the cheese blog

Cornish Cruncher

Cornish Cruncher is made by Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall. It is sold by Marks and Spencer as part of their “try me for 99p” promotion. The cheese is a Cheddar-style that is matured for at least two years, although when originally released it was promoted as being matured for three years. I’m not sure where that extra year went or if the cheese was so popular they had to release it sooner. M&S rate this as a 7 in their cheese strength scale (honestly I haven’t seen a 10 yet, so I have no idea what cheese will earn that rating).

The paste is a butter yellow color. The aroma is a bit salty and slightly yeasty. The texture is firm, but it melts nicely in the mouth, with a buttery mouthfeel. The flavor is sweet upfront, followed by slightly nutty, and then salty with a solid crunch from the calcium lactate crystals. Overall, a very pleasing cheese. I’ve seen a number of postings on the internet by individuals who love this cheese. Maybe if I can find a three year old version, I’ll move into the “love it” group.