Five Island Cheeses Win Top World Awards

Five cheeses from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province have been named among the best in the world. The well-known World Cheese Awards, often called the "Oscars of cheese," gave top honors to five different island-made cheeses. Cheesemakers from Tenerife, La Palma, and El Hierro can be very proud, as their products are now considered some of the finest globally.

The World Cheese Awards is the top international competition for cheese. Each year, the British Guild of Fine Food organizes this event, where hundreds of experts, shop owners, food critics, and cheesemakers from all over the world gather to taste and judge thousands of cheeses in one sitting.

At every competition, a special panel of judges awards Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Super Gold medals. They also pick one cheese as the "Best Cheese in the World," which this year went to a Gruyère from Switzerland.

Winning an award at the World Cheese Awards is a huge international boost for any cheesemaker, bringing them significant recognition and prestige.

Quesería Montesdeoca was the first producer to win two medals. This well-known Canary Islands cheesemaker earned bronze medals for two of its unique creations: a semi-cured smoked cheese made from cow and goat milk, and a cured mixed cow and goat cheese coated in gofio. Based in Adeje, these cheeses have helped put Tenerife on the global map.

From the island of La Palma, Granja Las Cuevas also won awards. They received a silver medal for their 8-month aged cheese and a bronze for their paprika cheese. Both are made using milk from Palmera goats. This artisan company from La Palma has also done well in other contests, like Agrocanarias 2025, where they won several gold medals.

Finally, El Hierro also celebrated an award. Central Lechera El Herreño won a bronze medal for its Smoked Tender Herreño Cheese.

You can find all these award-winning cheeses in specialized shops across the province and in some supermarkets that stock gourmet items.

Once again, the World Cheese Awards have highlighted the excellent food culture of these islands.