Caws Silian: A taste of Cyprus, from a Welsh family

Halloumi has become one of Britain's most popular cheeses in recent years. From summer barbecues to restaurant menus and supermarkets across the country, the demand for this salty and firm cheese has increased significantly.

This growing popularity has opened new doors for dairy producers in Wales. In Ceredigion, siblings Elliw and Aron, from Gwarffynnon family farm in Silian, have capitalised on the trend by creating a new cheese inspired by Mediterranean flavours and traditions.

Since 2020, people in Ceredigion and beyond have enjoyed fresh farm milk through a network of self-service milk stations in Llwyncelyn and Lampeter. However, last year the family decided to go a step further by diversifying into on-farm cheese production. Within a few months, Caws Silian was born – a Mediterranean-style cheese handmade in the heart of West Wales.

Gwarffynnon is home to 140 Holstein cows and has been producing milk for over three decades, winning several awards for their cows and their farm.  Today, the entire process of producing the cheese takes place on the farm itself, from processing the milk and creating the cheese to its packaging and distribution. The product is available from milk vending machines as well as in a number of local businesses across the area.

Caws Silian was developed through a series of trials over a period of two years at the Food Centre Wales in Horeb, Ceredigion - perfecting the taste and the recipe. The support from the Welsh Government's Cywain programme was also key in supporting the process of creating the product with specialist help in branding and marketing.

Their product was particularly well received by judges and customers alike, winning a Gold Award and two Silver Awards at the 2025 Royal Welsh Show, and sold by several businesses at the time - from Ceredigion to Cardiff.

The initiative is an excellent example of how family farms can add value to their produce through innovation and diversification. As well as creating a new source of income, it shows how Welsh farming tradition can be combined with international influences to create a unique, high quality product.

Highly versatile, Caws Silian can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – fried, grilled, baked, or simply as part of a salad or sharing platter. It is a blend of Welsh craftsmanship and Mediterranean flavours; a taste of Cyprus, from a Welsh family.

To learn more about the special product - visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575380011173