Clemson University has a long-standing relationship with its famous crumbly, creamy and blue-colored cheese that is beloved by many and debated by others. Perhaps a glimpse into the history of our famous blue cheese will allow you to further appreciate another wonderful university tradition.According to the University’s website, the tradition of blue cheese-making started way back in 1941 inside the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel. The tunnel’s history is detailed on the “Visit Oconee” site, which includes visitation information. The tunnel was created to be a railroad tunnel as part of the Blue Ridge Railroad Project, way before 1941, but the railroad system was never completed.
The Stumphouse tunnel is large, and the breeze that flows through the system provides a perfect environment for cheese making. After years of sitting idle, the tunnel was given new life in 1940 when a professor recognized its potential and the University began experimenting and curing blue cheese in the tunnel. However, the unfortunate advent of World War II caused issues with cheese-making and supplies, and yet again, the Stumphouse tunnel was abandoned.
Ten years later, the University purchased the tunnel and once again began making blue cheese with the help of the University’s dairy cows. After years of hard work and careful curing, Clemson Blue Cheese was ready for its post-war debut. Although it’s no longer made in the Stumphouse Tunnel, the University’s scrumptious blue cheese is loved by many cheese aficionados as it continues to be made the old-fashioned way by Anthony Pounders and his students. Pounders has been a Master Cheese Maker since 1996.
Each carefully crafted hoop of cheese is hand-packaged and can be purchased from many local retailers or even online where you can find crumbles, jars, wedges, gift baskets and even a Clemson Blue Cheese cookbook which are all available online at clemsonbluecheese.com. Even if you are wary of blue cheese, like me, surely all of us know someone who would be delighted to try a cheese as rich in history as it is in flavor from a school like no other!
