Orient Magazine Issue 81 - April 2021 | Page 31

31

AHDB Dairy

Exclusive British Cheese Tasting MasterClass
29 & 30 Mar 2021
Be it on a cracker , in a sandwich or added to a recipe , cheese is an age-old staple – loved the world over for its flavour and versatility . In the past , quality cheese was synonymous with France , largely due to the country ’ s rich culture and historic reputation as a leading authority on cheesemaking . But the tide is turning . British cheese is growing in popularity , and for good reason . With over 750 varieties and the original producer of the much-loved Cheddar , British cheese is setting standards around the globe and even winning the hearts of consumers and connoisseurs in far-flung corners of the world .
But what makes our cheese so appealing ? Not only are we rightfully proud of our rich and diverse history of cheesemaking , with recipes dating back centuries , but Britain also boasts a new , young generation of cheesemakers who are bringing an innovative twist to their creations . This exceptional talent , coupled with the country ’ s high welfare standards and lush green countryside , has helped British cheesemakers carve a name for themselves around the world for creating high quality , natural and beautiful tasting cheeses .
One region enjoying British cheese is Singapore – a key market for UK exports with shipments more than doubling in the past five years . Despite a challenging year in 2020 which saw a reduction in foodservice businesses , exports of cheese from the UK actually increased by four per cent . The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board ( AHDB ) has identified Singapore as an important Asian market and is committed to a long-term strategy in which we aim to expand our reach into the foodservice industry . As a sophisticated and discerning market , we have seen that once chefs and key influencers taste our products , they are excited to include us in their menus and on cheeseboards .
Therefore , AHDB has been flying the flag for British Cheese exporters in Singapore and will continue to do so , in conjunction with Britcham Singapore . Most recently on the 29th and 30th March , we were delighted to host 16 buyers from the foodservice industry for an intimate tasting of 9 different cheeses , ( including the award-winning Cornish Kern ) all currently available in Singapore . Following Singapore regulation , it was very exciting for AHDB to be able to deliver our first in-person event in over a year ! We were joined by our local ‘ cheese guru ’, Andrew Manktelow , of The Cheese Shop who talked guests through the making and history of each cheese , as well as Mike Parsons from Britcham members , the British Beverage Company , who perfectly paired each cheese with a delightful English wine .
Subsequent to this activity , it ’ s a great compliment to have had all the cheeses featured in Tatler Magazine , where you can read more about each cheese and also find out how to buy them in country .
AHDB is a statutory levy board , funded by farmers , growers and others in the supply chain . Our purpose is to inspire our farmers , growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world . We equip the industry with easy to use , practical know-how which they can apply straight away to make better decisions and improve their performance . Established in 2008 and classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body , it supports the following industries : meat and livestock ( cattle , sheep and pigs ) in England ; horticulture , milk and potatoes in Great Britain ; and cereals and oilseeds in the UK . AHDB ’ s remit covers 72 per cent of total UK agricultural output . Further information on AHDB can be found at www . ahdb . org . uk
SPECIAL FEATURE :
EXCLUSIVE BRITISH CHEESE TASTING MASTERCLASS WITH AHDB