A Spanish goats cheese made by a small family-run company in Andalusia has been named the best in the world.
Quesos y Besos was named World Champion Cheese in Oviedo, Spain earlier this month after at the World Cheese Awards, held at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos as part of the Asturias Paraíso Natural International Cheese Festival 2021.
Produced by a family-run business established in 2017, Olavidia has brought international acclaim to Silvia Peláez and her team of just six people.
This soft goats” cheese is made with Penicillium candidum. It also has a layer of olive ash in its middle. Jason Hinds (Neal’s Yard Dairy) in the UK praised the cheese and said, “This cheese charmed and stole my heart.”
The cheese is available for around £9.50 for 250g in the UK – although most stockist are sold out as foodies across the world try to get their hands on it.
Quesos y Besos was named World Champion Cheese in Oviedo, Spain earlier this month after at the World Cheese Awards, held at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos as part of the Asturias Paraíso Natural International Cheese Festival 2021.
He said, “This is unlike anything that I’ve ever seen before.” I was impressed by its unique appearance. It is unctuous and seductive.
In a close run final, second place was awarded to an Epoisses Berthaut Perrière, made by Fromagerie Berthaut in France and entered by Savencia Fromage & Dairy, while third place was taken by Eminence Grise – Tomme Chèvre Grise au Bleu, produced by Van der Heiden Kaas in the Netherlands. There were also 16 cheeses in the Top 16 from Italy, Hungary, Japan, Sweden, and Sweden.
John Farrand (Managing Director of Guild of Fine Food), who organizes the World Cheese Awards told FEMAIL, “As the World Cheese Awards is founded more than three decades ago in order to show the work of small, artisan cheesemakers,” and that it brings me tremendous joy to witness a small family-run cheesemaking operation taking the top spot once again.
It’s an amazing feat to be able to distinguish yourself from over 4,000 different cheeses. But Quesos and Besos’ Olavidia had it all: an extraordinary appearance, flavour, texture, and flavor, as well as a lot of originality.
The cheese is available for around £9.50 foe 250g in the UK – although most stockist are sold out as foodies across the world try to get their hands on it
‘I’d also like to thank our judges and our partners, the Asturias Paraíso Natural International Cheese Festival, for helping us to stage the World Cheese Awards once again, giving the global cheese community a day of well-earned celebration following a period of such challenges, uncertainty, resilience and innovation.’
Silvia Peláez, head cheesemaker at Quesos y Besos, added: ‘We’ve been making cheese for less than 5 years, so we never imagined we could win the world’s biggest prize in cheese so soon. Although it was amazing to be there to see the judges judge and hear the announcement, the experience is still very much in the back of my mind and I will need to take some time to process the information.
‘Everything that we do is inspired and motivated by our love of our family. This is why Quesos y Besos is so special. Our mission is to preserve the essence and love of our families in every cheese we make. It’s truly amazing to be recognized by World Cheese Awards judges.
Produced by a family-run business established in 2017, Olavidia has brought international acclaim to Silvia Peláez (pictured) and her team of just six people.
With over 4,000 entries, the 33rd World Cheese Awards edition was larger and more global than ever.
These cheeses came from 45 countries.
The 250 international experts judged all entries in one day. The morning session saw the awarding of Bronze, Silver and Super Gold awards. After that, the Super Golds were reviewed to determine the Top 16. After the morning session, the International Super Jury (which included the top cheese experts from around the world) debated which cheeses were the best, and then crown the World Champion Cheese.