Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese Award, Commercial; Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar

Described by NZ Champions of Cheese 2021 Master Judge, Jason Tarrant as “An iconic vintage cheddar that Kiwi’s know and love”, this cheddar has been part of the Kāpiti Cheese collection since 2008.

Originally called Tuteremoana before being renamed Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar in 2020, its name means peak, summit or point of excellence in Te Reo Māori. The sharpest and most premium cheddar in the Kāpiti Cheese range its name also links to its iconic triangle shape. 

New Zealand’s first cheddars were made in Otago by a female Scottish immigrant in 1859 and its from this very early recipe that today’s cheddars are developed. Fast forward to the present and we have the great kiwi icon Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar also made a woman cheesemaker.  

Cathy Lang, the head cheesemaker at Kāpiti’s Bridge Street cheesemaking site in Eltham, has a reputation for making quality New Zealand cheese and a list of awards to match.  Cathy’s cheesemaking journey began in 2005. She built her own make and maturation rooms at her and husband Peter’s property in Waikato and, after getting NZ Food Safety Authority approval, her business, Cloudy Mountain Cheese, was born.

Using milk from her neighbour’s Jersey and Guernsey cows, Cathy made about 20 different cheeses which she sold to restaurants and at farmers’ markets, winning several local and international awards over the seven years she ran the business. While she loved her job, it was a seven-day-a-week operation. So, in 2014, Cathy joined Fonterra and now she’s responsible for Kāpiti Cheese as well as many more of Kiwi’s favourite cheeses.

Cathy is fascinated by the cheesemaking process which she describes as the perfect blend of science and creativity. Regardless of the cheese she’s making, Cathy says there’s one common factor – great cheese starts with great milk from pasture-fed and well-looked after cows, with fresh milk delivered daily for Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar.

She says one of the qualities which sets Te Tihi cheddar apart is that its aged for up to three years. This gives the cheddar a brittle body with sharp, zesty bite. Cathy says cheese lovers should expect to see some lactate crystallisation in the cheese, its these which give Te Tihi its distinctive sharp crunch.

Cathy recommends matching the sharp, bolshy tang of Te Tihi with the innocently sweet taste of homemade Christmas cake. She suggests this different flavour combination will become a new favourite holiday and mid-winter tradition for cheese lovers.

If you’re looking for a drink match, Cathy loves serving Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar with a hoppy IPA or a dry apple cider.

As well as receiving the 2021 Champion of Champions Award, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar received both the 2021 TetraPak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese and 180 degrees New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Trophies. At the same NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue was awarded  New World’s Cheese Lover’s Choice, the only accolade which is voted for by cheese lovers.

For more info on Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar and Kāpiti collection visit www.tastekapiti.co.nz