Training standardizes technical criteria and prepares experts for the blind judging of approximately one thousand samples entered in the largest cheese competition in the Americas
The judges responsible for evaluating the cheeses entered in the International Competition of ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026 – Araxá International Cheese Awards participated, on the afternoon of this Thursday (25), in the official training that precedes the start of the analyses. Held at Cine-Teatro Tiradentes, the activity aimed to align technical criteria and standardize the procedures that will be adopted during the judging of the approximately one thousand samples entered in the competition.
Before the start of the evaluations, the experts received guidance on the competition methodology, the functioning of the blind judging system, and the sensory parameters that will serve as the basis for choosing the winners. This stage is considered essential to ensure uniformity, balance, and impartiality in the analysis of the products.
For judge Rita de Cássia, the training strengthens the reliability of the process by establishing a common understanding among all evaluators.
“It is necessary because it is an alignment. We can achieve standardization between the system itself and the judging criteria. It is a necessary moment,” she highlights.
According to her, the competition also represents an opportunity for knowledge exchange among professionals with different experiences and backgrounds.
“The judging moment is very special, because we are evaluating the cheeses, learning, and exchanging with all the judges. The product that stands out is the one made with care, but it is also important to participate and receive feedback to evolve,” she states.
The competition
With technical curation by EPAMIG – Instituto de Laticínios Cândido Tostes, the International Competition of ExpoQueijo Brasil adopts its own judging system carried out blindly by Brazilian and foreign specialists. The samples are evaluated without identification of origin or brand, ensuring impartiality throughout the process.
The judges analyze seven sensory attributes: overall appearance, color, texture, odor, aroma, consistency, and flavor. The competition is contested in three elimination phases until the winners are defined.
The main recognition is the Super Gold trophy, awarded to the cheese with the highest overall score among all categories. Since the creation of ExpoQueijo Brasil, only three countries have won the top prize: Italy, Argentina, and Brazil. In addition to Super Gold, the competition awards the highlights of each category with Gold, Silver, and Bronze trophies.
The 2026 edition brings together producers from 19 countries: Germany, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Spain, France, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Uruguay.