcoal cracker (colour contrast as well as flavour). Lasting flavour but not overpowering - excellent balance.
Harrogate Blue - next-level creaminess which somehow makes this cheese the most luxurious-feeling in the Shepherds Purse lineup for us. Amazing blue notes and that long-lasting buttery creaminess is oh so good.
Northern Blue - my personal favourite in a group of stellar cheeses. Definitely stronger, punch you in chops in a good way - those hard as nails northern cows have done a great job. A cheese to savour.
Fig & Honey Chutney - delicious with any of the cheeses, though we enjoyed it most with Yorkshire Blue and Northern Blue.
We were treated to Stiltons, Gorgonzolas and even some blue cheeses from Lancashire (I'm White Rose but these friends are from the wrong side of the Pennines) over the Christmas period. They were all nice in their own ways, but each time, we came to the same conclusion - we'd rather have the Yorkshire/Harrogate/Northern Blue.
Damn you again, Shepherds Purse. We can't enjoy other blue cheeses now you've hooked us with your excellent cheesemaking. Thank you, I think?
