How you can give the gift of cheese making at Sherwood Forest this Christmas

Do you know someone who loves cheese and you need to find them the perfect gift for Christmas?
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Well, The School of Artisan Food has your back, as it offers cheese making and tasting experiences which you can gift loved ones – or yourself – for Christmas.

The award winning charity based on the Welbeck Estate, in Sherwood Forest, is also offering more than 80 hands-on courses, including making chocolate and cider, taught by world-class tutors and cater for all levels.

Courses range from £15 to £595 and include:

Cheese at The School of Artisan Food.Cheese at The School of Artisan Food.
Cheese at The School of Artisan Food.

Gifts for Cheese Lovers

Home dairy skills – cheese, butter and yoghurt. One day, £185.

Discover how to make soft cheese, yoghurt and butter at home on this one-day practical course led by tutor and cheese expert Katy Fenwick.

Professional cheesemaking - Cheddar, Cheshire and hard cheese, three days, £595.

Cheese tasting at The School of Artisan Food.Cheese tasting at The School of Artisan Food.
Cheese tasting at The School of Artisan Food.

Dairy industry expert and cheesemaker Paul Thomas will cover starter cultures; texture; the ripening of hard cheeses; and troubleshooting common defects. Cheeses made on this course include: a continental style hard/extra-hard cheese of the Gruyère type, two territorial hard cheeses: Cheddar and Cheshire.

Beer and Cheese Tasting, £39.

From the nutty, caramel aromas found in both aged cheese and stouts to the relationship between rich barley and blues, this afternoon tasting session covers a variety of mouth-watering combinations. Sampling includes a wide selection of artisan cheeses, paired with a range of hand-crafted beers.

Gifts for Chocoholics

Cutting the cheese.Cutting the cheese.
Cutting the cheese.

Introduction to chocolate making - 1 day, £195.

The ideal one-day course for anyone with a passion for chocolate. This hands-on day begins with a chocolate tasting, leading on to an overview of various chocolate-making techniques to create products including chocolate bars, truffles, and ganache to take home.

Chocolate patisserie, 1 day, £195.

With the expert guidance of multi-award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Ross Sneddon, he will teach the fundamental techniques, from tempering chocolate to decoration.

Other courses include making sourdough, cider-making, pig butchery and pasta making.