Stilton is the British cheese traditionally associated with the village of Stilton.
Despite its name, Stilton cheese is not traditionally made in the village of Stilton. Protected production is limited to counties in the English Midlands: Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The village became associated with the cheese because it was a stopping point on the Great North Road, where travellers encountered it in inns.
There are two main varieties: Blue Stilton and White Stilton. Blue Stilton is inoculated with Penicillium roqueforti, which creates its blue veins and characteristic flavour.
The naming issue is a common source of confusion. The cheese takes its name from the village, but its protected production area excludes the village itself, which lies in Cambridgeshire.