Patrick Oconnell
Stilton is a classic English blue cheese made from cow's milk. It is named after the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire, where it was first sold in the late 18th century. However, Stilton cheese has never been produced in its namesake village. Instead, it is made in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name origin | Named for the village in Huntingdonshire where, according to tradition, it was first sold in the late 18th century at a stagecoach stop called the Bell Inn |
| Where it's made | Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire |
| Where it's not made | Stilton village, Cambridgeshire |
| Milk used | Cow's milk |
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What You'll Learn
- Stilton cheese has been made in Derbyshire since 1900
- It was first sold in the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire
- It is named after the village of Stilton, but it has never been made there
- It is now made in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as well as Derbyshire
- It is made with pasteurised local milk
Stilton cheese has been made in Derbyshire since 1900
Stilton is a classic English blue cheese made from cow's milk. It is named for the village in Huntingdonshire where, according to tradition, it was first sold in the late 18th century at a stagecoach stop called the Bell Inn. However, Stilton cheese has apparently never been produced in its namesake village. In modern times, the designation is restricted to certain cheeses produced in the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.
For cheese to use the name "Stilton", it must be made in one of these three counties and use pasteurised local milk. Manufacturers of Stilton in these counties received protection under European Law as a protected designation of origin (PDO) in 1996. The cheese remains protected by its PDO even after Brexit, under EU law (in the EU and Northern Ireland) and under UK law (England, Scotland and Wales).
As of March 2021, Hartington Stilton was marketing within the UK but also exporting to the US and to the EU; it had just started exporting to Canada.
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It was first sold in the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire
Stilton cheese is a classic English blue cheese made from cow's milk. It was first sold in the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire, which is now part of Cambridgeshire. According to tradition, it was first sold in the late 18th century at a stagecoach stop called the Bell Inn. Stilton cheese has never been produced in its namesake village. In modern times, the designation is restricted to certain cheeses produced in the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. Manufacturers of Stilton in these counties received protection under European Law as a protected designation of origin (PDO) in 1996. The cheese remains protected by its PDO even after Brexit, under EU law and UK law.
Stilton cheese has been made in Derbyshire since 1900, originally at Hartington. The former Dairy Crest-owned licensed dairy that produced Stilton at Hartington was acquired by the Long Clawson dairy in 2008 and closed in 2009, with its production transferred to Leicestershire. In 2014, two former employees set up the Hartington Creamery at Pikehall in Hartington parish, which was licensed to make Stilton. As of March 2021, Hartington Stilton was being marketed within the UK and exported to the US, the EU, and Canada.
Stilton cheese was also manufactured in Staffordshire. The Nuttall family of Beeby, Leicestershire opened a Stilton cheese factory in Uttoxeter in 1892 to take advantage of the local milk and good transport links. However, this firm did not last long and the site became a general dairy.
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It is named after the village of Stilton, but it has never been made there
Stilton cheese is named after the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, where it was first sold in the late 18th century. However, it has never been made there. Instead, it has been made in Derbyshire since 1900, originally at Hartington. In 2008, the licensed dairy that produced Stilton at Hartington was acquired by the Long Clawson dairy in Leicestershire, and it closed a year later. Stilton cheese is now made in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. Manufacturers of Stilton in these counties received protection under European Law as a protected designation of origin (PDO) in 1996. This protection remains in place even after Brexit, under EU law and UK law. As of March 2021, just six dairies were licensed to make Stilton, with four of them based in the Vale of Belvoir, which straddles the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire/Lincolnshire borders.
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It is now made in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as well as Derbyshire
Stilton cheese is now made in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. It has been made in Derbyshire since 1900, originally at Hartington. The former Dairy Crest-owned licensed dairy that produced the product at Hartington was acquired by the Long Clawson dairy in 2008 and closed in 2009, with its production transferred to Leicestershire. In 2014, two former employees set up the Hartington Creamery at Pikehall in Hartington parish, which was licensed to make Stilton. As of March 2021, Hartington Stilton was being marketed within the UK and exported to the US, the EU and Canada.
Stilton cheese cannot be made in Stilton village, which gave the cheese its name, because it is not in any of the three permitted counties, but rather in the administrative county of Cambridgeshire and the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Manufacturers of Stilton in the three permitted counties received protection under European Law as a protected designation of origin (PDO) in 1996. The cheese remains protected by its PDO even after Brexit, under EU law (in the EU and Northern Ireland) and under UK law (England, Scotland and Wales). By September 2016, just six dairies were licensed to make Stilton – three in Leicestershire, two in Nottinghamshire, and one in Derbyshire.
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It is made with pasteurised local milk
Stilton cheese is a classic English blue cheese made from cow's milk. It is named after the village of Stilton in Huntingdonshire, where it was first sold in the late 18th century at a stagecoach stop called the Bell Inn. However, Stilton cheese has never actually been produced in its namesake village. Instead, it is made in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, using pasteurised local milk.
The use of pasteurised milk is an important part of the Stilton cheese-making process. Pasteurisation is a heat treatment process that kills harmful bacteria in milk, making it safe for consumption. By using pasteurised local milk, Stilton cheese makers can ensure the safety and quality of their product.
The milk used to make Stilton cheese typically comes from local dairy farms in the three permitted counties. These farms supply fresh, high-quality milk to the Stilton cheese makers, ensuring the cheese's distinctive rich and intense flavour.
The use of local milk also supports the local dairy industry and reduces the environmental impact of transportation. By sourcing milk from nearby farms, Stilton cheese makers can minimise the distance the milk has to travel, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
In addition to using pasteurised local milk, Stilton cheese makers must follow specific production methods and adhere to strict quality standards to ensure the cheese meets the required specifications. This includes regular audits by independent inspection agencies to maintain the protected designation of origin (PDO) status of Stilton cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Stilton cheese is made in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
Stilton is in the administrative county of Cambridgeshire and the historic county of Huntingdonshire, which are not among the three permitted counties.
As of September 2016, just six dairies were licensed to make Stilton.
Stilton is made from cow's milk.
Stilton has a rich, intense flavour that is less salty than Roquefort.
