There is nothing more luscious than slicing into a soft creamy cheese which luxuriously oozes onto the platter. Pair it with the right wine and a meal is made – perfect for a romantic date or picnic.
The Witches Chase Cheese Co run The Cheese Shop and Factory and a distillery, divinely located in the heart of beautiful Mt Tamborine, just an hour from Brisbane. It is easy to while away the day here, indulging in unique beers and a delicious range of mountain cheeses.
Staff are keen to provide cheese tastings, and from my own experience, it's because they have a quality product they believe in. I was given the opportunity to try out many of the cheeses behind the glass gallery and they didn't disappoint.
The Black Max Cheddar was one of the most irresistible hard cheeses I have ever had the pleasure to taste. With a pleasing grainy yet creamy texture and exquisite flavour, it was impossible not to leave with a block. This cheese makes me smile and gush every time I eat it. For those who love their soft cheeses, the Cheese Shop provides a memorable experience with the Tamembert which is Witches Chase Cheese Co's version of the Camembert. The Tamembert's middle began oozing as it was cut, literally melting on the tongue with a hint of mushroom- I left with a stash of that too, along with an orange coloured nutty orange Longmans Leicester.
A winner at prior Brisbane Cheese Awards, the Triple Cream Brie is rich and sumptuous, no doubt a favourite among lovers of soft cheese. Free cheese tastings at the Cheese Shop enable visitors to not only have fun, but to buy only their favourite tried and tested cheeses.
Cheese-making can be viewed through the glass windows and big round mounds of cheese maturing can be seen on racks and trays.
Opposite The Cheese Shop, the brewery provides sampling trays (at a price) which allow beer connoisseur the opportunity to put their taste buds to the test and experience a range of new beers in the Beer Garden.
For those who love dairy but not necessarily cheese (who are these people anyway), The Cheese Shop produces a small but high quality range of ice cream and yogurts with minimal processing from cows and goats milk.
It is worth it to go to Tamborine Mountain just to breathe in the fresh mountain air and visit The Cheese Shop and Factory (open seven days a week). Since the brewery and restaurant are right next door, it really is a food and drink lover's paradise. Just thinking about it gets my taste buds going. In fact, if you'll excuse me now, I need to go and munch on some Black Max Cheddar.
Remember: after visiting The Cheese Shop and Factory owned by Witches Chase Cheese Co, please comment below and tell us which cheeses were your favourites.
