A cheese hailed as the smelliest in the world is to make a malodorous appearance on the nation’s Christmas dinner tables after being put on sale by a British supermarket.
The aptly named Minger has been produced in the North of Scotland for seven years and has won legions of fans among adventurous foodies.
Its pungent waft is set to spread even wider as it is now being sold across the UK for the first time.
And although cheesemaker Rory Stone, from Ross-shire, is delighted it is being made available to millions of shoppers, he accepts it could prove to be a controversial addition to the festive cheese-board.
Mr Stone said his specialist product tastes delicious but some might be put off by the smell. ‘The Minger smells meaty, unctuous, cabbagey,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing subtle here and no nice way to describe the smell – it’s simply bad. But it’s all aroma; the flavour is a very different experience. At best it’s moreish, melts on the tongue with a full, rounded umami taste.’
The Minger has been produced in the North of Scotland for seven years, and will now be sold UK-wide for the first time
Even its cheesemaker has admitted that its pungent waft may put off some
Mr Stone has run family firm Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain since 1994. He has now signed a deal to supply 54 Asda stores. The supermarket is also selling his other unconventionally named cheeses Fat Cow and Blue Murder.
He said: ‘It is a real achievement and a very proud moment to be able to say our new artisan cheeses are available in Asda, the first major retailer to stock these products.
‘The business has come a long way from making cheese in the bathtub to seeing it on the supermarket shelves.
‘Our cheeses are still made by hand but are now produced in our dairy in Tain.’
The Minger is a brie-style cheese which has a harder rind and a gooey middle. Its distinctive orange outer layer is the result of being washed in a solution of Brevibacterium – the microbe responsible for smelly feet – then being left to mature for two months.
Mr Stone said: ‘Our dedicated expert team works really hard to create a unique range of European-style cheeses, handmade using quality local sourced cow’s milk, which comes from traditional breeds where the cows are free-roaming and grass-fed.
The family business run by Rory Stone, Highland Fine Cheeses, has produced cheese since 1994 in Tain
‘Washed rind cheeses are very seldom seen on supermarket shelves so this is a really exciting time for cheese-lovers – especially for all those festive cheese-boards.’
With the addition of these listings, Asda customers will be able to buy all five Highland Fine Cheeses, including its signature Highland Brie and Black Crowdie.
Asda buying manager Ashley Connolly said: ‘We are continually looking for opportunities to work with the best local suppliers to find really quality and innovative products, so we’re over the moon about our new partnership with Highland Fine Cheeses.’
‘I’m sure these lines are going to feature heavily on the festive cheese-boards.’