Gruyère is the tastiest cheese in the world
And the winner is… gruyère! Switzerland won the biennial world cheese-making championship at the prestigious cheese and dairy congress in Wisconsin, United States. In third place: Gouda cheese from Lutjewinkel!
Participants from 26 countries compete for the title of Best cheese in the world. Last year, the top prize went to France; this year, cheese makers from Bern are the winners. Gourmino Le Gruyère AOP, made by Michael Spycher of Fritzenhaus, scored 98.81 out of 100 points. With that, Spycher defeated 3,667 other cheeses. According to the judges’ report, it is a hard cow’s-milk cheese with a subtle, refined flavor.
Third place: Lutjewinkel
Gruyère has been made in this region for nine hundred years. Spycher, who also took home a prize in 2008, still works with a traditional recipe. The cheese matures for 24 months in a cave in the mountains. Second place went to a Gallus Grand Cru from Switzerland, which scored 98.71 points. Third place: the Netherlands! A cheese from Lutjewinkel scored better than all the American cheeses in the competition – and that stung a little for the organizers. Fortunately, the organization was quick to point out, America did win 90 gold medals.
