Clawson Dairy create this beautiful Red Leicester in the town of Melton Mowbray, where a team of cheesemakers still follow Mr Stevenson’s century old recipe.
The Long Clawson Dairy story began in 1911. One of its founding members, Thomas Hoe Stevenson, was running Mount Pleasant Farm near Melton Mowbray, alongside his two sisters who produced Stilton cheese in a room adjoining the main farmhouse. In order to ensure this special cheese would continue to be produced for generations to come, Thomas Hoe canvassed the opinion of local farmers for the development of a dairy. He soon had 11 partners, and the group purchased an old empty pub, The Royal Oak, in the village of Long Clawson. Long Clawson Dairy’s head office resides there to this day and Thomas Hoe Stevenson s honoured by the dairy who continue to use his name for their premium brands of cheese. Long Clawson has remained a farming co-operative since its formation, helping to support local farms for over 100 years.
Today, over 43 farms in the Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire areas supply the dairy with 58 million litres of milk every year – ensuring future prosperity for years to come.
The bright orange colour comes from Annatto, which is a food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, mostly found in Southern and Central America.