Since the first local dairy competition of 1834 where eight butter entries competed against each other, the South African Dairy Championships has grown in such a way that today (2 April) no less than 770 entries from 76 national producers are being adjudicated in the Bellville Civic Centre. This year is also the first time that entries were accepted from another African country, namely Kenya.
Kobus Mulder, South Africa’s only international cheese judge who has previously adjudicated at various world cheese competitions in France, the UK and America, leads the team of 35 judges consisting mainly of dairy technologists and scientists. According to Mulder – dairy manager at Agri-Expo that presents the SA Dairy Championships – dairy products are judged in five categories: butter, cheese, yogurt, sour milk and ice cream. “This year we’ve experienced an incomparable increase in the number of goat’s milk cheese entries – we have 70 entries in this category compared to the 14 of 2006,” he says. “One of the reasons is the fact that the consumer is increasingly aware of the health aspects of goat’s milk cheese.”
Also the entries for hard cheeses have increased significantly. “More chefs and other cooks nowadays use hard cheeses as an ingredient to give flavour and texture to dishes,” says Mulder.
Judges makes use of an international 30-point system with the same rules as used at other world competitions. Whether South Africa’s products can compete with their international counterparts: “The quality of cheese in SA has dramatically improved in the last two years and producers are presenting the consumer with a really wide variety. Our local yogurt is now also on par with the world standard,” says Mulder.
Those who are curious about the results of this authoritive competition will have to wait until after the Danisco Qualité Dinner which takes place on 22 April in Stellenbosch. During this glamorous event the SA Dairy Product of the Year will be announced, as well as the dairy champions that it worthy of the Qualité mark of exceptional quality.
For a firsthand experience of the country’s top dairy products cheese lovers can visit the SA Cheese Festival from 24-27 April 2009 at Bien Donné between Paarl and Franschhoek. You will be able to meet the creators of these culinary masterpieces while nibbling on their winning wares.
For further details about the SA Diary Championship and SA Cheese Festival, contact Kobus Mulder at
021 975 4440 or visit
www.cheesesa.co.za and
www.cheesefestival.co.za
Shows & Expos
