Get to know Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar has a long and proud history -- one that we continue with our Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese. The Castello® Cheddar recipe was first introduced in 2007, and since then it has carved out a place among cheese enthusiasts who appreciate a Cheddar with real character. Produced using traditional Cheddar-making methods and refined with Castello® craftsmanship, this cheese draws on generations of expertise while maintaining the consistent quality expected from the Castello® name.

But what truly sets this Cheddar apart is time. Matured for an extended period, this ageing is what qualifies it as extra mature and gives it a deeper, more developed flavour than younger Cheddars; in other words, you are not just experiencing a Cheddar here. You are experiencing one that has truly come into its own.

Distinctively sweet and sharp with lingering notes of caramel and rum

Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar is shaped by time, patience, and a bit of cheesemaking magic. Matured for around 17 months, the cheese develops a flavour that is both sweet and sharp, tangy and rounded.

As the cheese matures, natural enzymes gradually break down the proteins and fats in the milk, allowing the flavour to deepen and grow more complex. A mild sweetness develops along the way, bringing notes of caramel while the characteristic tang of mature Cheddar adds a pleasant sharpness.

With further ageing, the aroma becomes warmer and more rounded with subtle hints of rum, creating an extra layer of intrigue. Even with its smooth body, Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar happily crumbles in your hands and leaves a lingering caramel note on the palate with every bite.

With a subtle crunch from naturally formed salt crystals

Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar has a dense structure that is remarkably crumbly yet leaves a rich smoothness as it slowly melts in your mouth. And finally, it surprises with a delicate crunch that gently tickles your taste buds.

This subtle crunch comes from naturally-formed salt crystals that develop throughout the cheese, but far from being a flaw, these crystals are a hallmark of a well-aged Cheddar. Extra mature Cheddar spends more time ageing than younger cheeses, and when the crystals develop, it's a sign that the cheese has been given the time it needs to mature fully -- proof that patience really does pay off when it comes to great Cheddar.

Made for dishes that call for character

Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese knows how to hold its own on a cheeseboard. With its bold flavour and crumbly texture, it makes a confident centrepiece, pairing beautifully with fruit, nuts, or a good chutney. But it also shines in the kitchen, where it adds a piquant flavour and complements a wide range of dishes.

Pasta loves a good Cheddar, and our recipe for prawn and lemon pasta knows it too. The cheese melts into the dish through the bright lemon-and-Cheddar sauce, bringing a satisfying richness that makes a simple pasta extra scrumptious.

Or try it in a colourful steak salad, where crisp vegetables and tender slices of striploin steak are finished with a drizzle of lemon-basil vinaigrette and a generous crumble of Cheddar, adding depth and savoury richness that ties the whole salad together.

Even simple snacks benefit from a little Cheddar magic -- a grating of Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar over warm popcorn melts into the kernels, turning it into irresistible cheese popcorn that satisfies even the most persistent savoury cravings.

From elegant cheeseboards to comforting meals and clever snacks, Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese proves that a cheese with character can make every meal just a little more memorable.