How Cheddar Cheese Can Add To Your Diet

Cheese comes in many shapes and forms and while the first country that comes to mind may be France, the UK also holds to claim to one of the most well-known cheese varieties in the world. In the heart of Somerset a small town in southeast England, lies the charming town of Cheddar, the birthplace of one of the world’s most familiar cheeses. This remarkable cheese has captured the hearts and taste buds of people worldwide with its fascinating heritage and an impressive array of benefits.

The Birthplace Of Cheddar Cheese

The journey of cheddar cheese started in the historic Cheddar Gorge, where natural caverns provided the perfect environment for cheese-making. Due to the damp climate and moderate temperatures, these caves maintained ideal humidity and temperature levels, creating the perfect conditions for developing what would become Britain's most famous cheese. Cheddar cheese ripened for 4 to 6 months at precisely controlled temperatures of 6-8°C.

How Cheddar Cheese Is Made

The magic of cheddar lies in its preparation methods. Using fresh cow's milk, skilled cheese makers introduce an enzyme called rennet and specific cultures to create the cheese's distinctive texture and flavour. Unlike some other cheeses, cheddar undergoes a unique stirred-curd process, which contributes to its characteristic taste and consistency.

The Nutritional Profile Of Cheddar

What makes cheddar truly special isn't just its rich flavour, but also its impressive nutritional profile. With nearly 23 g of protein per 100 g, which is a good source of this essential nutrient. Calcium – which is known for maintaining normal bones – is also present in cheddar, providing 710 mg per 100 g.

Beyond these basic nutritional benefits, cheddar cheese offers some remarkable properties. It contains bioactive peptides that serve multiple functions in our body. These bioactive compounds are known for antioxidant activity, which in turn helps to prevent the formation of free radical scavenging activity. Also, Bioactive peptides are also known to support the immune system.

For those watching their carbohydrate intake, cheddar contains just 3.37 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams. It is also known to contain important minerals like magnesium and iron, though in smaller amounts.

Whether melted on toast, grated over a shepherd's pie, or enjoyed with a crisp apple, cheddar cheese offers more than just delicious versatility - it provides a range of nutrients that contribute to our overall well-being. From its humble beginnings in the caves of Somerset to its place on dining tables across the globe, cheddar cheese truly deserves its reputation as one of the world's most popular cheeses.

Culinary Uses

Beyond its nutritional attributes, Cheddar is also loved for its wide variety of applications. Whether in a sandwich or a salad or grated on top of pasta, it can be used in many ways to enhance the flavour of your dishes. As a relatively hard cheese, it lends itself well to grating, perfect for creating a cheesy crust on top of baked dishes or incorporating into savoury baked goods like biscuits or scones.

This traditional British cheese is not only a much-loved part of the global cheese heritage but also offers a tasty way to incorporate important nutrients into our daily diet. Whether you prefer it mild or mature, cheddar cheese continues to be a beloved staple in households the world over.