Global recognition for Indian artisanal cheese; PM Modi hails achievement
The super gold was awarded to Eleftheria Gulmarg, a Brie-style cheese made by Mumbai-based Eleftheria Cheese
India's artisanal cheesemaking sector received international recognition after four Indian cheese varieties won awards at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026 held in São Paulo, Brazil.
The country secured one super gold, two golds and one silver, marking its debut at the global competition.
Indian artisanal cheeses have found recognition on a global platform, even as the segment remains relatively unfamiliar to most consumers in the country.
The super gold, the highest among India’s wins, was awarded to Eleftheria Gulmarg, a Brie-style cheese made by Mumbai-based Eleftheria Cheese. Made using cow’s milk and aged for around two to three weeks, it follows the soft-ripened style associated with Brie.
Two gold medals were awarded to Yak Churpi-Soft by Nordic Farm in Leh, Ladakh and Eleftheria Brunost.
Yak Churpi-Soft is made from yak milk and represents a softer version of the traditional Himalayan churpi. Eleftheria Brunost is a whey-based cheese, inspired by the Norwegian brown cheese, made by cooking whey.
The silver medal went to Eleftheria Kaali Miri, a Belper Knolle-style cheese. The product is shaped into small balls, coated with black pepper, and aged for one to two months.
The competition featured participants from over 30 countries, with entries evaluated by a panel of 350 international experts on parameters including texture, aroma, flavour and overall quality.
Cheese from India makes its mark globally…
India made an impressive debut at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, which is a vibrant international competition for cheese and dairy products. Four Indian products won medals, including 1 Super Gold, 2 Golds and 1 Silver.
The…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to congratulate the cheesemakers, including Mausam Narang and Thenlay Nurboo, noting their role in bringing attention to Indian dairy craftsmanship.
He wrote, "Cheese makes its mark gobally India made an impressive debut at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, a vibrant international competition for cheese and dairy products. Four Indian products won medals, including one Super Gold, two Golds, and one Silver."
The PM said such achievements show the growing global recognition of India’s artisanal dairy sector. Industry observers see this as a boost for Indian cheesemakers, especially those working in remote regions like Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
