This blog post was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Part of UK in Poland

4th March 2014 Warsaw, Poland

Say Cheese – The Impulsive Guide to GREAT British Cheese in Poland

A selection of British cheeses - photo courtesy of HEFF
A selection of British cheeses – photo courtesy of HEFF

Piesek P is on the lookout for GREAT British Cheese in Poland – as he finds it he’ll let you know – just smile.

Say Cheese and off we go on our GREAT Cheese tour of Poland.

With over 700 named types of GREAT British cheese, that’s about twice as many in France, for you to choose from there’s a cheese for all occasions. Cheese makes you feel good and it’s a GREAT addition to your culinary cupboard.

Cheese is at the heart of our history and tradition and just like the aspects of the regions that make up our GREAT nation the identity and personality of our cheese is a kaleidoscope of climate, the animal and its milk, where it grazes and how it grazes. The microclimate where the cheese is made adds character and personality. Humidity, moisture and textured aging play a key part in the fine tapestry of GREAT British cheese.

Perhaps the easiest way to understand the differences in our nation’s 700 varieties is to place them in different categories. There are many ways to do this, but perhaps the easiest is to break them down according to their texture and the style of manufacture. We’ve selected a few here, we know we’ll come across many more along the way but we’ve got to start somewhere!

SOFT/FRESH:

Cottage, Cream, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Fromage Frais

WHITE MOULD:

Somerset/Cornish Brie/Camembert, St Endellion (Triple Cream Brie), Capricorn Goat’s cheese, Gevrik goat’s milk cheese, Chatel

SEMI HARD:

Cheshire, Wensleydale, Caerphilly, Lancashire (crumbly, creamy and tasty), White Stilton, Yarg, Northumberland, Churnton

HARD:

Includes all types of Cheddar, such as West Country Farmhouse, mature, medium and mild as well as Red Leicester and Double Gloucester

BLUE VEINED:

Blue Stilton, Shropshire Blue, Blue Wensleydale, Blue Cheshire, Garstang Blue, Blue Vinney

BLENDED:

White Stilton with apricot, Wensleydale with cranberry, Cheddar with cracked black pepper, Double Gloucester and cumin, Hatherton, Sage Derby, Northumberland Nettle

SPECIALITY:

Includes all other types such as washed rind cheeses, local speciality varieties, as well as Panir, an Asian style cheese

Some cheeses like to be on their own; others like company and many cheeses like to be served with a drink. Over the years cheese has made friends with beer, cider, whisky and wine.

We want to help you find the right cheese for you and help you impress your friends with culinary inspiration and innovation.

Say Cheese is the ultimate impulsive guide to Great British Cheese and Friends in Poland.

Join us on our GREAT Mini Cheese Tour of Poland. Piesek P is with us and when he sniffs out a GREAT cheese he’ll let you know!

About Martin Oxley

Martin Oxley joins the Embassy team in Warsaw, building on a 15 year business career in Central Europe. An expert in the healthcare and life sciences sector, he has led a…

Martin Oxley joins the Embassy team in Warsaw, building on a 15
year business career in Central Europe. An expert in the healthcare and
life sciences sector, he has led a number of the leading blue chip and
regional pharmaceutical companies in Poland and the broader Central and
Eastern European region.
Most recently he was CEO of the British Polish Chamber of Commerce.
Under his leadership the Chamber grew to be one of the most prominent
international business networking organisations in Poland receiving a
number of awards  for excellence and partnership development.
Martin retains a keen interest in digital media, communications,
cultural relations and enterprise development. He is very enthusiastic
about his new role at the Embassy and honoured to have the opportunity
to play a leading role in championing the development of British
business in Poland.
He is married to Małgorzata and has two children Jaś and Nati.

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