The Color Question

Cheddar cheese in its natural state reflects the color of its milk, ranging from pale yellow to ivory. As you have probably noticed, not many cows produce orange milk. So where does that bright color come from? It does not indicate artificial dyes or poor quality. It comes from annatto—a natural, flavorless vegetable dye that was traditionally used as a way to identify Cheddars from specific areas of the country. At one point, it was a means for Wisconsin cheese makers to distinguish their products from the white Cheddars of Vermont, but now adding annatto is a common practice everywhere.

Cheddar Pairings

You can’t go wrong with the classic combination of sharp Cheddar and apples or pears, but there are other pairings worth considering—especially when you’re putting together an hors d’oeuvre platter. Serve the cheese with toasted walnuts or almonds, dried fruits (like dates and figs), spiced fruit chutney, apple and pear butters, and whole-grain fruit-and-nut breads.