Crafted in the heart of Gloucestershire using traditional methods and local milk, Hulla Baloo is the latest cheese to be launched by cheesemaker and distiller, Charles Martell. The full fat semi soft blue cheese has been in development for nearly a decade, with head cheesemaker, Justyna Burford experimenting with mould and refining the recipe during this time. Made to the same exacting standards that have made Stinking Bishop one of the UK’s most iconic cheeses, Hulla Baloo is the first blue cheese to be created by Charles Martell.
With a natural edible rind and striking blue marbled veining, Hulla Baloo is an attractive cheese with a fresh and zesty flavour profile. A delicate blue flavour comes through the creamy and indulgent texture, making this a crowd-pleasing blue cheese for any cheeseboard. Its texture will vary and develop as it ages, making Hulla Baloo a very versatile cheese to cook with, whether melted into sauces when it is more runny and mature, or crumbled into salads when it’s younger and firmer.
As with all of Charles Martell’s cheeses and spirits, Hulla Baloo has an intriguing story behind its name. During a tasting with the team, someone exclaimed, “that’s a helluva blue”, which Charles misheard, and thought they had said “Hulla Baloo”. While most of the cheese and spirits in the range have names connected with the local landscape and rural heritage, ‘Hulla Baloo’ is named in tribute to the close knit team at Charles Martell & Son.
Hulla Baloo is available to purchase from independent cheese retailers across the UK, as well as online at www.charlesmartell.com, RRP £11.66 (200g).
