Why is shropshire blue orange

When the UK's small scale cheese production began to decline in the s, due to large scale productions and the poor decisions of the UK's Milk Marketing Board, the production in Scotland ended and eventually the cheese making moved south to the East Midlands. Originally, the name Shropshire Blue had nothing to do with the county of Shropshire in England, but today 'Ludlow Blue' is also made in Shropshire by Ludlow Food Center part of the Earl of Plymouth's Oakly Park Estate which extends to approximately acres of Shropshire countryside.

This is the only Shropshire Blue made in Shropshire and is unique in using organic carrot juice to introduce the trademark orange color. The food center sounds rather unique:. Half of our products are made on the premises in kitchen units that surround the food hall.

These are visible through glass windows that allow you to see our artisan producers actually making your food. Close menu menu. Close menu search. Shopping Cart. Join The Cheese Making Club. What is Shropshire Blue Cheese? The cheese was first made in the s at the Castle Stuart dairy in Inverness, Scotland by Andy Williamson, a cheesemaker who had trained in the making of Stilton cheese in Nottinghamshire.

The cheese was first known as 'Inverness-shire Blue' or 'Blue Stuart', but was eventually marketed as 'Shropshire Blue', a name chosen to help increase its popularity, despite it having no link to the county of Shropshire. After the Castle Stuart dairy was closed down in , the cheese was revived by Elliot Hulme and Harry Hanlin of Cheshire, but once again the manufacture soon ceased. Shropshire Blue is a blue cheese made from pasteurised cows' milk and uses vegetable rennet.

However, in production of the cheese stopped as the Milk Marketing Board of Northern Scotland shut down the creamery, killing off a number of Scottish cheeses and its only blues. An ironic return to the area where the original inventor of the cheese, Andy Williamson, was trained.

The cheese is essentially an orange colored Stilton style cheese. It is made from pasteurised cows' milk using rennet suitable for vegetarians. The orange color derives from annatto, a natural colorant obtained from the seeds of the Bixa Orella tree.

The cheese is matured for 12 weeks but it can be matured for a further 12 weeks to produce a creamier fuller flavored cheese. Serve the Shropshire Blue with sweet fruits like pears or peaches. You save. Rating Required Select Rating 1 star worst 2 stars 3 stars average 4 stars 5 stars best.