Do any UK members know where it is possible to buy different strains of Penicillium Roqueforti of the sort American home cheesemakers can get? - the only people I have found ( Orchard dairy) sell a minimum of 10 100litre sachets for £53. This would take me 10 years to use at current rate of production!
You could try this link:
https://cheeseandyogurt.co.uk/products/cheese-culture-roqueforti-blue-mold-for-cheese-making (https://cheeseandyogurt.co.uk/products/cheese-culture-roqueforti-blue-mold-for-cheese-making)
I've dealt with this company and been satisfied with their service.
Incidentally some makers make a mulch from a commercial blue cheese and use that to set up. Somewhat different, but I have been successful using this method to create a Camembert type cheese, though I have no experience with blue cheese.
PR is pretty much the only one that I think it probably doesn't make sense to buy (unless you really know what you want). Even at NEC, the price is $35 and the amount you get will almost certainly last you a lifetime. Using commercial cheese is very easy (just plonk some in -- you don't need much). And then as long as you keep a blue cheese going you pretty much have it for life (or you can culture it up on some rye bread and I *believe* it will store in the freezer OK -- haven't tried it). Really I suppose it depends on if you have something specific you want...
thankyou both for your replies - that is very helpful. It hadn't really occurred to me to use the cheese I'm trying to emulate.