We’ve teamed up with Academy of Cheese to pair our new Pumpkin & Sunflower Seed Sourdough Crackers with cheeses studied on their courses.
Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed crackers are the latest addition to our range. Our crackers are made using a 45-year-old sourdough that ferments for 16 hours and the addition of Pumpkin and Sunflower seeds adds even more crunch and texture, perfect to pair with hard cheeses.
The roasted seeds offer up nutty, toasty savoury flavours with a subtle sweetness that compliments stronger flavoured cheeses.
Cheddar (level One)
Pretty much every household across the nation will have some form of cheddar in their refrigerator! There are many different shapes, sizes, colours and ages of cheddar, using different milks, made all over the world. Cheddar takes its name from a gorge and village in Somerset, where the cheese was first linked to as far back as the 16th century. However, the traditional cheese is made in round truckles using cows’ milk, which are bandaged in cloth to protect them as they mature.
Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed crackers are the perfect pairing for a mature, tangy cheddar such as the traditional hand crafted Montgomery’s, Quicke’s or Pitchfork or block cheddars such as Barbers 1833 or Wyke Farms Vintage.
Serve good chunks of the artisanal cheddar atop Pumpkin and Sunflower crackers for a flavour and texture extravaganza – the deep savoury notes and firm, brittle textures of the mature cheeses zing against the earthy, sweet flavours of the seedy crackers.
Shave layers of the block cheddars (use a vegetable peeler if you don’t have a cheese plane) onto the crackers, pile high and serve with a bitter ale or chilled apple juice.
Aged Gouda (Level One)
Gouda is a hard cooked cheese typically matured for at least 12 months. It is a washed curd cheese, which involves removing some of the whey from the vat (after the curds have been set, cut and stirred) and replacing it with hot water. This removes lactose and produces less acidity, resulting in sweet caramel notes in the final cheese.
Gouda is named after the Dutch town where it was traded, however there are many versions made around the world including British versions such as Cornish Kern,
Aged Gouda’s have a closed texture, with or without small eyes. The eye catching golden, deep yellowy orange colour of the cheese starts the mouth-watering! The fruity flavours, sweet and savoury notes and smooth hard texture are complimented by the nutty, toasted flavours from the crackers.
Smear the Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed crackers with apricot chutney to adhere a carved chunk of Gouda and serve with salami and a glass of Riesling.
For more pairing inspiration, take a look at our pairing wheel here.
