Photo: 123RF
New Zealand cheesemakers are celebrating after taking home 27 medals and two trophies from one of the world's oldest cheese and dairy competitions.
More than 5500 producers from over 50 countries entered the 128-year-old International Cheese and Dairy Awards in the United Kingdom over the weekend.
Cheese expert and awards ambassador Franco Cesa told Afternoons New Zealand was developing its own identity in cheese-making.
"For a long period of time we were a cheddar making country but over time cheesemakers have realised ... consumers have become more adventurous in wanting to try different style of cheeses."
New Zealand had come a long way in its tastes, he said.
"When I came to New Zealand at 20 to 40 years ago, I remember that the deep fry camembert in the pub was the highlight. You know, we came a long way from."
NZ cheeses win at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards
Traditionally, New Zealand's cheeses were local versions of European styles, he said.
But producers had to challenge themselves as tastes changed.
"Now they're creating cheeses that have completely no linkage whatsoever to the European-style cheeses."
Producers around the country were getting more adventurous - one in Geraldine was trialling deer-milk cheese - and that was starting to get noticed.
It would also allow New Zealand to access different markets, Cesa said.