March 16, 2021
During March, dear o’sir and o’m’am
Irish cheddars go well with our ham.
On all kinds of bread
Or with crackers instead-
Perhaps add a stout onion jam!
This March, with St. Patrick’s Day on the way, it’s time for some people to celebrate all things Irish. Being a cheesemonger, my celebrations are a bit more focused on cheese, specifically the country’s most famous cheese, cheddar, and even more precisely, Tipperary Cheddar.
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, not for its wealth of jewels, but for something that some consider just as valuable, its lush green grass growing nationwide. With its temperate climate, Ireland has one of the longest grass-growing seasons on earth. Cows live outside most of the year and are able to graze on this hormone-free grass, which is full of beta-carotene, giving the cheese more flavor and color. Not surprisingly, being Ireland, the only thing added to the grass, for some extra nutrition, is clover, maybe even a bit of the four-leaf variety.
Considering cheese began as a way to preserve milk, better quality milk provides better quality cheese. Where does better quality milk comes from? You guessed it…happy cows, just like those in Ireland. They live stress-free, slow-paced lives on one of about 3000 farms that average 1 cow per 2 acres of land. (Maybe in my next life…)
County Tipperary, home to some of the most fertile rolling hills in this country full of them, was created in 1328, making it the earliest of the Irish counties. Here cheese was made over 1000 years ago, and mounted a comeback beginning in the 1970s. Tipperary Cheddar is rich and creamy, even right out of the fridge, and is perfect with crackers or bread, with jams (ideally the above-mentioned stout onion variety) or mustards, on a sandwich or melted in a fondue. Many people think cheese and wine is a match made in heaven (can’t really argue with that), but this cheddar also pairs well with whiskey or ale, including the Guinness you might be enjoying this holiday. Is anyone else ready for St. Patrick’s Day already???
And not to worry if you’re more of a blue cheese fan, Ireland (and Carlino’s) has something for you, too. Also located in County Tipperary, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers is a 100% family-owned business that produces Crozier Blue, Ireland’s only sheep’s milk blue cheese. Smooth with a traditional sheep’s milk bite, it’s one of my favorites, by itself or with a dab of fig spread. Luckily sheep can do more than produce wool used to make beautiful sweaters!
So as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, if you’re looking for some advice on putting together an Irish-themed cheese board, or would like to share some of your favorite ideas for celebrating the holiday, you know where to find me.
Sláinte!
