NORSELAND, the UK's leading blended and snacking cheese producer, which has its factory in Ilchester, has won a much-coveted Great Taste Award for its Jarlsberg cheese, one of the UK's most popular deli cheeses with holes.

Last year, Jarlsberg, which originates from Norway, was the subject of research by the BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, one of the world's top four most cited general medical journals, which concluded that a small (57 g) daily portion of Jarlsberg cheese may help to stave off bone thinning (osteopenia/osteoporosis) without boosting harmful low-density cholesterol.

The effects seem to be specific to this type of cheese, the findings indicate.

Jarlsberg is famous the world over for its distinctive sweet and nutty taste and its large, round holes.

Chard & Ilminster News:

It was created in 1956 at Agricultural University of Norway in Ås where Professor Ole Martin Ystgaard and his team developed a semi-hard, medium-fat cheese with holes, successfully combining cheese-making traditions with modern technologies.

The actual secret behind the cheese is the cheese culture, which gives Jarlsberg its unique taste and eye formation.

More than 14,000 products were put through the competition's rigorous blind judging process at the world's most coveted food and drink awards, with fewer than 6,000 ultimately picking up an award from the judges.

The judges said: "This is a crowd-pleasing cheese. It's the sort of cheese that you want to keep on nibbling, which is a success in itself."

Talking about the Great Taste Award win, Ffion Davies, Brand Manager for Jarlsberg, said: "It's a dream come true to win a Great Taste Award for Jarlsberg.

“Everybody who works in the food and drink industry wants their product to be recognised by the Great Taste Award judges and we couldn't be happier that the judges have described Jarlsberg as ‘a well-crafted enjoyable delicate cheese’.”

Jarlsberg, which is suitable for vegetarians, is available in block and slice format in all major supermarkets.