Cheese ace plans a ‘true blue’

 For generations, cheese-lovers in the county have been left with a slightly bitter taste in their mouths knowing that Shropshire Blue is not made on home soil.

Despite the name, the trademark cheese is produced mainly in Derbyshire and Leicestershire while its origins are believed, rather bizarrely, to lie north of the border in Scotland. But one man is hoping to change all that.

Newport cheese maker Martin Moyden has gained accolades up and down the country for his Wrekin White, Wrekin Gold and Little Aston cheeses.

Indeed, Martin took both a gold medal and a bronze at this year’s British Cheese Awards only 18 months after diversifying part of the family farm into the cheese making venture.

Now Martin has set his sights on developing a unique blue cheese which he says will be “the only true Shropshire blue” available in the county.

Martin, 28, has been working tirelessly on his Wrekin Blue and hopes to take the wraps off the finished article in the next few weeks.

He said: “Ever since I started making cheese I’ve wanted to develop a blue cheese that would rival all others.

“But most importantly, I wanted to develop a blue cheese that was made in Shropshire.

“My Wrekin Blue has been in development for some time and it is just a matter of perfecting the process to ensure it’s consistent before we unveil it,” he added.

Martin, who trades under the eponymous Mr Moyden label, said that he had been experimenting with a number of different cheese types to come up with his new variety.

“I have made a soft blue cheese like a camberzola which is six-weeks matured and a Stilton-style one which has been matured for a couple of weeks longer,” he said.

“Whichever one I go for, you can guarantee that it will be the only true Shropshire blue.”