Britain's Big Buttery Blue

In praise of Stilton, the perfect holiday cheese.

Why Christmas?

Stilton has long been associated with the holidays. Wheels made from plentiful summer milk begin to ripen toward the end of fall and are at their peak throughout winter.

“But if you look back,” Bronwen says, “people were eating this cheese aged for two years. At that point this whole seasonality thing kind of goes out the window. Back then, it was particularly suitable for festive occasions because it was expensive. People talked about it as the most rare, exotic, sought-after cheese available.”

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