The flavor of cheddar varies from mild to medium to sharp, regardless of the color.
Cheddar cheese is a semi-hard, aged cheese that had humble beginnings in the quiet countryside of England and is now mass produced around the world. Yellow cheddar is common in supermarkets in North America and Europe, but white cheddar can be easily found as well. Whether a cheddar is yellow or white is only one of the distinguishing features between different types of cheddar cheese. The strength of the cheese, such as mild or sharp, is the most notable difference when it comes to flavor.
Background
According to icons.org, there's record of cheddar cheese as far back as the 12th century. King Henry II placed huge orders of cheddar cheese during his reign over England in the 1170s. Cheddar was first made in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, but it's changed a great deal over time. During the 19th century, the cheese mill was invented, which helped make the type of cheddar we're familiar with today. Most cheddar today is made of pasteurized milk, which is also a modern development.
White Cheddar
White cheddar is the purest form of cheddar cheese you can find. Coloring of cheddar cheese can tell you something about where it was made. Traditionally, cheddar made in the New England area of the U.S. doesn't have added food coloring, so it's a natural white color. White cheddar cheese can vary from a mild flavor all the way to a sharp, long-aged, strong flavor. Consumers looking for less additives should look for white cheddar.
Yellow Cheddar
Yellow cheddar is usually made by adding annatto, an extract of the achiote tree, or another yellow food coloring, to the cheese during production. This food coloring doesn't change the taste of the cheese. Yellow coloring has been added to cheddar cheese so frequently that the bright yellowish-orange color is now associated with cheddar cheese even though it's not naturally yellow.
Geography
There are many cheeses that belong to the cheddar family and the many types of cheddar are mainly defined by their geography. To be considered a true English cheddar cheese, the milk used to make the cheese must come from Somerset, Dorest, Devon or Cornwall counties, but cheese can be given the name cheddar even if it's not from the English countryside. Cheddar is widely produced in Canada, Scotland, Ireland and Australia. The U.S. is also a big producer of cheddar, especially Wisconsin, a state known for its delicious cheese.
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