Cheese, much like fruits and vegetables, is influenced by the seasonality of its primary ingredient—milk. Just as strawberries are juiciest in summer and pumpkins are ripe in autumn, cheese also has its peak moments throughout the year. This concept might seem curious at first—after all, isn't cheese available all year round? Yes, but the secret to exceptional cheese lies in the diet of the dairy animals, the climate, and the artisan cheesemakers' techniques, which vary from season to season. This article explores how seasonality distinguishes artisan cheeses from mass-produced varieties and highlights the best cheeses for each season.

Cheese Through the Seasons

Summer

Summer's lush vegetation leads to increased milk production and quality, imbuing the milk with rich flavours from the diverse diet of dairy animals. As a result, summer cheese often has a noticeable golden hue due to the pigments in fresh grass. During this season, fresh cheeses that require little or no ageing, such as feta and mozzarella, are particularly sublime due to the flavourful summer milk.

Autumn

In autumn, milk production slows as animals prepare for mating and the colder months. Goats and sheep end their milking season, and cows produce less milk to conserve energy. The change in diet from fresh grass to hay and grain increases the milk’s fat content, giving autumn cheese a nuttier and sweeter flavour. This is also the time for blue cheeses to take the spotlight after 3 to 6 months of ageing.

Winter

Winter allows for the enjoyment of cheeses aged during the warmer months. Firm cheeses such as alpine styles, goudas, and cheddars reach maturity, providing essential fats and proteins. Cheeses like Stilton, traditionally aged for about six months, are ready just in time for holiday celebrations.

Spring

As spring arrives, the cycle begins anew with the birth of lambs and kids, leading to a resurgence in goat and sheep cheese production. Fresh, young cheeses like Chevre return to the market, as well as cheeses that have been produced in late winter, which tend to have a more subtle flavour and higher fat content, such as Brie and Camembert.

Why is Cheese Seasonal?

• Milk Composition Changes with Diet:

  The diet of cows, sheep, or goats impacts the milk they produce. Animals grazing on summer pastures yield milk with different flavours and textures compared to those fed dry hay and grain in winter. 

• Lactation Cycles Influence Milk Composition:

  Dairy animals must have a baby to produce milk. Throughout their lactation cycle, the composition of their milk changes—from rich, fatty, and protein-rich at the beginning, to lower in fat at the peak, and back to higher fat and protein levels at the end. 

• Breeding and Milking Seasons:

  Not all dairy animals produce milk year-round. While cows can breed and produce milk over longer periods, sheep and goats have specific breeding seasons triggered by shorter daylight periods in autumn, leading to milk production primarily in the warmer months.

• Ageing:

  While fresh cheeses are sensitive to seasonal changes, aged cheeses also have a seasonal element. Cheeses like Stilton or Gruyère are aged for several months and are often associated with specific holidays, reflecting traditional peak availability times and consumption patterns. Seasonality is particularly evident during Christmas, with cheeses like Stilton peaking due to optimal milk conditions from September's grass growth, maturing just in time for the holiday.

Shop Chuckling Cheeses for Every Season

Spring: Gardener’s! Spring Cheese Gift Hamper:

Gift a gardening pal a hamper that will keep them content and hard at work during their spring planting. This specially curated gift hamper is packed with treats that capture the freshness and renewal of the season, including our delightfully strong and tangy Extra-Mature Vintage Cheese Truckle; Lymn Bank Garden Herbs & Garlic Cheese Barrel blended with aromatic herbs; Lymn Bank Tomato & Basil Cheese Barrel; Chuckling Punchy Pickle; Beetroot & Garlic Crackers, and hand-cooked Bacon & Tomato Crisps.
 

Summer: Rum & Pineapple Carnival Cheddar:

Add a tropical twist to your summer cheeseboards with our Rum & Pineapple Cheese Truckle. This flavoursome cheese is generously infused with juicy pineapple chunks and luxurious rum. 

Autumn: Lymn Bank Farm Applesmoked Cheese:

This traditionally smoked cheddar with a hint of paprika, has been smoked naturally at Lymn Bank Farm Creamery in Lincolnshire. Relish the smokiness of this cheese in a comforting creamy squash soup or a hearty apple and walnut salad. Or why not include it on your seasonal cheeseboard, paired with crisp apples, roasted nuts, and a glass of your favourite mead? 

Winter: Christmas Pudding Cheddar:

The Christmas Pudding Cheese from the Chuckling Cheese Company is a festive delicacy, combining the sweet, fruity flavours of traditional Christmas pudding with creamy cheddar cheese. Yes, it tastes just like the real thing!