Neal's Yard Dairy Cave Tour

So, this video is long enough, that I won't write a lot.  Hopefully, you already know how special Neal's Yard is, and, of course, how unique their caves are to the world of cheese.  I'm sorry I didn't edit this video.  It took 8 hours to download and since I'm in London, I'm not editing video.  Instead, I'm keeping calm and carrying on (thanks, Winston).

Anyway, the caves are essential to the aging, caring, and receiving of cheeses from the many producers and farms of the British Isles.  What is essential is that there is an opportunity for each cheese to be treated separately according to its needs.  With soft cheeses, hard cheeses, and blue cheeses there are different demands for the environment and treatment of each.  Furthermore, each batch (essentially cheeses made on different days), comes in with different moisture levels.  Therefore, careful inspection must be made in order to determine the steps necessary for this cheese to hit the retail counter at the right time both taste wise and form wise.

Of course, it is not hard to conclude that there is also a variance in EVERY single cheese.  Inspection here is key - if a single cheese from a single batch comes in "under par" than it is noted and either moved for further attention of pushed aside to be used for non-selling purposes.  Again, tasting is key.  If there is one thing that everyone must remain vigilant at, no matter your current experience with cheese, it is that you must taste the cheese before you buy it!

How important is this whole process?  Many past, current, and future cheesemakers work at the arches dealing with each others and their own cheeses.  Mary Holbrooke, owner & producer of Sleight Farm insistes on coming in during the week to personally care for her cheeses in the caves.