Flora
- Producer
- Hillman Farm
- Region
- Massachusetts
- Size
- 2 ins square
- Weight
- 2-3 oz
- Website
- www.hillmanfarm.com
- Milk
- Goat
- Classification
- Soft
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- Mold Ripened
Owned and run by Carolyn and Joe Hillman, Hillman Farms is a 45 acre farm located in the northeastern part of the Berkshires, in Massachusetts.
Carolyn and Joe have a herd of about 30 mixed American and French Alpine and Nubian goats that are allowed to browse through the farm's organic pastures and woodlands. This provides the goats with a varied diet and plenty of exercise and entertainment.
Cheeses are produced seasonally, by hand, from spring until fall, and made in small, 100 gallon batches. Carolyn makes the majority of the cheese and has studied cheesemaking in France, where she drew the inspiration for many of her cheeses.
Hillman Farms produces a variety of both soft, younger cheeses and the more aged Harvest.
The paste and texture of Flora is very fragile and soft. The cheese itself is the shape of a small, truncated pyramid and it has a a delicate, natural rind which is sometimes marked with a gentle yellow mold. With age these cheeses can become quite aromatic.
When young, the texture is moist and holds together. However, as the cheese matures, (or reaches room temperature) it quickly softens, becoming runny and almost scoop-able.
