Stilton is a British cheese traditionally made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, with famous Blue and White varieties.
Despite its name, Stilton cheese cannot traditionally be made in the village of Stilton, Cambridgeshire. Under its protected designation, production is limited to approved dairies in the three counties. The cheese is named after Stilton because it was historically sold there as a coaching-stop delicacy.
Blue Stilton is veined with blue mould and has a stronger flavour, while White Stilton is uncoloured and milder. Blue Stilton is made from cows’ milk and is commonly served with fruit, crackers, or port.
The cheese’s protected status makes geographical wording important. A cheese made outside the authorised counties cannot legally be sold as Stilton in the United Kingdom, even if the recipe is similar.