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Netherton
Farm in the beautiful Lynher Valley is where the world famous Cornish
Yarg cheese is produced.
The
cheese has never been manufactured on a mass scale, yet it has fans
all over the world.
Today
the farm also opens its doors for people to see how Cornish Yarg
and its sister soft cheeses are made.
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| Holstein
cows provide the milk for the cheeses |
"The
farm and dairy go back as far as 1905," explains Emma Johnson,
Marketing Manager at Lynher Dairies.
The
farm owners stumbled across the recipe for Yarg when they met the
Grays.
"Cornish
Yarg came to us from Allan and Jenny Gray," says Emma.
"They
had a recipe for a special cheese that dates back to the 13th century.
We had a redundant farm building so we acquired funding and started
making and retailing Yarg cheese."
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| Milking
Parlour at Lynher |
But
what does Yarg mean?
Many
believe it is an old word to go alongside the historic recipe for
the cheese. However the name has a modern twist.
"We
just reversed the Grays name to give the cheese its identity. It
is amazing how many people think Yarg is a Cornish word!"
The
cheese is produced solely in Cornwall by Lynher Dairies but it has
fans all over the world.
"Cornish
Yarg has now gone as far afield as Japan and Australia. It was also
on the inaugural flight of Concorde," smiles Emma.
"We
get visitors from all over the world who come to a small working
farm to see how the cheese is made."
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| The
famous nettles are painted on to the cheese |
As
well as the unusual name, the cheese is instantly familiar from
its unique coating.
"Traditionally
in the past cheese products had to be wrapped in something to keep
it fresh," explains Emma.
"The
nettles were not originally put on for flavour purposes they were
placed on the cheese as a preservative. Today you end up with a
cheese that is a really delicate with an almost mushroom flavour."
Visitors
to the Lynher Dairies are able to watch the cheeses being made.
A popular part of the tour is the cheese tasting!
The
farm also produces:
Cornish
Tiskey with its sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, basil and garlic.
Cornish
Garland with srping onion, oregano and thyme.
Cornish
Wild Garlic Yarg which is covered with wild garlic leaves.
As
well as a selection of Cornish Soft Cheeses made with peppers, garlic,
tarragon and more.
From
the A30 and A38 follow the B3254. The Dairy is situated between
Launceston and Liskeard. Look out for the sign at Upton Cross. There
is plenty of free parking and wheel chair access.
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