News

BCB launches cheese flavour map

26 September 2011

We all know that Britain is a nation of cheese lovers, with 99% of households regularly buying cheese, but when it comes to trying something new, how adventurous are we being with our choice of cheese?

A recent survey by the British Cheese Board in the lead up to British Cheese Week this September, has revealed that over 55% of Brits name Cheddar as their favourite cheese, and this is certainly backed up by sales figures, which put Cheddar way out ahead of its competitors.

The survey also indicated that around half of the people questioned buy the same cheese every week and nearly a third try a new cheese less often than once a year. Whilst Cheddar is a delicious and versatile cheese, with many different styles and flavour levels, there are also more than 700 named cheeses made on British soil, so those who stick to the same cheese every time they shop could be seriously missing out!

With this in mind, the British Cheese Board have created a brand new app, the cheese flavor map, to encourage people to be more adventurous with their choice of cheese, and to try one or more new varieties next time they visit the supermarket. This will be launched in time for British Cheese Week, which runs from 24 September to 2 October, and will help to promote the huge variety of cheeses available in the UK.

Another area of the survey indicated that half of the people questioned would be more inclined to try a new cheese if they knew it tasted like one they already liked, so the cheese flavour map is designed to act as a guide to the strength and flavor combinations of a wide variety of British cheeses, from Brie to Red Leicester. By identifying where your favourite Cheddar sits on the flavor map and selecting an alternative cheese from the same area of a different cheese group, the app should help you to find a new cheese that you will love. It also provides information on all the different varieties, plus tips on how to use them in cooking and a suggestion of a similar cheese you may like to try.

Nigel White, Secretary of the British Cheese Board says "the cheese flavour map is designed to help people try something new, based on the flavours of the cheeses they know they like. We know that the majority of people like Cheddar, but there are so many different flavour strengths and styles, the app will help people to differentiate between the various types. It will also demonstrate the wide variety of other types of cheese available in Britain, from regional cheeses such as Cheshire, Wensleydale and Cornish Yarg, to blue cheeses such as Stilton and Blue Cheshire."

The app is available on the homepage of this website, and at www.facebook.com/britishcheese from the start of British Cheese Week, and will be a great way to kick off the week-long celebration of British cheese.