A cheese made in Bungay has been named one of the best cheeses in Britain.

St Jude Cheese and Fen Farm Dairy both won gold awards at the British Cheese Awards 2024 which were held over the weekend in Shepton Mallet. 

More than 600 products from around the UK were judged by a 63-strong panel that included cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The team at St Jude Cheese with their awards The team at St Jude Cheese with their awards (Image: St Jude Cheeses)St Jude, a cheese made by  Julie Cheyney and Blake Bowden in Bungay, won a gold award in the aged lactic category and had the honour of being named the best fresh cheese and the best export cheese in Britain. 

Inspired by the French cheese St Marcellin, St Jude is a small, soft cheese with rich, buttery flavours and a light and silky texture.

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Their other cheese St Helena also won a silver award in the semi-soft category. 

St Jude is made using raw milk from Fen Farm Dairy, an innovative third-generation family farm in Bungay run by Jonny and Dulcie Crickmore. 

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Julie Cheyney and Blake Bowden make St Jude cheese in BungayJulie Cheyney and Blake Bowden make St Jude cheese in Bungay (Image: St Jude Cheeses)Aiming to set the standard for sustainability in dairy farming, the farm also produces its own brie-style cheese called Baron Bigod which won two gold awards in the cow's milk categories.

Julie Cheyney of St Jude Cheeses said: "We are a small company which prides itself on working hard to produce quality cheese.

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"Our team is passionate about using raw milk and loves working with what nature provides.

"At the moment the cows are starting to go out to pasture during the day which means that their diet of fresh grass will begin to influence the flavours in the milk and cheeses." 

Beccles & Bungay Journal: St Jude is made using raw milk from the Fen Farm DairySt Jude is made using raw milk from the Fen Farm Dairy (Image: St Jude Cheese)On Instagram, Fen Farm Dairy said: "Super proud that Baron Bigod has won two gold medals at the British Cheese Awards 2024.

"This is down to the dedication and skills of our cheesemaking team who are constantly finding ways to make the Baron just a little bit better."