When one thinks of Norway’s staple foods, fish, lamb, and potatoes often come to mind. However, in recent years, another food item is capturing the hearts of many: cheese! In fact, at the 2023 World Cheese Awards, a Norwegian farm took home gold for their cheese. The World Champion cheese was a blue cheese, Nidelven Blå, from Gangstad Gårdsysteri, located about two hours from Trondheim, Norway. The cheese was judged by 264 cheese experts at the event in Trondheim where 4,502 cheeses were tasted. Nidelven Blå was specifically praised for its “creamy dense fudginess.” It was made 11 months ago and that particular kind of cheese claims the title for the dairy farm’s bestselling cheese. They are thrilled and honored to win on their “home turf.”
This is not the first time a Norwegian farm has won honors related to cheese. In fact, within the past seven years, this is the third time a Norwegian cheese has been named the victor. In 2016, a blue cheese from Tingvoll became the first Norwegian cheese to claim the title. Then in 2018, a Norwegian gouda wore the crown.
What has led to the breakout of award-winning Norwegian cheeses? Author and cheese connoisseur Bernt Bucher-Johannessen believes a few things have facilitated the success. Firstly, changes in laws related to dairy farming around the year 2000 have allowed farmers to experiment with products other than milk, such as cheese. With the shift, the preferences of the general public changed as well. Cheese went from being a mere mild sandwich topping to a variety of flavors and selections. Additionally, the characteristics of taste through local food ingredients became highly valued in the Norwegian cheese industry. There are more than 110 local cheese makers in Norway now. They say you can taste the different parts of Norway from the various cheesemakers.