But neither Brownes Dairy nor Great Southern Truffles knew just how well their collaboration would go down until its debut at the Good Food & Wine Show in July.
“We were very ambitious with numbers for the show,” says Brownes Dairy senior brand manager Stephanie Woon. “But on day one people were buying bags of the truffle cheese, so we had to reserve some stock for the next two days. We limited it to two per person, and then we had to go to one.”
The Brownes Dairy Truffle Club Cheddar was so popular, in fact, that the producer sold 60 per cent more product than the previous year. “And it was all driven by the beautiful story of WA truffles,” Stephanie says.
Not to mention the award-winning vintage cheese. “Our base is at least 24 months old; it’s full of flavour – infused with WA truffles, we have this deep and earthy flavour,” Stephanie says.
Australia’s oldest dairy company began experimenting with truffles a few years ago but made a decision “from the heart” to support local.
“We wanted to bring awareness to WA produce, to focus on the provenance story,” Stephanie says.
Brownes Dairy had been talking to Great Southern Truffles for some time but was focused on producing others in its club cheddar range, including Smokey Red Club Cheddar, Pickled Onion and Green Peppercorn.
Then the sales team reconnected with founder Adam Wilson at Meet the Buyer™, the annual trade show dedicated to the Western Australian food and beverage sector and those conversations gained momentum.
“We care a lot about local produce and we knew this would be very meaningful,” Stephanie says. “Adam was very involved with the recipe as well; we learned so much from each other and the end product is something that we’re really proud of.”
Touch of gold
Great Southern Truffles has been winning over chefs and home cooks for 15 years with a range of products celebrating the highly prized truffle, also known as black gold.
Adam says the cheese is their first co-branded product, though it has long been on his wishlist.
“I remember telling the guy who owns a company importing a truffle cheddar ‘one day I’ll come out with the best truffle cheddar Australia, when I find the right manufacturer’,” he says.
“I think because of the amount of truffles we’re producing here, and what we’ve done over the last 15 years, there is a lot more awareness of truffles than the eastern states, so it made sense on many levels to work with a local cheesemaker.”
There is nothing more satisfying then when all the hard work produces something truly delicious. “The cheese has really nailed it – everyone I have offered it to has just loved it,” Adam says.
Released in supermarkets in August, the cheese is part of Adam’s quest to educate food lovers that the sought-after fungus is not just for special occasions.
“It’s great to have the fresh product for a couple of months but it’s that flavour that can be enjoyed year round,” he says. “It’s about making good food great.”
The perfect match
It’s a message Adam was happy to share again at this year’s Meet the Buyer™. “We’re an ingredient supplier and our ingredient goes in so many parts of the kitchen,” he says. “Like our truffle honey, which is on so many cheeseboards now because it goes so beautifully with blue cheese, or even a harder cheese.”
While the truffle infused extra virgin olive oil is the most popular condiment, the truffle sauce comes a close second because it can be used on everything from pasta and pizzas to vegetables.
“We’re also really targeting Asian cuisine, such as fried rice and dumplings, that the ingredients goes really well with,” Adam says.
Brownes Dairy also see potential in the Asian market for the truffle club cheddar. “Asia loves truffle; it’s a growing trend there – exporting is on our wish list,” Stephanie says.
The collaboration also found plenty of fans at Meet the Buyer™, which has been a fixture on the dairy company’s calendar.
“It’s always a good reminder of what is special in WA and how we can support local business,” Stephanie says. “And the special things we can create together.”