Suffolk Bang was a type of cheese produced in Suffolk from skimmed milk.[1] The resulting cheese was extremely hard and was regarded as being of poor quality.[1] It was also heavily salted in an attempt to make it last longer.[2]

Reports of low quality hard Suffolk cheese appear as far back as the 16th century by which time it was being exported to London.[3][4] The trade with London was carried out by sea and continued into the 18th century with 985 tons being sold to London in 1740.[4] High grain prices at the start of the 19th century resulted in Suffolk farmers moving away from dairy production and as a result Suffolk Bang largely stopped being made.[5]

The main consumers of Suffolk Bang were servants and labourers who couldn't afford anything better.[1] The cheese was also used for supplying the military who valued its long shelf life.[1] The Royal Navy purchased around 1000 tons of the cheese a year up until 1758 at which point it stopped purchasing the cheese due to its crews finding it inedible.[6] The cheese was also made on smaller scale for unmarried farm workers.[7] One suggested method for eating the cheese was to melt it before spreading on bread along with salted pork.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 7. ISBN 1903045037.
  2. ^ Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 26. ISBN 1903045037.
  3. ^ Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 8. ISBN 1903045037.
  4. ^ a b Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 29. ISBN 1903045037.
  5. ^ Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. pp. 35–36. ISBN 1903045037.
  6. ^ Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 9. ISBN 1903045037.
  7. ^ a b Knox, Margaret (2002). Suffolk Cheese. Beccles and District Museum. p. 43. ISBN 1903045037.
Categories