Cornish Yarg
Key Facts
- CountryEngland
- RegionCornwall
- FlavourFresh and citrus
- Type of MilkCow
- PasteurisationPasteurised
- Vegetarian RennetYes
- OrganicNo
Store & Serve
All cut cheeses are cut to order and will have approximately 12 days shelf life on them from the date the order is despatched. Due to high demand, it is occasionally necessary for us to substitute items in orders for an alternative. We will always endeavour to choose an alternative, which is the most similar to the item you have selected and of equal or higher value for no additional charge.
- StorageKeep refrigerated.
- Instructions for useServe at room temperature.
- Recommended DrinkSauvignon Blanc
Nutrition
- IngredientsCows' Milk, Salt, Rennet, Dairy Cultures (Milk)
- AllergensMilk
Nutritional Information
- Typical Valuesper 100g
- Energy kJ1550
- Energy kcal374
- Fat31.7
- Of which saturates19.08
- Carbohydrates0.7
- Of which sugars>0.1
- Protein21.5
- Salt2.0
Paxton & Whitfield Ltd, 93 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JE
These summary details have been prepared for information purposes only. While we have taken care in preparing this summary and believe it is accurate, it is not a substitute for reading the product packaging and label prior to use. Paxton & Whitfield is unable to accept liability for any incorrect information. If you require specific advice, please contact our mail order team on 01451 823460 or email sales@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk.
Cornish Yarg cheese was first made by Alan and Jenny Gray in Withiel, near Liskeard, on the edge of Bodmin Moor in the 1980’s. The word Yarg is simply their surname 'Gray' spelt backwards! The inspiration for this unique cheese came from a 17th century recipe for nettle wrapped cheese found in their attic. In 1984 they sold the recipe to Michael and Margaret Horrell who farmed near Bodmin. The business steadily grew and in 1995 the Horrell family met with the Mead family who were farming in West Cornwall and interested in farm diversification. Catherine Mead worked alongside them to develop the business and in 2006 all production moved entirely to the Mead family farm. Owned by Catherine Mead, Lynher Dairies is now processing 2,000,000 litres of milk a year and making just over 220 tonnes of cheese.
Cornish Yarg is very unique due to the handpicked nettle leaves which coat the rind. Three tonnes of nettle leaves are picked during May and June by a team of 50 hand pickers. Cheeses which are made at the time of picking are then wrapped with fresh leaves and the rest of the leaves are then frozen in bundles until they are ready to be used.
The cheese making process is done by hand using the farm's milk and grass rich milk from carefully selected local Cornish farms. After the milk is pasteurised, a culture is added for ripening and rennet to help the curd set. Once set it is cut and stirred to separate the curd from the whey until each curd piece is as small as a grain of rice, this increases acidity and fermentation. The curd is then milled, blocked and hand packed into moulds, after which the cheese is pressed and immersed in brine overnight. After drying, the nettle leaves are painted on by hand in a concentric circle pattern. Yarg takes about 4-5 weeks to mature, by which time a beautiful white bloom decorates the nettles from naturally occurring moulds attracted to the leaves.
As the cheese matures, it develops a delicate, mushroomy taste and a bloomy white appearance. Six weeks from field to finish, Yarg is fresh and creamy with an irresistible crumble in the core. The semi-hard rind is completely edible and adds an earthy, mushroomy flavour to the cheese.
Awarded Silver at British Cheese Awards 2024.
Awarded Gold at The World Cheese Awards 2019.
A consistent medal-winning cheese for many years, also being awarded two gold medals at the British Cheese Awards 2018.