The alpine city of Bergamo in Italy, it was recently announced, will be hosting the 2019 World Cheese Awards during its FORME cheese festival. Norway’s gouda-style cheese took the top prize in last year’s competition thanks to a special dairy cow breed, Norwegian Red Cows, the smallest herd in the world.
The prestigious cheese competition is organised by the UK-based Guild of Fine Food and features the best cheeses from around the globe, from ones produced by small-time artisans to the ‘big cheeses’ of the industry. In November 2018, 3,472 cheeses from 40 countries were scrutinised by 235 judges in Bergen at the Norwegian food festival, Matnasjonen Norge.
Jørn Hafslund from Ostegården farm on Norway’s west coast was crowned the overall winner and had this to say about his champion cheese, Fanaost, which is produced from the milk of his farm’s small herd of Norweigan Red Cows: ‘I have no words. Our herd of 12 cows produces nice milk to make this Dutch-inspired Fanaost cheese, which we have been making for 12 years. Cheesemakers here look out for each other and work together, so this is for Norway!’
Fanaost is described as an aged Gouda-style cheese, and the Norwegian Red Cows have been specially bred since 1971 using genetic science and technology. The quality of raw ingredients used in the making of cheese naturally determines its taste and texture, and Hafslund’s small team make it a priority to only use the best of these.
According to Ben Steele of the Matador Network, Ostegården’s two-year-old Fanaost cheese is rich and savoury. ‘We have up to 14 types of grasses here, all with their own special flavours,’ Hafslund told Steele. This gives our milk a unique taste.’
Norwegian Reds make up 90% of Norway’s dairy cow population, which amounts to around 200,000 cows. According to NorwegianRed.com, the breed boasts good production capabilities and is considered a ‘problem-free cow’ as it also lives longer on average than most dairy cow breeds.
South African cheeses also snatched up some of the top prizes at the competition, with the best local cheese award going to the Belnori Boutique Cheesery from Bapsfontein Ekurhuleni for its Kilembe hard goat’s cheese.
In the other categories, Woolworths’ Brie de Roche from Fairview Cheese Company won gold, as did the marscarpone from Lancewood Cheese Holdings, while Klein River Overberg’s washed curd cheese from Klein River Cheese took silver.
Featured image: Pixabay
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