Yorkshire Dama Cheese is the story of inspirational bravery by a woman who refused to let her circumstances define or constrain her. It is about finding a new place to call home and new experiences leading to the creation of a British, multi-awardwinning cheese and dairy company.
Razan Alsous, the Founder of Yorkshire Dama Cheese, came to the UK due to the war in Syria in 2012. Losing almost everything, settling into a new life in Yorkshire was challenging.
Razan rightly perceived Yorkshire as a region rich in high quality food produce and ingredients and was frustrated not to find available the great tasting squeaky cheese she used to eat in Syria each morning. She saw an opportunity to create the same cheese from fresh, high quality Yorkshire cows’ milk!
The first product was Yorkshire HALOUM!, a cheese made from 100% Yorkshire milk with a firm but squeaky texture, similar to traditional halloumi cheese. Just four months after its launch, Yorkshire HALOUM! won the World Cheese Award Bronze award 2014/15 followed by Gold a year later and many more since, highlighting the true quality of her cheese.
Razan expanded the product range to include more Yorkshire HALOUM! varieties including chilli and mint. In 2016, a spreadable yoghurt called Labneh was launched, already shortlisted as Best Cheese in Yorkshire in the forthcoming Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards 2016 along with her chilli HALOUM! flavour.
A regular exhibitor at the local food festivals and farmers’ markets, Razan is also invited to appear regularly on well-known TV shows including James Martin’s ‘Home Comforts’, ‘My Kitchen Rules UK’ and ‘Countryfile’.
Razan says:
‘The future for me and my family and Yorkshire Dama Cheese looks bright and exciting and we are thankful for the support and warm welcome Yorkshire has given to us. We are very happy our Yorkshire HALOUM! now features in SNAP!’s Yorkshire recipe box.’
Yorkshire Dama Cheese recently revamped its website to include delicious HALOUM! inspired recipes and customers can purchase all the current product range via the online shop. You’ll also find their products in: Fodder, Harrogate; Keelham Farm Shop, Skipton and Thornton; and George & Joseph, Leeds.
