Randy Chandler
Caerphilly cheese is a traditional Welsh cheese, which was originally produced by farms in Caerphilly from around 1830. It was popular with local miners as it did not dry out underground and was believed to restore salt levels. Although it was once made almost entirely in England, Caerphilly cheese is now made in Wales and the West Country, including Somerset.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Caerphilly, Wales |
| Place of production | Caerphilly, Wales; England; West Country; Somerset |
| Producers | Cwmni Caws Caerffili; Thelma Adams; Todd and Maugan Trethowan; Gorwydd |
| Texture | Hard, crumbly |
| Colour | White |
| Flavour | Earthy, lemony |
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What You'll Learn
Caerphilly cheese is made in Caerphilly, Wales, and the West Country
However, production of Caerphilly cheese in Caerphilly ended in 1995. For a long time, it was almost entirely made in England, mostly in the West Country. In 2023, it returned to its home town, thanks to the Caerphilly Cheese Company, set up by farmer Huw Rowlands and his business partner Deian Thomas. They spent three years perfecting the hard, crumbly white cheese, and now produce it in the heart of Caerphilly town centre.
Caerphilly cheese is also made in other parts of Wales and the West Country. The resurgence of traditional Caerphilly cheese in these areas can be attributed in part to Thelma Adams from Caws Cenarth, who started producing it in the traditional way back in the 1980s. One well-known variety is Gorwydd Caerphilly, made by brothers Todd and Maugan Trethowan at their family farm in Tregaron, Ceredigion. They have since moved to north Somerset, where they continue to make Gorwydd and other cheeses.
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It's a hard, crumbly white cheese
Caerphilly cheese is a hard, crumbly white cheese. It is the only type to originate in Wales, where it was originally produced by a number of farms in the area from about 1830. It was popular with local miners as it did not dry out when they were underground, and it was believed to help restore their salt levels.
In 1995, production of Caerphilly cheese in Caerphilly ended. For a long time, it was almost entirely made in England, mostly in the West Country. However, cheesemakers in Wales and the West Country have since brought traditional Caerphilly cheese back to life. In 2023, it was reported that Caerphilly cheese was once again being made in its home town, thanks to Cwmni Caws Caerffili (Caerphilly Cheese Company). The business was set up by 26-year-old farmer Huw Rowlands and his business partner Deian Thomas, who spent three years perfecting the cheese.
Gorwydd Caerphilly is another variety of Caerphilly cheese. It is made by brothers Todd and Maugan Trethowan at their family farm in Tregaron, Ceredigion. The brothers have since moved to north Somerset, where they continue to make Gorwydd and other cheeses.
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It was originally produced by farms in the area from about 1830
Caerphilly cheese was originally produced by farms in the area from about 1830. It was popular with local miners as it did not dry out when they were underground, and it was believed to help restore the salt levels lost while working.
For a long time, Caerphilly cheese was made in England, mostly in the West Country. However, in recent years, cheesemakers in Wales and the West Country have brought traditional Caerphilly cheese back to life. For example, in 2023, Caerphilly cheese production returned to its home town of Caerphilly, almost 30 years after it was forced to stop. This was thanks to farmer Huw Rowlands and his business partner Deian Thomas, who spent three years perfecting the flat, round-shaped cheese.
The resurgence of traditional Caerphilly cheese can also be attributed to Thelma Adams from Caws Cenarth, who decided to start producing Caerphilly in the traditional way back in the 1980s. Today, cheesemakers in Wales and the West Country continue to produce award-winning Caerphilly cheese, such as Gorwydd Caerphilly, which won the overall award for Best Traditional British Cheese in 2004.
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It was popular with local miners as it didn't dry out underground
Caerphilly cheese is made in Wales, specifically in the town of Caerphilly. It is the only type of cheese to originate in Wales. Caerphilly cheese is a hard, crumbly white cheese with an earthy, lemony flavour. It was originally produced by a number of farms in the area from about 1830.
Caerphilly cheese was popular with local miners as it didn't dry out when they were underground. It was believed to help restore the miners' salt levels lost while working. This cheese was well-suited to the miners' working conditions and provided them with a nutritious snack.
The production of Caerphilly cheese in its hometown ended in 1995. However, after nearly 30 years, it is once again being made in Caerphilly thanks to the efforts of Huw Rowlands and Deian Thomas, who have spent years perfecting the traditional recipe.
Caerphilly cheese has a long history of being made in the West Country of England as well. Despite being considered a Welsh cheese, the recipe used for Gorwydd Caerphilly, for example, was originally from Somerset.
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It's made by the Caerphilly Cheese Company
Caerphilly cheese is made by the Caerphilly Cheese Company, or Cwmni Caws Caerffili in Welsh. The company was set up by farmer Huw Rowlands and his business partner Deian Thomas, who spent three years perfecting the hard, crumbly white cheese. The cheese is made in the heart of Caerphilly town centre, bringing production back to the area after a 30-year hiatus.
Caerphilly cheese is the only type to originate in Wales, and was originally produced from about 1830 by a number of farms in the area. It was popular with local miners as it did not dry out underground, and it was believed to help restore the miners' salt levels lost while working.
In recent years, cheesemakers in Wales and the West Country have brought traditional Caerphilly cheese back to life. This resurgence can be attributed in part to Thelma Adams from Caws Cenarth, who started producing Caerphilly in the traditional way back in the 1980s. Other cheesemakers in the region include brothers Todd and Maugan Trethowan, who make Gorwydd Caerphilly at their family farm in Tregaron, Ceredigion. Despite being considered a Welsh cheese, Caerphilly has a long history of being made in the West Country, particularly in Somerset.
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Frequently asked questions
Caerphilly cheese is made in Caerphilly, Wales.
No, for a long time it was made in England, particularly the West Country.
Production of Caerphilly cheese in Wales ended in 1995.
It's not entirely clear why production ended, but it's now being made in Wales again thanks to Huw Rowlands and Deian Thomas, who set up the Caerphilly Cheese Company.
