Cheddar (cheese)

This is a semi-hard cheese of English origin. Depending on the stage of ripeness, the center of the cheese can have a variable yellow color, ranging from pale to deep. Cheddar cheese is made from cow's milk and matures for 6 months to 2 years.

Sold in fabric packaging, it's cylindrical in shape. Young cheddar has a mild, sweet-milky, almost buttery flavor, a nutty, slightly earthy aroma, and a soft, flexible texture. Mature cheddar has a rich, tart flavor with a strong onion aroma and a drier, crumblier texture.

Cheddar cheese is used in sandwiches and vegetable dishes, as an appetizer for wine made from black grape varieties such as Merlot or Pinot Noir, when preparing soups and cheese dishes.