It is also the time of year that a dedicated team of pickers from Lynher Dairies spring into action at Pengreep Farm, West Cornwall to produce Wild Garlic Yarg. The result is a seasonal, handmade cheese that makes the most of the changing seasons and flavours of the Cornish countryside. This is a fabulous cheese for al fresco eating: mild, creamy and just a little crumbly, perfectly paired with fresh bread and fruity chutneys.
After gathering the wild garlic by hand, the team then 'paint' the leaves in concentric circles onto soft white rounds of Yarg cheese. This encourages the maturing process, whilst infusing the cheese with a hint of garlic.
The subtlety of the garlic in the cheese makes it a versatile cooking ingredient, adding extra, but not overpowering, interest to dishes. Try replacing gruyère with Wild Garlic Yarg in an Alsace style onion tart or for a real summery dish, try a twice-baked soufflé with a wild garlic salsa verde.
Wild Garlic Yarg is made by hand in the same way as Lynher Dairies' famous nettle covered Yarg, using milk both from the dairy's own herd of Ayrshire, Jersey and Friesian cross cows and from nearby farms. As one of the UK's most successful artisan cheese makers, Lynher Dairies processes two million litres of milk a year and makes nearly 200 tonnes of cheese, which is distributed nationally.
A 900g truckle of Wild Garlic Yarg costs £16.95 (including p&p) from Lynher Dairies Cheese By Post and is also available from selected cheese counters nationwide.
For further information, visit www.lynherdairies.co.uk.