Christmas is all about traditions, and from pigs in blankets to tasty mince pies, food plays an important role in the festivities. With many of us looking forward to enjoying time spent at the dinner table with our loved ones and indulging in our favourite treats, there’s one regional tradition synonymous with Christmas that’s increasing in popularity.
The pairing of Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and Christmas Fruit Cake is a firm favourite in God’s own County throughout the year but is now proving to be a popular choice with cheese lovers across the country and beyond, providing a true taste of Yorkshire with a twist!
Wensleydale Creamery, the artisan cheesemaker based in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales who proudly champion the perfect pairing, has seen an increase in the popularity of cake and cheese products this year, directly from its own online Deli and Visitor Centre.
Combining sweet, rich traditional fruitcake with the fresh, clean savoury notes of their award-winning Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese creates a delicious contrast and one you’ll reaching for throughout the year.
The tradition of enjoying cheese with fruit cake however is not a recent phenomenon! Whilst the true origins of how and why this pairing began are unknown, it can be traced back to Yorkshire as early as 1871 in Joseph Lucas’ book ‘Studies in Nidderdale’, where a passage reads: “On Christmas Eve one Yule Cake is given to each member of the family, along with a piece of Christmas cheese. As a rule, part of it is left for Christmas morning, and eaten at the breakfast.”
Referring to the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese, in the Victorian era the creamy yet crumbly Yorkshire Wensleydale was created in the summer and reached full maturity in the festive season, making it the cheese of choice to pair with a rich Christmas cake.
Sandra Bell of the Wensleydale Creamery, comments: “This pairing is a renowned Yorkshire delicacy, with the creamy, crumbly flavour of the cheese complementing the rich, sweet fruit cake perfectly and one we proudly champion.
“In the spirit of trying something new, we want to encourage people across the nations to try the much-loved Yorkshire pairing. This is a tradition that dates back to the 19th Century and one we enjoy all year round. We look forward to sharing this enjoyment with everyone during the festive season.”
