CHEESE BOX 57 –

January 24

Welcome to our Cheese box 57 – January 24! 

Welcome to Zany Zeus!

Subscribing to The Cheese Wheel means you discover new cheese each month while supporting small cheesemakers. This is important because they do it tough (two had to give it away last year). That’s why we’re very excited to welcome Zany Zeus to our community, they make outstanding handcrafted Cypriot-style cheese. Enjoy!

MINT FETA – FROM ZANY ZEUS

Feta is a good example of a style of cheese where there is lots of substandard products on the market. Zany Zeus make a superb artisan product, and their mint feta makes it seem even more fresh. It goes well with fresh fruit or on a piece of crusty bread, with a Sauvignon Blanc, German-style witbier, or a sparkling pear juice.

Region: Wellington. Type of milk: cow.

SMOKED EPITOME – FROM CARTWHEEL CREAMERY

Tomme is a low-fat French/Swiss alpine style cheese made using skimmed milk left after the cream has been removed for butter and cheese making. We have sourced Cartwheel’s washed Tomme before, but they have also been experimenting with smoking in applewood. We enjoy it best by just nibbling it with a pale ale, a Shiraz, or a rich coffee.

Region: Manawatu. Type of milk: cow.

VINTAGE GOUDA – FROM KARIKAAS CHEESE

The team at Karikaas Cheese makes great cheese. This one is an excellent example of this Dutch classic matured for a year and half. It’s great to nibble, but also grated onto a salad. Pair it with a full-bodied red like a Bordeaux, an American Brown Ale, or a non-alcoholic red wine.

Region: Canterbury. Type of milk: cow.

BAY BLUE – FROM EVANSDALE

This is a Roquefort style blue that is smooth and creamy with a full flavour but not sharp like some Danish styles. It’s perfect for cooking, but we also love it on a piece of baguette. It goes well with a Riesling or a Sauterne, an IPA or Porter, or a non-alcoholic cider. .

Region: Otago. Type of milk: cow.