St Tola

St Tola is an Irish cheese made from goat's milk. It is named after the early Christian saint, St Tola, who was a bishop in the area of Inagh, County Clare, Ireland, where the cheese is now produced.

History

St Tola cheese was first produced in the 1980s by Meg and Derrick Gordon. In 1999, the business was taken over by Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith and her partner John Harrington, who continue to produce the cheese today. The cheese is made on a small farm in the townland of Inagh, in the west of Ireland.

Production

St Tola cheese is made from the milk of a herd of Saanen, Toggenburg and British Alpine goats, which are raised on the farm. The cheese is made using traditional methods, with the milk being pasteurised before the addition of vegetarian rennet and starter cultures. The curds are then hand-ladled into moulds and allowed to drain naturally, without being pressed. The cheese is then aged for a minimum of three months before being sold.

Characteristics

St Tola cheese has a distinctive, creamy texture and a mild, tangy flavour. It is often described as having a slight citrus note. The cheese is available in a variety of forms, including a log, a crottin and a mature, ash-covered version. The ash-covered version is rolled in traditional French vegetable ash to create a distinctive, edible rind.

Awards

St Tola cheese has won numerous awards, including a gold medal at the British Cheese Awards and a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards. It is also a regular winner at the Irish Cheese Awards.

See also

• List of goat milk cheeses
• List of Irish cheeses