Randy Chandler
Cheddar cheese is the most popular cheese in the UK and the second most popular in the US, but did you know that it is naturally white? The orange hue that is commonly associated with cheddar is the result of adding annatto, the fruit of the achiote tree, to the cheese during production. This tradition dates back to when cows' milk in England had an orange tint. While some consumers have a strong preference for either white or orange cheddar, the two varieties taste the same.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is white cheddar real cheese? | Yes, white cheddar is real cheese. |
| Colour | White cheddar is closer to cheddar cheese's default state than its signature orange-coloured counterpart. The colour of milk can range from white to deep yellow depending on what the cows were eating, the breed of cows it came from, and the ratio of cream remaining in it. |
| Taste | White cheddar and regular cheddar should taste identical. However, some people might say one is creamier than the other or has a stronger flavour. |
| Food colouring | White cheddar does not have added colouring. The orange colour in regular cheddar is added using annatto, the fruit of the achiote tree. |
| History | There was a time in England when cheddar cheese was made with milk from cows whose diet produced an orange tint in the milk. Although that is no longer the case, cheesemakers continue colouring cheddar this way using annatto. |
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What You'll Learn
White cheddar is the default state of cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a hard, sharp-tasting natural cow's milk cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England. It is the most popular cheese in the UK and the second-most popular in the US, where it is produced in large quantities. The process of making cheddar cheese is distinctive enough that it has coined a verb, "cheddaring", to describe it.
The colour of milk can range from white to deep yellow, depending on factors such as the cows' diet, breed, and the ratio of cream remaining in the milk. Some cheese producers add vegetable dyes to their milk to control the consistency of colour in their cheese. The use of annatto in cheese production dates back about 150 years, when it was widely adopted by the dairy industry to give certain cheeses a more desirable look, especially when they needed to be transported and preserved for longer periods.
Today, many cheddars are yellow, and some consumers have come to expect cheddar to be orange in colour. However, the choice between white and orange cheddar is simply a matter of personal preference, as there is no difference in taste. Some snack and convenience foods labelled as "white cheddar flavour" are given a slightly different blend of artificial flavourings to create the expectation that "white" cheddar tastes different from "regular" cheddar.
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White and orange cheddar taste the same
Cheddar cheese is a hard, sharp-tasting natural cow's milk cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England. It is the most popular cheese in the UK and the second-most popular in the US, where it is produced in several varieties, including mild, medium, sharp, extra sharp, New York style, white, and Vermont.
The colour of milk can range from white to deep yellow depending on various factors, such as what the cows were eating, the breed of cows, and the ratio of cream remaining in the milk. For example, pastures where cows graze are full of green grasses that are rich in beta carotene, a red-orange pigment. The milk will still appear white due to the way butterfat scatters light, but the resulting cheese will be more yellow or orange.
While white and orange cheddar have the same taste, factors such as the milk used, the length of ageing, and the style of ageing can influence the flavour of the cheese. Young cheddar is usually mild, creamy, slightly buttery, and easy to melt, while aged cheddar is dry, crumbly, nutty, and sharp.
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White cheddar is marketed differently
The difference in colour between white and orange cheddar is due to the addition of annatto, a plant extract of the achiote tree, to the latter. Annatto does not alter the flavour, texture, or aroma of the cheese, but it gives the cheese a more desirable look, especially when it needs to be transported and preserved for longer periods. It is also added to simulate the colour of high-quality milk from grass-fed Jersey and Guernsey cows.
Some consumers prefer the whiteness of the natural cheese, while others have come to expect the orange colour. The orange colour is what consumers know and have come to expect, and it is what they associate with certain foods like cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese.
The marketing of white cheddar as a separate and distinct flavour from orange cheddar is a successful example of how consumer expectations can be shaped by effective marketing campaigns.
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Cheddar is the most popular cheese in the UK
Cheddar cheese originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, southwest England, where the Cheddar Gorge provided ideal humidity and temperature conditions for maturing the cheese. The process of making cheddar cheese involves adding cultures and rennet to milk to acidify and curdle it, forming curds that are then cut and pressed into slabs. These slabs are repeatedly stacked and flipped, compressing the curds and removing moisture, resulting in a drier, denser, and crumbly cheese. The sharpness of cheddar depends on the ageing process, with mild varieties aged for two to three months and extra sharp cheddars matured for one to five years.
Cheddar is versatile and can be shredded, sliced, or melted, making it a staple in many refrigerators. It pairs well with fruits like apples, pears, and grapes, as well as savoury options such as onion chutneys. In the UK, cheddar is sold in varying maturities, from mild to extra mature or vintage, and is widely produced, with only one producer remaining in its village of origin. Its popularity has led to it being produced worldwide, and it is now one of the least expensive cheeses in the United States due to its suitability for industrial-scale production.
While white cheddar specifically refers to cheddar that does not contain annatto, it is still considered a type of cheddar cheese. White cheddar is commonly produced in New England, where cheesemakers favour the natural white colour, while midwestern cheesemakers tend to use annatto to create the orange colour typically associated with cheddar. White cheddar can also refer to cheddar produced in Vermont, regardless of its actual place of origin, and it is sold as one of the varieties of cheddar in the United States.
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Cheddar cheese originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England
Cheddar cheese is the most popular cheese in the UK, accounting for 51% of the country's £1.9 billion annual cheese market. It is the second most popular cheese in the United States, with mozzarella taking the top spot. Cheddar is a hard, sharp-tasting natural cow's milk cheese.
Cheddar cheese originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, southwest England. The cheese was first made in the caves of Cheddar Gorge on the edge of the village, which provided the ideal humidity and steady temperature for maturing the cheese. The name "cheddar" is not protected under European Union or UK law, and cheddar is now produced internationally. However, the name "West Country Farmhouse Cheddar" has an EU and UK protected designation of origin (PDO) registration and may only be produced in Somerset, Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall, using milk sourced from those counties.
The process of making cheddar cheese is distinctive enough that cheesemakers coined a verb, "cheddaring", to describe it. Production starts with the basic method of adding cultures and rennet to milk to acidify and curdle it. Once the curds form, they are cut up and pressed together into slabs, which are then stacked and flipped repeatedly to compress the curds and squeeze out any remaining whey. The sharpness of cheddar cheese depends on the length of aging, with mild varieties aging for two to three months, while extra sharp cheddars are left to mature for one to five years.
Cheddar cheese has a long and interesting history. In the 19th century, a Somerset dairyman named Joseph Harding was central to the modernisation and standardisation of cheddar. Harding introduced new equipment to the process of cheese-making, including his "revolving breaker" for curd cutting, which saved a lot of manual effort. For his technical innovations, promotion of dairy hygiene, and volunteer dissemination of modern cheese-making techniques, Harding has been dubbed "the father of cheddar".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, white cheddar is real cheese. Cheddar cheese is the most popular cheese in the UK and the second-most popular in the US. It is a hard, sharp-tasting natural cow's milk cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England.
The main difference between white and yellow cheddar is that white cheddar does not have added colouring. In its most natural state, cheddar cheese is white or a bit yellow. The orange colour commonly associated with cheddar is achieved by adding annatto, the fruit of the achiote tree. Annatto does not alter the flavour, texture, or aroma of the cheese.
Cheese producers started adding vegetable dyes to their milk as far back as the 17th century to control the consistency of colour in their cheese. White cheese tends to show imperfections more readily, and as consumers got used to yellow-orange cheese, it became an expected option.
