The Cheesemonger’s Notes
Rich, buttery and beautifully mellow
Produced in Berkshire by Village Maid Cheese →
Barkham Blue is an award-winning British blue cheese made by Village Maid Cheese in Riseley, Berkshire, using rich Guernsey cow’s milk.
Immediately recognisable by its distinctive ammonite-shaped round and rustic natural rind, Barkham Blue has a striking deep golden interior, a colour that comes naturally from the Guernsey milk. Running through the cheese are dark blue-green veins that provide plenty of blue character without the sharpness or aggression sometimes associated with stronger blue cheeses.
The texture is wonderfully smooth and buttery. As Barkham Blue matures, it becomes increasingly soft, creamy and melting, while retaining that lovely balance between the richness of the milk and the savoury character of the blue mould.
For anyone who enjoys blue cheese but prefers richness and creaminess to an overpowering blue bite, Barkham Blue is an excellent choice.
- Milk: Cow's milk – Guernsey
- Style: Blue
- Texture: Smooth, buttery and increasingly creamy as it matures
- Flavour: Rich, mellow and savoury with a rounded blue character
- Rind: Natural, mould-ripened rustic rind
- Made in: Riseley, Berkshire
- Cheesemaker: Village Maid Cheese
What does Barkham Blue taste like?
Barkham Blue combines the natural richness of Guernsey milk with a rounded, savoury blue flavour. Expect a buttery sweetness followed by earthy, gently piquant blue notes. It has plenty of character, but without the harshness that can sometimes dominate a blue cheese.
How strong is Barkham Blue?
We would describe Barkham Blue as a medium-strength blue. There is enough blue veining to give it a distinctive flavour, but its creamy texture and rich milk help soften the sharper notes. This makes it particularly approachable for people who like blue cheese but don't necessarily want the intensity of the strongest varieties.
How should I serve Barkham Blue?
Take Barkham Blue out of the fridge around 30–60 minutes before serving. Allowing it to come towards room temperature softens the texture and brings out more of its buttery, savoury flavours.
It makes a superb addition to a cheeseboard and works particularly well alongside something sweet – try it with pear, fig, grapes, fruit chutney or a drizzle of honey. Add a good cracker or piece of crusty bread and there really isn't much more it needs.
What should I drink with Barkham Blue?
Barkham Blue works well with medium-bodied red wines, where the fruit can complement rather than overwhelm the cheese. Moderately sweet dessert wines are another excellent match, with their sweetness providing a classic contrast to the salty, savoury blue character.
About Village Maid Cheese
Village Maid Cheese is a second-generation artisan cheesemaking business based in the rural Berkshire village of Riseley.
Founded by Anne Wigmore in 1986, the business grew from her experience at the National Institute for Research in Dairying at Shinfield, where she initially worked in microbiology before learning the craft of cheesemaking.
Today, Village Maid continues to make distinctive British cheeses using traditional methods and carefully sourced milk from local farms. Sustainability plays an important part in the business, with an emphasis on working with farms committed to regenerative agriculture, high standards of animal welfare and more sustainable farming practices.
Nearly four decades after it was founded, Village Maid remains an independent cheesemaker producing cheeses with their own very recognisable character – and Barkham Blue is perhaps one of the most distinctive.
Why we like Barkham Blue
There are plenty of British blue cheeses, but Barkham Blue manages to be immediately recognisable both on the counter and on the palate.
The golden Guernsey-milk paste, dark blue-green veining and unusual ammonite shape make it visually distinctive, but ultimately it is the balance that makes it such a good cheese. It delivers everything you want from a blue – savouriness, complexity and character – wrapped up in an exceptionally smooth, buttery texture.
It is a blue cheese with personality, but one that doesn't feel the need to shout about it.
Perfect for
- British cheeseboards
- Blue cheese lovers
- Anyone looking for a creamy, less aggressive blue
- Pairing with fruit, chutney or honey
- Serving with red or dessert wine
- Creating contrast alongside hard and soft cheeses on a cheeseboard