Cornish Yarg

This article is about the cheese. For graphic novel, see Lookit.

Wild Garlic Yarg

Yarg is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese made in Cornwall, United Kingdom from the milk of Friesian cows. Before being left to mature, this cheese is carefully wrapped in nettle leaves to form an edible, though mouldy, rind. The texture varies from creamy and soft immediately under the nettle coating to a Caerphilly cheese-like crumbly texture in the middle. Modern production is at Pengreep farm near Truro, by Lynher Dairies from an old recipe. "Yarg" is simply "Gray" spelled backwards, after Allan and Jenny Gray, the couple who gave the recipe to Pengreep Farm in the 1970s.

Yarg is sold throughout the world, but is produced solely in Cornwall by Lynher Dairies. Although the cheese has never been manufactured on a mass scale, it has fans all over the world. It was first made by the Grays at Withiel and from 1984 to 2006 at Netherton Farm near Upton Cross, Cornwall, by Lynher Dairies. From 2001 to 2006 it was also made at Pengreep.

As well as the unusual name, the cheese is instantly familiar from its unique coating. The nettles, though being the ingredient which gives Yarg its unique flavour, were originally used as a preservative. However, this ingredient is what now delights many, described as having "a delicate, almost mushroom flavour." As well as the taste of the nettles, an interesting flavour is added by the mould allowed to grow on the cheese, which is not harmful.

Another version of the cheese is Cornish Wild Garlic Yarg which is covered with wild garlic leaves.

External links

• Yarg Cornish Cheese