We already know what the five award-winning Spanish cheeses according to each type by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), through the Food Awards Spain 2019. Those that, in one of their categories, focus on recognizing the quality and organoleptic properties of the best national cheese. Are you a true 'turóphile' but are you tired of always eating the same products? Innovate to taste any of the following that have been awarded in the edition X of the contest. Here we explain how the professional choice works together with a short description of each cheese.
Objective and choice of prizes
Before focusing on each of the award-winning Spanish cheeses this year, we want to briefly remind you that this Spanish Food Award Best Cheeses 2019 it is part of something higher. The MAP has already a decade working in the divulgation of the great food products of our country. It promotes it from the framework of a strategy that also wants to channel synergies with other sectors. From that of the gastronomy to health, through tourism or sports. Thus, the ministry intends to make known - both here and outside our borders - the quality and variety of national foods.
Therefore, that is the main objective that these awards are set for promocionar some excellent cheeses also made by producers very committed to the quality. Each year, the Food Awards Spain and, in this specific category, some 24 tasters experienced. Those who have been able to blindly taste a total of 223 cheeses selected last October in the Santander Agrifood Laboratory. Researchers, tasters associations, regulatory councils, universities, administrations, producer associations and even media choose their favorites.
Get to know these award-winning Spanish cheeses
If you want to search, buy and try some of these recognized cheese, surely you will also discover in your palate the reason for having been chosen as the best of its kind.
Spanish Food Special Award 2019
El Tasters Panel has coincided in giving the highest recognition -among all the awarded Spanish cheeses- to «Zújar creams«, Produced by the cheese company arteserena. It is located in the small town of Bell Tower (Badajoz) and the factory produces what they call Extremeña cake. Although that name with which they sell the cheese refers to the Zújar river, which runs through that area of southeastern Estremadura. In addition to having reaped that award, they have also won the award this year in the Matured Sheep Cheese Modality.
And it is that in the producer they are specialists in working with milk from merino sheep, using traditional processes and managing to differentiate the Cake from others made by Spain. Bill "Cremositos del Zújar" It is a cheese that already knows what it is to accumulate successes, as it was already the best in 2016/2017. That campaign won the Super Gold Medal of the World Cheese Awards, but it also managed to be among the top 30 in the world in its category in 2018/2019.
Ripened cow cheese
In this modality, the award went to the cheese «Pazo de Anzuxao», which has its Protected Designation of Origin Tetilla. It is a native of the municipality of Lalin (Pontevedra), where the company makes it Dairy Anzuxao that gives it its name, in the middle of a fantasy natural environment. Within the Deza region, one of the most majestic examples of civil architecture decorates the surroundings of the cheese factory. Those that follow Galician artisanal methods to produce fabulous products.
You can taste them there, taking advantage of the trip to see the stately home landscaped. Apart from the Tetilla cheese, you have the semi-cured or the Arzua Ulloa. The following video shows how the production process is.
Ripened goat cheese
Another of the award-winning Spanish cheeses this year it takes us to the province of Toledo, where the company Hope of the Castle make your «Goat Retamar». In the La Mancha town of Pulgar, continuing a work that past generations began back in 1952, the current cheese experts have not lost the ancient custom of their production. The small, purely rural destination stands out for the pastures of goats and sheep that provide the excellent raw material to achieve successful cheeses, including a great variety. Some are even protected by the DO Manchego cheese.
Blend ripened cheese
De Castilla la Mancha we traveled to Andalusia, specifically to the municipality of Villamartin (Cadiz). There, among lands that are in the center of the Sierra Cadiz, a small company born in 2007 was growing progressively. Today, lopicomo is famous for its Pajarete cheeses, 100% natural and without preservatives. So the cheese Chick healed mix (goat and sheep) has been awarded in this type. This product also accumulates a variety of awards since 2016.
Mold-aged cheese or blue cheese
Finally, in this modality a natural product of Zorita Farm Foods. It's located in San Pelayo de la Guarena (Salamanca) and has been awarded for its cheese «Flor de Dehesa». It is an exclusive delicacy of soft paste, creamy and made with raw sheep's milk. Its bark is smooth with mould shallow white. To taste it, nothing better than spreading it on a slice of bread in its most recommended consumption.
Regarding the production company, it should be noted that it is a pioneer in natural and organic farming in Spain. They not only make cheese, but also cold cuts, wines and vegetables. The exclusive verata goat lives among its 300 hectares of land, but more impressive are the female African water buffalo. From its milk is born the famous cheese mozzarella cheese.
