Written by Staff Writer
Cheese and British history have always had a deeply interwoven relationship, and in 2021, a cheese that celebrates the memory of British soldiers buried during World War I will be crowned as the world’s best.
The World Cheese Awards, now in its 11th year, is set to be held on September 12 in New Haven, Connecticut, a fortnight before the centenary of the end of the First World War. Each year the awards are judged by a panel of expert cheese makers, specialists and knowledgeable cheese connoisseurs who have seen the cream of the cheese market over the past 12 months, according to the WCA.
Each category contains up to 14 entries, which are judged by blind taste. Winners are then elected as world champions who are honored by the MasterChef Foundation, a charity which seeks to improve the quality of life for those affected by illness or disability.
Past award winners include Nick Taylor’s ‘Monster’ sheep’s milk cheese. A large volume produce, this particular cheese is said to be slow aging and matured for 40 months and then aged for two years to receive its world title.
Other honorees include Battersby Street, who received the ‘Best Cheese’ award with their ‘Filet Mignon’ cheese, using soft and strong strains of cow’s milk.
Other over the counter brands have been among winners too, with Birkenhead Distillery’s Yorkshire Tea Dairies taking home the ‘Best Vintage Wine & Cheese’ title with their limited edition Dairies 150 Yorkshire Tea Tea Cheese.
The WCA are comprised of 34 international and national representatives who represent some of the most renowned producers around the world. The competition aims to further clarify the positioning of cheese and cheesemaking globally to improve the quality of the products that are available to consumers, as well as being an indicator of excellence in food and beverage.
The selection process for the 2019 World Cheese Awards was presented at the Tradeshow Foodmeets exhibition in South Korea.