We love a tasting session at Fabulous Farm Shops HQ but nothing gets us quite as excited as an offering of cheese. I genuinely believe that most other food stuffs I could live without, but it would be a much lesser life if I had to live it without cheese. So, when a neat little box arrived with not one, not two, but six lovely waxy round truckles in it, it was definitely a good day at the office!
Clawson Farms have come up with a corker of an idea to make each cheese stick in your memory well after the last crumb has been hoovered off the cheese board. Each truckle is a different, beautiful bright colour and each cheese has its own name, character and back story, from Captain Bulldog, adorning the black truckle of vintage cheddar, sporting a top hat, bow tie and imperious air to the Dumbledore-esque wizard gracing the front of the bright red Wizard’s Fire red Leicester.
It’s a clever way to distinguish between the flavours and helps you to remember your favourite. The truckles look very attractive lined up your cheeseboard or on the shelves of your fridge cabinet and the waxy coating keeps the cheese fresh and flavourful inside. Furthermore, it makes them excellent choices for a picnic or a hike as the truckle pops into your backpack or your hamper with no fear of being squished against your water bottle and creating an unholy mess. Excellent work, Clawson Farms!
But it’s all very well having attractive, eye-catching packaging but what do they taste like, I hear you clamour. Well, here goes!
First on the cheese board and up for discussion is the yellow truckle. Sporting a firing cannon and called Gunpowder, the blurb on the accompanying literature tells us that this oak smoked mature cheddar has a “gentle smokiness from seasoned oak fires” which “adds a delicious fullness and tang”.
Various tasters stepped forward to dig their knives into the truckle. The wax gives way with a bit of pressure and a sharp knife to reveal an attractive creamy textured cheese dotted with little bits of smoky brown. The smell is deeply smoky, rich and pungent but pleasant and mouths began to water.
“Oh, this is right up my street” whispered one reviewer, in hushed, reverential tones.
“Soft and salty with a fabulous smokiness” commented another as a second chunk disappeared into his mouth.
“Perfect with bread and red wine” scribbled another as he cut another piece to take home to try just that.
It has a deep flavour with a bit of a kick and a good texture though slightly surprising for a mature cheddar as it is quite soft. Those that loved it, really loved it and kept reaching for more. It wasn’t to everyone’s taste but that’s the thing about cheese. It’s deeply personal and the great thing about these truckles is that you can just move on to the next one. So, we did!!
Next up was the red truckle with a fabulous picture of Randolph, the wizard, standing guard over his favourite Wizard’s Fire or red Leicester with Scotch bonnet and harissa.
Some tasters looked a little bit wary and edged towards the back of the room but there were enough pioneers amongst us that it wasn’t long before the wax was cut and the cheese was in mouths.
Those nibblers who like a fiery mouthful were in heaven.
“Absolutely delicious” was all we got from one reviewer before her eyes rolled back in her head and she reached for more.
This cheese is, again, softer than expected but very pleasant on the palate. It is tangy with a slight sweetness but it packs a real punch. If you like a cheese with attitude, then this truckle should be on your list.
One taster was so taken with it that she took some home with her to cook with. She grated it on her cauliflower cheese that night and said it was the best meal she had had in a long time. The next day she had cheese on toast and said it was, quite frankly, superb.
That’s a winner then!
Time for the burgundy truckle with a picture of a cute little dormouse curled up asleep among the elderflowers and cranberries. According to the marketing pamphlet this is “crumbly, creamy Wensleydale subtly infused with delicious tangy cranberries, gentle elderflower and a hint of spiced marmalade made with Seville oranges” and is labelled Dormouse’s Delight.
Peeling back the burgundy wax reveals a rich and creamy cheese absolutely bursting with fruity bits.
“More cranberries than a Thanksgiving turkey” exclaimed one reviewer.
“Sweet and fruity” followed up another
“Soft and moreish” said a third, diving in for more.
It didn’t please everyone but those not in favour were the first to admit that they don’t usually like a fruity cheese. They were still hovering around the Wizard’s Fire hoping they could snaffle a bit more kerpow!
On to the orange truckle picturing Jane, marooned on a desert island with just a chunk of cheese to keep her sustained. This is Wensleydale “fused with sweet mango and ginger” and simply named Castaway.
Cutting into the waxy truckle, the knife was greeted with a creamy but crumbly Wensleydale. It was much softer than expected but it looked and smelt inviting. Tropical vibes were invoked…salsa dancing on a Cuban beach or hammock swaying under coconut trees.
The hunk of cheese in hand was generously peppered with apricot-coloured chunks and the scent was very appetising. In the mouth it is creamy and delicious with a hit of fruity tangy tropics.
“I didn’t think I’d like that but it’s delicious” came the feedback from one reviewer. Not a fan of ginger, she was expecting to move on quickly but instead she came back for more.
Yes – there is ginger, but it is not overpowering. It is mixed delightfully with the fruity mango flavour and works really well.
We tried it alone, then with a biscuit, then with a bit of tomato, then with a bit of cucumber.
“fabulous with a bit of salady crunch” said one taster.
“a perfect companion to a glass of white wine,” said another. She wasn’t wrong!
After two fruity numbers it was time to get serious and we settled ourselves for Captain Bulldog wrapped in sombre black. This is a vintage cheddar with a “well rounded, subtle crunch.”
One taster had been looking forward to this one all day and was not disappointed. He took his time and savoured the flavour before declaring it an outright winner.
“This is a crunchy/punchy cheddar” he wrote. “It crumbles like a proper English cheddar. A full flavour without being overpowering”
Others saw it differently, “unexpectedly creamy but delicious, nonetheless. Soft with a bit of a punch”
“Oh, my goodness” moaned another with pleasure. “This needs new bread, a whisker of butter and some really good pickle”
There was a lot of love for this cheese!
Last, but not least, was the green truckle. A rather distinguished looking gentleman pig stares out through his monocle on the front of this, the Truffle Seeker. This is an extra mature cheddar “subtly laced with the earthy nuttiness of truffles and imbued with the gentle sweetness of floral honey”. Wow! What an introduction.
Cutting it open, one is met with a pleasing aroma and a good colour. A few little hints of truffle can be seen dotted throughout the creamy cheese and it crumbles slightly as it escapes the waxy wrap.
“My favourite” came the first response.
“Oh yes! I can really taste the truffle” said someone else.
“This is a proper mature cheddar. Light but tasty. My kind of cheese.”
I pressed him for another comment. “All I need now is a cold glass of white wine, this cheese and no more questions”
So, there you have it! Six truckles in six glorious colours with very different personalities. There will be something amongst them for the fruit lovers, the fire lovers, the smoke lovers and the truffle seekers. Clawson Farms have produced a fine set of cheese and the Fabulous Farm Shops panel of reviewers, replete and smiling, salute them!
If you would like to stock them in your farm shop,
then please get in touch with Clawson Farms directly:
Phone: 01664 822332
If you have a product you would like us to review, please contact
theAteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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