Britain is home to some world famous cheeses, with many different regions all over the UK having their own type of cheese. You may already be one of the many British cheese lovers and want to know more about how you can indulge your passion, or perhaps you are interested in finding out more about British cheeses and where they are produced.

This article aims to provide information on the different British cheeses and educate you on how you can expand your knowledge and appreciation of such cheeses.

Types of British cheese

There are over 700 British cheeses that are produced in the UK. British cheeses vary greatly in type and flavour, based on where in Britain the cheese is produced, how long it is left to mature and different types of milk used in the initial processes.

British cheeses come in many different types, such as hard, firm cheese, hard, crumbly cheese, soft cheese, blue cheese, blended cheese and fresh cheese. They are generally named after where they are produced. For example, Cheddar is so called because of its origins in the Cheddar Gorge caves of Somerset where it was stored.

English cheeses include:

• Applewood
• Cheddar
• Cheshire
• Cornish Yarg
• Double Gloucester
• Stilton

Scottish cheeses include:

• Dunlop
• Orkney
• Caithness
• Islay

Welsh cheeses include:

• Caerphilly
• Teifi
• Pencarreg brie

Irish cheeses include:

• Cashel blue
• Durrus
• St Tola

Find out more about British cheeses

If your interest in British cheeses goes further than just seeking them out in the supermarket, there are a number of ways you enjoy a wide variety of British cheeses and find out more about the processes and origins of different British cheeses.

At various points throughout the year you can find out more about British cheese and satisfy your passion for it at the British Cheese Awards, the Great British Cheese Festival, and during British Cheese Week.

Farmers’ markets are also a great place to find and try new, local cheeses that you may not be able to find in supermarkets.