With so many dairy - base delicacies to sample , ranking the cheeses of the world is a serious task . Every class , a group of expert accepts the challenge . In 2023 , theWorld Cheese Awardsnamed Norway ’s Nidelven Blå the No . 1 cheese on Earth , beat out 4500 entries from more than 40 countries , CNN report .

The UK - based Guild of Fine Food launch thecompetition in 1988 , and 35 eld afterwards it ’s regarded as the Olympics of the cheesemaking world . Artisans from around the globe can reconcile their products for condition by follow the organiser ’ strict shipping instructions . During the multi - day consequence , aninternational panelof cheese sellers , vendee , and food writer decide which country ’s curd is ranking through bracket - dash taste rounds .

First , judge work in teams of two or three to evaluate 40 to 50 tall mallow divided across 100 table . Each team name one “ ace Au ” cheese from their board , and the big cheeses then move on to a “ A-one panel ” of 16 honored experts . Each expert picks their best-loved fromage to wizard , and the judging ends with a live public debate over which cheese should take home the gold . you could watch highlight from the 2023 competition below .

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This year ’s World Cheese Awards were held in Trondheim , Norway , and first prize fittingly start to a Norwegian cheeseflower . Nidelven Blå is semi - solid blue cheese described as having a “ dense fudginess ” and “ fruity partial tone ” by the competition ’s judges . The product is one of 292 Norwegian entries submitted for consideration , and the only Norse cheeseflower to make the jurist ’ top 10 . Other emblematic cheeses tell apart by this year ’s World Cheese Awards include Baliehof Houtlandse Asche Kaas of Belgium , Eberle Würzig Seit 5 Generationen of Switzerland , and Eleftheria Brunost of India .

The downhearted ribbon - advance blue cheese is create byGangstadt Gårdsysteri , a small dairy farm farm located about two hours outside Trondheim . You belike wo n’t find their cheese at your local supermarket , but their farm storehouse — which also sells ice pick made onsite — is open to visitors year - pear-shaped .