Which cheese beat 5,000 rivals to be crowned the world's best?

This is a cheese that really excites people. It's a big block with so many layers of flavor. The texture is wonderful: when broken, it's crunchy and has fine crystals, very delicate.

Cheesemaker Pius Hitz holds up the World's Best Cheese 2025 - a long-aged Swiss Gruyère - Photo: Guild of Fine Food

A Swiss Gruyère cheese has been named the world's best cheese in 2025 at the World Cheese Awards 2025, beating more than 5,000 competitors from 46 countries.

According to CNN, on November 13 (local time), this Gruyère cheese is Vorderfultigen Spezial - produced at Bergkaserei Vorderfultigen and aged for 18 months - won at the World Cheese Awards 2025 held in the capital city of Bern, Switzerland.

Finalist judge Perry Wakeman commented: "This is a really exciting cheese. It's a big block with lots of layers of flavour. The texture is beautiful: when broken, it's crisp and has very fine crystals, very delicate. It's really impressive and leaves a strong impression."

The Intense Cheese Grading Process

The World Cheese Awards competition was founded by the Guild of Fine Food (UK) in 1988, and first took place in Switzerland - a country that loves cheese. However, Gruyère cheese had won the championship 5 times before.

This year, 5,244 cheeses were displayed on long tables covered with white tablecloths, judged by 265 international experts including cheesemakers, chefs, buyers and journalists from more than 40 countries.

Close-up of the world's best cheese in 2025 - Photo: CNN

Cheeses come in all shapes, colors, and textures: hard, crunchy, soft, spongy, and so soft they have to be jarred. Some are waxed, some are flowered, and some are even soaked in whiskey and apple juice.

"First of all, we look at the appearance: how the cheese looks inside and outside. Next is the aroma the cheese gives off and finally the taste," Polish judge Kuba Maziarczyk told AFP.

Judges selected the standout cheeses in the first round, before moving on to the second and final round of judging by a "super panel" of judges from 14 countries.

Judges score based on appearance, aroma, flavor, texture and mouthfeel - Photo: CNN

"Cheese must reflect its birthplace, balanced in flavour, aroma and texture. It should not be too old or too young. The art of cheesemaking is about harmony and that is why great cheeses are often linked to long-standing traditions," said French judge Laurent Dubois.

About 2,000 people watched the event live at the Festhalle hall in Bern.

"Just when you think your taste buds are starting to tire, suddenly a cheese comes along that really excites you. That's the joy of the World Cheese Awards," said British judge Nigel Barden.

The judges also noted unique cheeses: soft Japanese goat cheese like fresh cream, hard English cheese as red as the sunset and many other Swiss varieties - Photo: CNN

John Farrand, Director of the Guild of Fine Food, said the awards were created to elevate small cheese producers, restoring the link between land, milk, animals, farms and ultimately cheese.

The remaining cheeses from the competition will be recycled locally to "convert into energy" and avoid waste. The 2026 World Cheese Awards competition is scheduled to be held in Cordoba, Spain.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/loai-pho-mai-nao-qua-mat-5-000-doi-thu-de-xung-vuong-ngon-nhat-the-gioi-20251114150945504.htm