Colombian Cheese Wins Gold at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland

The Colombian dairy sector has reached a new peak of international recognition in Switzerland, host of the 2025 World Cheese Awards, the world’s most prestigious event dedicated to cheese evaluation. In a competition that brought together 5,244 samples from 46 countries, the Colombian-based company HolaAndes took home the gold medal thanks to its Extra Mature cheese. This award not only celebrates the quality of a specific product but also validates the capacity of the Colombian countryside to compete in the most demanding markets of global gastronomy.

The recognition achieved by the Extra Mature cheese is the result of a rigorous technical evaluation in which a panel of international judges analyzed aspects such as the rind, aroma, body, texture, and mouthfeel. Surpassing these standards in the cradle of global cheesemaking demonstrates that national raw materials, when processed with discipline and technique, are on par with major European denominations of origin.

Innovation and Tradition in Guatavita

The importance of this award for the dairy industry lies in its production model. The award-winning cheese is crafted in the rural district of Monquentiva, in Guatavita, Cundinamarca, blending the richness of local milk with an authentic Dutch Gouda recipe dating back to 1847. The cheeses are made by young rural women from the Guatavita Dairy Farmers Cooperative (Colega), who have successfully transformed primary production into a high-value-added product.

The impact of this achievement goes beyond the medal; it sends a strong message about the potential of Colombian agribusiness to diversify its exports and raise the profile of its dairy products.

Regarding this triumph, the brand’s co-founder, Tobias Rijnsdorp, who received the award in Switzerland, stated: “We are very proud and delighted to bring the gold medal to Colombia in such an important global competition. We must believe in the Colombian countryside itself and in local products. The real gold is in the countryside.”

A Model of International Cooperation

HolaAndes’ success exemplifies how knowledge transfer can boost rural development. The synergy between Dutch techniques and the daily effort of the Guatavita community has helped consolidate a product that respects both origin and quality.

Rijnsdorp highlighted the human element behind the product’s technical excellence: “These medals are for Colombia and for Monquentiva, Guatavita, where the cooperative’s producers work every day to provide the best milk, and for the young women of the cooperative, who learned the art of artisanal Gouda cheese from expert cheesemakers in the Netherlands.”

This gold at the 2025 World Cheese Awards sets a precedent for the country’s small and medium-sized producers, proving that a commitment to quality, technical advancement, and artisanal know-how is the path to positioning Colombia as a benchmark for excellence on the global cheese map.