Cornish Kern
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Cornish Kern Cheese | World Champion Alpine-Style Hard Cheese
Made by Lynher Dairies near Truro in Cornwall — the makers of Cornish Yarg — Cornish Kern was crowned Supreme Champion at the 2017 World Cheese Awards, beating over 3,000 entries from around the world. Inspired by Alpine and Gouda traditions but made with Cornish milk, it's a firm, dense hard cheese encased in a distinctive black wax rind and matured for 20–24 months. The result is extraordinary: sweet and nutty at first, deepening into rich caramelised notes with dried fruit, salted caramel, toasted hazelnuts and a long, savoury finish. Dense, slightly crystalline in the centre, and completely unlike anything else in British cheesemaking.
Why You'll Love It
🏆 2017 World Cheese Awards Supreme Champion – Beat over 3,000 cheeses from around the world. The most celebrated British cheese of its generation.
🧀 Sweet, Nutty & Deeply Caramelised – Salted caramel, toasted hazelnuts, dried fruit and a long savoury finish. Complex and endlessly rewarding.
🌿 Made in Cornwall, Matured 20–24 Months – Alpine starter cultures and black wax maturation produce a depth of flavour that rivals the finest Comté or Gouda.
Order Now
Order before 11am Tuesday to Friday for next-day delivery across the UK. Shipped in insulated packaging with ice packs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cornish Kern taste like?
Sweet and nutty at first, then rich and caramelised — think salted caramel, toasted hazelnuts, dried tropical fruit and malt, with a long savoury finish. The texture is dense and slightly crystalline in the centre from amino acid crystals that form during the long maturation. It's complex, crowd-pleasing and completely moreish.
What style of cheese is it?
It's inspired by both Gouda and Alpine cheeses but uses Alpine starter cultures to give it a distinctive depth of flavour. The black wax coating allows slow, even maturation over 20–24 months. The result sits stylistically between an aged Gouda and a Comté — but with its own unmistakably Cornish character.
How should I serve it?
Serve at room temperature alongside charcuterie, roasted nuts and good bread. It works brilliantly on a board alongside softer cheeses as a counterpoint. Also outstanding in cooking — melted over a gratin, grated into pasta or stirred into a risotto where you want depth and sweetness. Pairs well with a full-bodied Chardonnay, aged port or a craft dark ale.
How should I store it?
The black wax helps protect it, but once cut wrap tightly in wax paper and refrigerate. Keeps well for 3–4 weeks. Bring to room temperature for 45 minutes before serving.
Do you offer next-day delivery?
Yes — order before 11am Tuesday to Friday for next-day delivery across the UK mainland. Free delivery on orders over £95, otherwise £6.50.
Our team will get your order ready 24 hours before the date requested at checkout. Everything will be cut fresh, packaged with the utmost care by our team and then boxed with ice packs in our sustainable packaging, ready to be delivered Next Day.
Your order will be sent via DPD to the postal address given, on the day of delivery DPD will send you a one hour timeslot for when their driver will drop off to your location. The driver will leave safe if you are not in so the box can be left outside until you arrive back home.
Our cool boxes maintain the right ambient temperature for up to 48 hours so your box will always arrive fresh and chilled.
