Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese

Last updated
Gubbeen
Cheese 61 bg 080106.jpg
Country of origin Ireland
Region County Cork
Town Schull
Source of milk Cows
PasteurisedYes
TextureSemi-soft
Fat content48%
Weight500–1,200 g (18–42 oz)

Gubbeen Cheese is a surface ripened, semi-soft, cow's milk cheese with a pink and white rind. The flavours are creamy with mushroom and nutty aftertastes but vary depending on maturity of cheese. Gubbeen Farmhouse Products also produce a Smoked Gubbeen.

Contents

Gubbeen Cheese has been produced since 1979 by Tom and Giana Ferguson at the 100 hectares (250 acres) Gubbeen Farm in Schull, County Cork. The name "Gubbeen" is an anglicisation of the Irish word goibín which means a small beak or mouth [1] and is taken from the name of the townland the farm is in. [2] [3]

All milk used for the cheese comes from their own herd of dairy cows, which is a mixture of several breeds; British Friesian, Simmenthal, Jersey, and Kerry. [4] The milk is stored in vats to which starter culture and rennet are added, causing the milk to set. This is then cut and stirred until the curds develop. The cheese is developed in curing rooms where the rind is washed daily. This is an important part of the process as the washing gives rise to the distinctive surface bloom and develops the characteristic flavours. The cheese develops deeper flavours as it matures. [3]

In 2001, a new strain of lactic acid producing bacteria, Microbacterium gubbeenense, was named after a study into the smear-ripening of Gubbeen cheese. [5]

Each cheese is 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter, 5 cm (2.0 in) in height, weighs 1,200 g (42 oz) and has a fat content of 48%. The cheese is also available as a mini-truckle weighing 400 g.

Mature Gubbeen Gubbeen mature.JPG
Mature Gubbeen

Awards

Gubbeen cheese has been the recipient of numerous awards, both nationally and internationally. Here is a selection of some recent awards:

See also

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References

  1. "Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (Ó Dónaill): goibín". www.teanglann.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  2. "An Goibín/Gubbeen". logainm.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  3. 1 2 "CÁIS Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers Association". irishcheese.ie. Archived from the original on 2010-10-20.
  4. "Discover Farmhouse Cheese – Versatile, Natural & Delicious". www.irishfarmsteadcheese.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Microbacterium gubbeenense sp. nov., from the surface of a smear-ripened cheese".
  6. "Full list of Winners at the Irish Cheese Awards 2011". irishfoodguide.blogspot.com.
  7. List of 2010 British Cheese Award winners Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 "Winners 2016" (PDF). British Cheese Awards.