Perry's Cheese Blog

A behind-the-scenes look at my time on the Super Jury at this year’s World Cheese Awards in Bern. From the moment I got the call, to tasting the final fourteen cheeses on stage, to watching the winner crowned. A huge honour, a surreal day, and one I’ll never forget.

A visit to Norfolk to catch up with cheesemaker Julie Cheyney at her new St. Jude Cheese dairy. We talk about her 20 years in cheese, her new home, and how the Norfolk milk is shaping the next chapter for St Jude, St Cera and St Helena.

What does a British affineur learn from three days in France? From industrial precision at Rungis to butter “heresy” at Mondial, to a farm where cows decide their own routine. Here are my notes, and why they matter for British cheese.

I spent a morning at Village Maid Cheese with Jake and the team, tasting fresh curd and talking all things British artisan cheese. We saw Heckfield being made and revisited two favourites, Spenwood and Wigmore. A proper good visit.

As the old saying goes, we eat with our eyes. We love the colour of cheese, both on its outside and what it opens up to reveal. In a world of pristine whites and warm yellows, nothing strikes the eye of a deep-hued orange or red cheese, the sign of a well-matured variety, but often the result of a little bit of annatto as well. Annatto serves as a natural alternative to synthetic food colouring for cheese, but why is it used in the artisan cheese world? What is the history behind it? Grab some cheese and red grapes and...