Melton Dairy Story

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• Uncover the story - As the ‘capital of hunting’, 19th century Melton was where royals and aristocrats headed for the winter season. Today, it’s food lovers who descend on the ‘Rural Capital of Food’, hunting out local specialities, with farm-fresh dairy the cream of the crop. <hr> One of Melton’s most famous delicacies is blue-veined Stilton, whose promotion and development are mostly credited to 18th century Wymondham cheesemaker Frances Pawlett. She shared her recipe locally, sold it in the coaching town of Stilton, and the rest is history. Additionally, it was the whey from Stilton that fed the pigs which gave rise to Melton Mowbray’s famed pork pies. <hr> With protected status, just six dairies, in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, can make Stilton. Three – Long Clawson Dairy, Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery and Webster’s Dairy – are in Melton Mowbray. Making cheese since 1912, award-winning Long Clawson Dairy still uses traditional methods, whether you’re ordering a tiered cheese cake or bargain-hunting in its factory shop. <hr> Five famous cheeses were made in the Melton area; Stilton, Red Leicester, Rutland Slipcote, Colwick and Shropshire Blue. Long Clawson’s signature Stilton is available in The Melton Cheeseboard, as well as Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company’s Sparkenhoe Red Leicester and Thrussington’s Manor Farm yogurts, fresh from cow to carton. <hr> Milk from Brickfield Farm’s herd not only supplies Long Clawson, but is the star ingredient of the Ferneley’s ice cream made and served at the farm’s Dairy Barn Café. For produce without food miles, buy milk from its milk hut, or head to Vine Farm Dairy’s Milk Shed or March House Farm Shop for farm-reared meat. <hr> Melton’s festivals offer another hunting ground for food lovers. The prestigious Artisan Cheese Fair is held at the Livestock Market each first May Bank Holiday after cheeses are judged in the cathedral-like St Mary’s Church. <hr> With Eye Kettleby Lakes’ glamping, Fair Farm Hideaway’s shepherd huts and Stapleford Park’s luxury suites, if you want to stay over, the hunt for great accommodation is easy too.