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Even though it's called Red Leicester, there isn't any white or purple or yellow Leicester -- all Leicester is red.

Red Leicester is a crumblier version of cheddar. Despite its flaky texture, it's still a firm cheese. The rind is reddish-orange with a powdery mould on it.

It is made from cow's milk coloured with annatto.

Although Red Leicester can be young or "old, aged anywhere from 4 to 9 months, the young Leicesters at the start of that range will be very mild: they really want at least 6 months to develop a tang.

Farmhouse versions are also available. Farmhouse makers will mature it in cloth, the old way, to allow better flavour development.

Versions of Red Leicester are also made in America now.

Cooking Tips
Melts well. Bit tricky to slice owing to its crumbly nature.

Substitutes
Cheddar

Nutrition
Minimum fat content 48%



History
Leicester, an old Roman city, is in central England, in the county of Leicestershire.

The cheese was originally made on farms in Leicestershire with milk that was surplus, after all the Stilton desired was made. It was originally coloured with carrot or beet juice.

See Also:

Annatto, Farmhouse Cheese, Whirl Cheese

Other entries for:

Firm Cheeses
Battelmatt Cheese, Beaufort Cheese, Bergkäse, Bitto Cheese, Brick Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Emmenthal Cheese, Etorki Cheese, Gloucester Cheese, Gouda Cheese, Halloumi Cheese, Havarti Cheese, Hoop Cheese, Isle of Mull Cheese, Kambera Cheese, Lamb Chopper Cheese, Longhorn Cheese, Muenster Cheese, Murcia al Vino Cheese, Pinconning Cheese, Provolone Cheese, Raclette Cheese, Red Leicester Cheese, Royal Windsor Red, Salers Cheese, Sussex Yeoman Cheese, Tomme d'Abondance, Washed-Rind Cheeses, Windsor Red Cheese

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Cheese
Affinage, American Cheeses, Casu Marzu, Cheese Rinds, Creamery, Double/Triple-Cream Cheese, Extra-Hard Cheeses, Goat's Milk Cheeses, Mexican Cheeses, Pate (of a Cheese), Processed Cheese, Queso Fundido, Rennet, Semi-Firm Cheeses, Sheep's Milk Cheeses, Skim-Milk Cheeses, Smear-Ripened Cheeses, Soft Cheeses, Surface-Ripened Cheeses, Sweet Curd Cheeses, The Crumblies, Truckle, Washed-Curd Cheeses, Yak Cheese, Yeel Cheese

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Butterfat, Butter, Milk, Nondairy Topping