Mountain Cheese Olympics facts for kids
The International Mountain Cheese Olympics is a super cool festival and competition all about cheese! It's been happening for over 18 years. Cheesemakers from many countries, like Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and Italy, come together. They compete to see who can make the best "artisan mountain cheese."
This special event used to be in Appenzell, Switzerland. It started to help mountain areas in Switzerland grow their businesses. Now, the festival takes place in Galtür, Austria. Galtür is a small village famous for skiing. People love to hike, bike, and relax in outdoor hot springs there. The fresh mountain air and clear lakes are amazing! The festival celebrated its 25th event in September 2019.
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What is Mountain Cheese?
Mountain cheeses are very important for this festival. They are different from the cheeses you usually find in stores. The festival focuses on "mountain cheese" because it has special qualities. These qualities make it stand out from other types of cheese.
How Mountain Cheese is Made
Mountain cheeses are often made from the milk of sheep or goats. They tend to be softer than many other cheeses. This type of cheese is also known as Alpine cheese. "Alpine cheese" simply means any cheese that comes from the Alps. The Alps are a big mountain range in Europe. They stretch across Switzerland, France, Austria, and Italy.
These cheeses are famous around the world. Their special taste comes from old recipes and methods. These methods have been used for hundreds of years. The animals, like sheep and goats, eat grass in high mountain pastures. This gives the cheese a rich and complex flavor. That's why people from all over the world compete to make the best mountain cheese!
Who Can Compete?
Only special cheesemakers can join this event. They must be "cheese artisans." This means they make cheese by hand with great skill. Their cheeses must be made at altitudes higher than 600 meters (about 1,970 feet). Prizes are given for the best taste and quality.
The Mountain Cheese Olympics Event
The 2021 International Mountain Cheese Olympics was held in Galtür, Austria. Galtür is a well-known ski village. It is located in the Paznaun valley in the state of Tyrol. The Mountain Cheese Olympics started in 2002. Its goal was to help the mountain regions' economies.
What Happens at the Festival?
This annual celebration has many fun events. Visitors can buy all sorts of mountain cheeses made by the competitors. They can also try different foods from around the world. The main part of the event is the cheese competition. Judges look at how the cheese is shaped and displayed. Most importantly, they taste it!
Why This Competition Matters
Experts say that the cheese industry is affected by many things. Economic factors, like how cheese is marketed and sold, are important. Cultural factors also play a big role. These are related to the areas where the cheese is made. That's why Switzerland first started this competition. It helped their economy and let people share their love for mountain cheese.
Even though Switzerland started it, France and Italy often win the most awards. There are usually over 100 entries in the competition. Cheesemakers come from all over, including Japan, Mexico, and Ethiopia.
