Cheddar (cheese)

Cheddar (cheese), hard cow’s milk cheese with a mild to sharp flavor and a white to bright orange color. Cheddar is the most widely produced and consumed cheese in the world.

In cheddar production, firm curds (solidified milk proteins) are cut, turned, stacked, and milled into fine particles, giving the cheese its unique texture and flavor. Cheddar cheese is produced in many different shapes and sizes. The most traditional shape, called a cheddar, is a drum about 36 cm (14 in) in diameter and 30 cm (12 in) thick that weighs about 36 kg (80 lb).

Cheddar is named for the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, where it was first developed. In the 16th century cheddar cheese was enjoyed by travelers visiting Cheddar Gorge, a spectacular nearby canyon. The travelers started taking the cheese from Cheddar back home. Since then, cheddar has spread throughout the world, and the state of Wisconsin is now the largest cheddar cheese producer in the world.