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Food

Brits Are Living in a Cheese Paradise and They Don't Even Know It

The average Briton can only name four of the 700 cheeses produced in the United Kingdom.
Photo via Flickr user crosby_cj

Fancy a Duddleswell? How about a Lincolnshire Poacher? If that's too funky, a supple Sussex Slipcote might be for you.

On the other hand, if you have no idea what the hell we are talking about then you probably know as little about British cheese as the average Brit.

READ: Meet the Man Behind Britain's Smelliest Cheese

Despite having one of the most vibrant cheese cultures in the world and currently undergoing a raw milk revolution, the vast majority of Brits appear to be clueless about the insane variety of cheese produced within its borders, according to a new study commissioned by snack giant Jacob's.

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The UK produces over 700 varieties of cheese according to the British Cheese Board, which describes itself as "the voice of British cheese." Yet, for some reason, less that one fifth of Brits can identify six or more of the nation's cheeses, The Express reports, adding that the average Briton can only name four of the 700 cheeses in the United Kingdom.

The Jacob's cheese study offers fascinating insight into cheese consumption patterns. For instance, only 9 percent keep more than one type of cheese in the fridge, and only 15 percent of respondents were able to identify Stilton, king of blue cheeses. And in terms of regional cheese knowledge, it turns out that city-dwelling Londoners are four times as likely to know about "obscure British varieties" with really cool names like Farleigh Wallop or Stinking Bishop.

READ: British Dairy Farmers Are Starting a Raw Cheese Revolution

The research also found that those in Southern England were more than three more likely than those in the north to eat a cheese board every week. And while this study may rekindle interest in some of England's more artisanal offerings, the fact that it was paid for by a cracker giant suggests that Jacob's is trying to better understand how to get people to buy more cheese.

"We know there's great pleasure in the timeless combination of cheese and crackers so it's a shame to see that enthusiasm may be dwindling," Paul Courtney, head baker at United Biscuits, Jacob's parent company, told The Express. "We're now on a mission to bring joy back into the cheeseboard."

Unlike France, the land of 1,000 cheeses, where cow's milk is a matter of national pride and occasional outrage, most Brits appear to be content with its four most recognizable (and mass-produced) cheeses: Cheddar, Stilton, Red Leicester, and Wensleydale, a cheese is probably known more among Brits for being featured prominently on Wallace and Gromit than its supple, moist texture.