Harrogate Blue

A distinctive orange-coloured crumbly blue, mellow in strength (probably one of our mildest blues alongside Yorkshire Blue), creamy with a hint of pepper on the finish. Always a hit on a cheeseboard due to it's beautiful golden orange colour. Launched by Shepherd’s Purse in Thirsk in 2012 and winning it's first award only two weeks later, this blue cheese is matured for a minimum of 10 weeks to develop flavour and creaminess. It was the first cheese co-produced by Katie and Caroline (Judy's daughters) after they took over the running of the business. 

Harrogate Blue has one many top awards including Super Gold and awarded 11th best cheese in the world at the World Cheese Awards in 2017/18. It has won Gold in 2018/19 and Gold again in 2019/20.

Shepherd's Purse was started in the late 1980s by Judy Bell who set out on a mission to create quality dairy alternatives for cow’s milk allergy sufferers. They started making cheese from only ewe's milk then extended their range to include cow's milk and water buffalo milk cheeses. We also stock other Shepherd's Purse cheeses - Yorkshire Blue, Fettle, and Buffalo Blue. 

They are now an award-winning independent family-run business, making cheese in the traditional way from their farm in North Yorkshire with the business now led by Judy's daughters Katie and Caroline. 

Recipe Ideas:

Click here for a Mushroom & Harrogate Blue Risotto. 

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