São Miguel Island Cheese 9M and Nova Açores soft cheese, distributed by LactAçores, have just been distinguished as the Best Cheese of Portugal in the categories: Island Cheese and Cow Cheese normal cure, in the 13th edition of the Portuguese Cheese Contest, held by ANIL, which had a total of 182 competing cheeses in 23 different categories.

São Miguel Island Cheese 9M

Since the beginning of the settlement of the Azores, with the arrival of farmers from Northern Europe, this excellent cheese from the island has been produced. São Miguel Island chesse is a traditional cheese apreciated by true cheese lovers. Its long period of aging, a minimum of 9 months, gives it a unique taste and a guarantee of superior quality that puts it in the showcase of special cheeses.

São Miguel Island cheese is known by many as the "black rind cheese", it is a product obtained from cow milk, submitted to fat standardization and pasteurization treatment.

Made by a discontinuous process, in open vat, it is presented as a semi-hard matured cheese. The firm texture, yellowish color with small and irregular eyes spread over the firm consistency paste conceives a strong and clean flavor and aroma.

Formats available: whole, quarters, and sliced and grated.

Nova Açores Soft Cheese

The Nova Açores Buttery Cheese is a matured cheese with a semi-soft paste, with a buttery texture and all the flavour of the Azores.

With the classic soft cheese format, the Nova Açores Buttery Cheese is perfect to have at your table and to share with those you love.

Available in whole format and halves.

Additional to the 2 best cheese awards, Lactaçores and its associates received 5 of the 46 honorable mentions:

Ilha Azul – CALF (Faial)

Capelinhos – CALF (Faial)

Topo - Uniqueijo – (S. Jorge)

Lourais - Uniqueijo – (S. Jorge)

Nova Açores Alho e Salsa – Unileite (S. Miguel)

According to José Carlos Serrão, General Director of LactAçores, "These distinctions are a reflection of the work that our team and producers have been developing, in order to work the potential of the Azores cheeses and provide an unparalleled experience to all consumers.