Sage Derby is a variety of
Derby cheese that is mild, mottled green and semi-hard, and has a
sage flavour.
The colour is from sage and sometimes other colouring added to the
curd
Curd is obtained by Denaturation (biochemistry), coagulating milk in a sequential process called curdling. It can be a final dairy product or the first stage in cheesemaking. The coagulation can be caused by adding rennet, a Kefir cheese, ...
s, producing a
marbling effect and a subtle herb flavour.
The colour is formed either by mixing sage leaves into the curd before it is pressed or by the addition of "green curd" from green corn or spinach juice. In the latter case, the flavour has to be created with colourless sage extract.
Parsley,
spinach
Spinach (''Spinacia oleracea'') is a leafy green flowering plant native to Central Asia, Central and Western Asia. It is of the order Caryophyllales, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodioideae. Its leaves are a common vegetable consumed eit ...
and
marigold leaves, bruised and steeped before use, can also be included instead of the sage leaves.
It is aged for one to three months.
History
The first production began in the seventeenth century in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. Sage Derby was initially only made for festive occasions such as harvest time and Christmas, but it is now available all year.
References
*
{{British cheeses
English cheeses
Cow's-milk cheeses