[shroomgirl]

In some aged cheeses there are crystalized bits, since not all aged cheeses have crunchies is there a whey (sorry ) to create them? The technical terms are not forming this morning, hope the discription is enough.

[Sid Cook]

It is calcium Lactate....it naturally forms in our cow milk cheese at 3 to 4 years of age.....I like it and think that it adds character......With the aged goat cheese it comes at about 15 months and the sheep milk cheeses and mix milk cheeses at about 24 months......

Sid Cook

[shroomgirl]

some aged cheeses seem to have more than others, would that just be luck?

[Nicko]

I notice these crystalized bit particularly in aged goudas.

[m brown]

Like having savory toffee bits in the cheese. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[shroomgirl]

at 10 years I would expect the whole thing of aged gouda to be a crispy bit.....
Some of the English Cheddars...Montgomery have them in abundance.

I've got some 10 year cheddar from WI in my fridge....it's got crispies....Hooks from Mineral Point, WI....picked it up at Madison Farmer's Market. 10 year cheddar is pretty hard to find.

Some parmesans have it also.

[Anneke]

Originally Posted by shroomgirl

Some of the English Cheddars...Montgomery have them in abundance.

This is interesting since Montgomery's does not age their cheddar more than two years. I wonder what would cause this crystallisation so early in theirs?

I've rarely tasted a good cheddar that was aged beyond 3-4 years. I think cheesemongers take advantage of the lack of regulation in cheddar ageing. They call anything past its prime "extra-old", or even lie and give it an age; I've witnessed this numerous times. I think a good 10 year old cheddar is actually a five year old with a serious bite. That said, I hope to try Sid's award winning 8 year old. I'm sure with Sid's expertise, it can be done! Too bad it's not available north of the border...

BTW: "crunchy bits" = grana.

[Sid Cook]

No...... It is a 10 year with a serious flavor.....we run our temp around 38F and prepare for the long wait. Most of the English farmhouse cheeses are aged much warmer.....in many of them you get a more barny earthy flavor.....the higher temp promotes a different culture spectrum to flavor the cheese. These cheeses are going to have a shorter life .....and it is because of the curing temp and remember they have a native molds on the rind that is very active. You have all the surface activity and this will affect the interior of the cheese....

Sid

[Anneke]

Sid, can you address how you control (introduce or prevent)) the microflora in your environment? Have you chosen 38'F through much trial and error? Or was it regulation? Does this lower temperature tone down the shapness you would expect of such an aged cheddar?