The Secrets of Blue Stilton, White Stilton, and colourful dreams

I was dreaming not just white and blue but pink and purple after eating white stilton. Why? Maybe because it contained colourful fruits. But there's more. Read on and you'll find out.

Last weekend I had the joy of discovering a new delicious moreish cheese, a white Stilton with dates and cranberries. I must admit I was not aware of the dates, just that it was absolutely wonderful. What a great dessert, for those like me who like to finish with something sweet. White cheese to my mind contains calcium and cleans the teeth (better than coffee which stains your teeth brown). Finally, anything new amuses me.

I set off to search the internet to find the supplier but up pops handy Wikipedia with all you wish to know and more. (I sometimes pop straight to the SimpleWiki which has the essentials and take less time to read.)

For those who never knew, or forgot to mention it, for foreign friends, Stilton does not come from Stilton, not any more. In fact, you are not allowed to make it in Stilton and call it Stilton!

"Stilton is an English cheese, produced in two varieties: Blue, known for its characteristic strong smell and taste, and the lesser-known White. Both have been granted the status of a protected designation of origin by the European Commission, which requires that only cheese produced in the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire and made according to a strict code may be called "Stilton". Thus cheese made in the village of Stilton in Cambridgeshire (from where its name was derived in the 18th century) cannot be so-called."

Wiki also gave information on varying tastes. Plus vivid dreams!Consumption[edit]

"Blueberry White Stilton
Blue Stilton is often eaten with celery or pears. It is also commonly added as a flavouring to vegetable soup, most notably to cream of celery or broccoli.[15] Alternatively it is eaten with various crackers, biscuits and bread. It can also be used to make a blue cheese sauce to be served drizzled over a steak, or can be crumbled over a salad. Traditionally, a barleywine or port are paired with Blue Stilton, but it also goes well with sweet sherry or Madeira wine. The cheese is traditionally eaten at Christmas.[16] The rind of the cheese forms naturally during the aging process, and is perfectly edible, unlike the rind of some other cheeses such as Edam or Port-Salut.

"White Stilton" has not had the Penicillium roqueforti mould introduced into it which would otherwise lead to the blue veining normally associated with Stilton. It is a crumbly, creamy, open textured cheese and is now extensively used as a base for blending with apricot, ginger and citrus or vine fruits to create unique dessert cheeses and has even been used as a flavouring for chocolate.[17]

"Huntsman cheese is made with both Blue Stilton and Double Gloucester.

"A 2005 survey carried out by the British Cheese Board reported that Stilton cheese seemed to cause unusual dreams when eaten before sleep, with 75% of men and 85% of women experiencing "odd and vivid" dreams after eating a 20-gram serving of the cheese half an hour prior to sleeping.[18]"

I had a vivid dream, in colour. When we arrived at our destination, we were not sure which house was our number as it was on the corner. In my dream I went to a wine tasting cocktail party, and all the houses were in bright colours with names to match, such as Amber, Emerald and Magenta and Purple and Fuchsia and Light Pink.

When I woke up I thought what a great idea to have your houses all painted different colours with names to match, so visitors and children can find their way home, or to an event, trades people making deliveries faster, too.

However, you would be obliged to keep your house the same colour. No chaining the white house to the blue house or the black house. Change your house from purple to pink and your visitors and post will all go to the strong address.

Was the Stilton cheese the case of my vivid dream? If so, I must eat some more. (That's my excuse! What's yours?)

Nowadays in addition to the traditional strong-tasting blue cheese there's the white. And now the added fruit version.

Tesco stocks white Stilton. For Christmas you can get more expensive and more interesting cheeses.
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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