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Gloucester cheese, made in England, has been produced for centuries and comes in single and double forms. It can be served at room temperature, used in cooking, and paired with various wines. The annual Gloucester Cheese Rolling event involves chasing a seven-pound wheel of cheese down a steep hill.
The ancient Sumerians were making a cheese from goat’s milk and cow’s milk thousands of years ago. While Gloucester cheese isn’t thousands of years old, this cheese, made in England, comes from the famous county of Gloucestershire, which has been known for its dairy production for centuries. Gloucester is a semi-hard unpasteurized cow’s milk cheese that comes in two forms: single and double. Both the single and the double are covered with rinds and round shapes. Doubles can age longer than singles and also have a higher fat content.
The exact century in which Gloucester cheese was developed is open to debate. While the cheese started gaining popularity in the 1600s, when a rind was developed that allowed the cheese to have a longer shelf life, data indicate that Gloucester may have been created as early as the 6th century. Originally, there was only one type of Gloucester cheese, which was made from the cream of the old Gloucester cow. That cow which is now considered rare by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in England. Over time Longhorns, Shorthorns and Holstein Friesians replaced the old Gloucester cow as suppliers of milk and cream.
Gloucester cheese should be served at room temperature. Double Gloucester cheese can be served with crackers, raisins or dried fruit. Additionally, Gloucester Double Cheese can be successfully paired with Sancerre, Riesling, Rioja or Syrah wines.
This cheese is also suitable for use when cooking. Slices of Gloucester cheese with a little English mustard placed on bread, then covered in brown ale and baked in the oven is a classic English dish. Gloucester cheese can also be used in stews and pies.
The Gloucester Cheese Rolling has been an annual event since at least 1826 at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, England, with the exception of 1941-1954, when the wood was replaced with cheese due to World War II rationing. Also in 2010, the event was canceled due to security concerns. Despite the cancellation, the event was still unofficially held during that year.
During the event, a seven-pound (approx. 3.2 kg) wheel from the Gloucester double is rolled down a steep 200-yard (approx. 183-meter) hill, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (approx. 113 km /h). Participants chase the rolling cheese, trying to catch it. Runners can be injured in the resulting puppets. The most seriously injured are taken to a local hospital.
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