April Cheese of the Month: Olde York

Multi award-winning Olde York is one of our original cheeses, handcrafted here at Shepherds Purse since the late 1980’s.

 

Originally made using milk from our own flock, such was the popularity of our sheep milk range that we soon needed more milk than we could produce ourselves, and so began to source exceptional ewes’ milk from a flock in the North of England. 

Did you know? Olde York was one of the cheeses selected for the British Airways Concorde menu in the 1990’s!

Unlike our other cheeses, Olde York is made using the Coulommier method, a process where the curd is gently layered into the moulds and then left to set under their own weight, allowing the whey to gently drain off. 

 

 

Our team handcraft Olde York in small batches of around 1000ltrs, and as it doesn’t need much time to mature – typically only a couple of weeks, they then wax each cheese by hand to seal in and preserve the delicate texture and flavour.  

Thanks to the high levels of Vitamin A in sheep milk, (you can find out more about the benefits of ewes milk here) Olde York is a soft, bright white cheese, which has a deliciously fresh, citrusy flavour.  Its delicate texture means it can be eaten straight from the fridge in slices or, if left to warm up, becomes indulgently spreadable. 

   

Such is its versatility, it’s a perfect ingredient for puddings such as roulades and cheesecakes, but it’s also delicious with fresh strawberries and champagne, or even the humble Malteser, with the malty crunch complimenting the fresh softness of the cheese to perfection.  

Try it for yourself and order online here