The village gave its name to Cheddar cheese and has been a centre for strawberry growing, with the crop being transported on the Cheddar Valley line, which closed in the late 1960s but is now a cycle path.

The village gave its name to Cheddar cheese, which is the most popular type of cheese in the United Kingdom.

Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard, pale yellow to off-white ( unless artificially coloured ), and sometimes sharp-tasting, cheese.

The name " Cheddar cheese " is widely used and has no Protected Designation of Origin ( PDO ) within the European Union, but only Cheddar produced from local milk within four counties of South West England may use the name " West Country Farmhouse Cheddar.

The cheese originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, South West England.

Cheddar Gorge on the edge of the village contains a number of caves, which provided the ideal humidity and constant temperature for maturing the cheese.

Cheddar cheese traditionally had to be made within of Wells Cathedral.

Central to the modernisation and standardisation of Cheddar cheese was the nineteenth century Somerset dairyman Joseph Harding.

For his technical developments, promotion of dairy hygiene and unremunerated propagation of modern cheese-making techniques he has been described as the father of Cheddar cheese.

Harding stated that Cheddar cheese is " not made in the field, nor in the byre, nor even in the cow, it is made in the dairy ".

Joseph Harding's son, Henry Harding, was responsible for introducing Cheddar cheese production to Australia.

During World War II, and for nearly a decade after the war, most milk in Britain was used for the making of one single kind of cheese nicknamed " Government Cheddar " as part of war economies and rationing.

As with other hard cheese varieties produced worldwide, caves provide an ideal environment for maturing cheese ; still, today, some Cheddar cheese is matured in the caves at Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge.

Cheddar cheese maturing in the caves at Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar is a large village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of the English county of Somerset.

Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom and includes several show caves including Gough's Cave.

It is now a major tourist destination with several cultural and community facilities, including the Cheddar Show Caves Museum.

There is evidence of occupation from the Neolithic period in Cheddar.

Cheddar is recognised as a village.

The adjacent settlement of Axbridge, although only about a third the population of Cheddar, is a town.

Cheddar is twinned with Felsberg, Germany and Vernouillet, France, and it has an active programme of exchange visits.

Cheddar Gorge, which is located on the edge of the village, is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom.

The gorge is the site of the Cheddar Caves, where Cheddar Man was found in 1903.

Cheddar Reservoir is a near-circular artificial reservoir operated by Bristol Water.

The reservoir is supplied with water taken from the Cheddar Yeo, which rises in Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge and is a tributary of the River Axe.

The inlet grate for the water pipe that is used to transport the water can be seen next to the sensory garden in Cheddar Gorge.

Cheddar Wood is one of only a few English stations for Starved Wood-sedge ( Carex depauperata ).

By far the largest of the SSSIs is called Cheddar Complex and covers of the gorge, caves and the surrounding area.

Along with the rest of South West England, Cheddar has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.

Cheddar Ales is a small brewery based in the village, producing beer for local public houses.

Around 15 percent of employment in Sedgemoor is provided by tourism, but within Cheddar it is estimated to employ as many as 1, 000 people.

As early as 1130 AD, the Cheddar Gorge was recognised as one of the " Four wonders of England ".

Only one producer of the cheese is now based in Cheddar itself, The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co.

Cheese fries are also served in many diners in the American Southwest ; in Texas, for example, they usually include at least one variety of grated Cheddar cheese, and are commonly served with ranch dressing and, sometimes, bacon, jalapenos and chives, whereas in New Mexico, the fries are typically served with green chili and cheese, creating a dish that combines two Southwest favorites, french fries and chile con queso.

: They had but one last remaining night together, so they embraced each other as tightly as that two-flavor entwined string cheese that is orange and yellowish-white, the orange probably being a bland Cheddar and the white.

Provel is a trademark for three cheeses fused to form one ( provolone, Swiss, and white Cheddar ), used instead of ( or, rarely, in addition to ) the mozzarella or provolone common to other styles of pizza.

During rationing, most milk in Britain was used to make just one kind of cheese, nicknamed " Government Cheddar " ( not to be confused with the " government cheese " issued by the welfare state ).

In 1996, Bryan Sykes of Oxford University first sequenced the mitochondrial DNA of Cheddar Man, with DNA extracted from one of Cheddar Man's molars.

Originating in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset, it is now produced in several countries around the world.

Vermont produces Cheddar cheese and other dairy products.

Nabisco made a detailed statement describing how their peanuts were healthier than most other snack products, going as far as comparing the nutritional facts of Planters peanuts to those of potato chips, Cheddar cheese chips, and popcorn.

" The Epicurean's Companion " lists an eclectic assortment of dishes prepared using Black Label products including Cheddar Bacon Marmalade Toast and Porcini Glazed Mushrooms with Pancetta.

Regional products include: All-Dressed and Sour Cream & Bacon ( Canada ); Yakisoba, Strogonoff and Honey & Mustard ( Brazil ), Paprika, Original and Cheddar and onion ( United Kingdom ).

There are a variety of related Cheez-It products, including Baby Swiss, White Cheddar, Parmesan & Garlic, Cheddar Jack, Pepper Jack, Italian Four Cheese, Colby, Reduced Fat, Snack Mix ( formerly called Party Mix ), Snack Mix Double Cheese, Hot & Spicy ( made with Tabasco ), Mozzarella, Duoz Sharp Cheddar & Parmesan, Duoz Smoked Cheddar & Monterey Jack, and the Cheez-It Big ( a larger cracker more suitable for garnishing or dipping ).