This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.
Life2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Finalistsbest canadian cheeseCanadian cheese

2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Finalists Look Pretty Cheesy

Hey Canada, Can You Smell The Cheese?
Arti Patel
|
Open Image Modal
Canadian Cheese Grand Prix

If you ever needed an excuse to celebrate the great cheeses of Canada (by eating them), that time is right now, folks.

The Dairy Farmers of Canada recently announced this year's Canadian Cheese Grand Prix finalists — the country's collection of some of the best cheeses and cheese-makers.

From the washed or mixed-rind semi-soft cheese (yes, this is an actual category) to the Swisses and the cheddars, this year's selection, like years previous, has come down to three finalists in each category.

We're all well aware cheese in Quebec is pretty gouda — the province's cheeses make up most of the finalist entries — but there are also a good chunk of cheeses from Ontario and Alberta.

And while cheese doesn't always get a perfect rep in the dietary world, your best bet for health is to stay away from cheeses filled with high levels of sodium and preservatives.

Below are 60 cheese entries in 20 categories. You can find all 27 categories here. Don't you wish you had a cracker right about now?

2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Finalists
Category 1: Fresh Cheese(01 of20)
Open Image Modal
Formaggino Original, Bella Stella Cheese, B.C.Cream Cheese, M.C. Dairy Co. Ltd., Ont. Ricotta/Bella Casara, Quality Cheese Inc., Ont.
Category 2: Fresh Pasta Filata(02 of20)
Open Image Modal
Definition: Stretched curd cheeseCherry Bocconcini, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.Fresh Mozzarella Zerto, Finica Food Specialties Ltd., Ont.Burrata / Bella Casara, Quality Cheese Inc., Ont.
Category 3: Fresh Cheese with Grilling Properties(03 of20)
Open Image Modal
Le Fleur St-Michel, Fromagerie du Terroir de Bellechasse, Que.Le Paillasson de l'isle d'Orléans, Les Fromages de l'isle d'Orléans, Que.Queso Fresco Cheese, Latin Foods Inc., Alta
Category 4: Soft Cheese With Bloomy Rind(04 of20)
Open Image Modal
Definition: A rind that is white, soft and a little fuzzyComox Camembert, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.Comox Brie, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.Brie paysan, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Category 5: Cream-Enriched Soft Cheese With Bloomy Rind(05 of20)
Open Image Modal
Albert's Leap Bel Haven Triple Creme Brie, Quality Cheese Inc., Ont.Le Riopelle de l'Isle, Société Coopérative Agricole de l'Île-aux-Grues, Que.Laliberté, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Category 6: Semi-Soft Cheese(06 of20)
Open Image Modal
St-Paulin, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.Fleur de Weedon, Fromagerie P'tit Plaisir, Que.Amsterdammer, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
Category 7: Washed Or Mixed Rind Soft Cheese(07 of20)
Open Image Modal
Definiton: A washed rind involves rubbing the surface with salt water or special alcohol. A mixed has the cheese washed at the beginning of the ripening stage, and then left to let the flora present to do their work, via Fromage du Quebec.L'Origine de Charlevoix, Laiterie Charlevoix Inc., Que.14 Arpents, Fromagerie Médard, Que.L'Empereur, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
Category 8: Washed Or Mixed Rind Semi-Soft Cheese(08 of20)
Open Image Modal
Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.Tête Dure, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.Le Mamirolle, Fromagerie Éco Délices, Que.
Category 9: Washed Or Mixed Rind Firm Cheese(09 of20)
Open Image Modal
La Meule des champs, Fromagerie Éco Délices, Que.Le Blackburn, Fromagerie Blackburn, Que.Alfred Le Fermier 18 months, Fromagerie La Station, Que.
Category 10: Firm Cheese (Except Cheddar And Gouda)(10 of20)
Open Image Modal
Asiago, Bright Cheese & Butter Mfg. Co. Ltd., Ont.Heidi, The Farm House Natural Cheeses, B.C.Muenster, Bothwell Cheese Inc, Man.
Category 11: Swiss-Type Cheese(11 of20)
Open Image Modal
Miranda, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.Handeck, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., Ont.Louis d'Or, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Category 12: Mozzarella(12 of20)
Open Image Modal
Tre Stelle Mozzarella Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., Ont.Oaxaca, Local Dairy Products, Ont.Mozzarella Ball, International Cheese Co. Ltd., Ont.
Category 13: Brine-Ripened Cheese(13 of20)
Open Image Modal
Queso Duro Cheese, Latin Food Inc., AltaFeta Cheese, Tiras Dairies Inc., AltaTre Stelle Feta Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., Ont.
Category 14: Gouda (Aged 1 To 6 Months)(14 of20)
Open Image Modal
Gouda Medium, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaMountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Medium, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.Gouda Mild, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta
Category 15: Aged Gouda(15 of20)
Open Image Modal
Old Grizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaGrizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaMountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Gold, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
Category 16: Extra-Aged Gouda(16 of20)
Open Image Modal
Old Grizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaGrizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaMountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Gold, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
Category 17: Blue Cheese(17 of20)
Open Image Modal
Le Rassembleu, Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Que.Bleu Bénédictin, Fromagerie Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Que.Le Bleu d'Élizabeth, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Category 18: Flavoured Cheese(18 of20)
Open Image Modal
Stout beer cheddar, Fromagerie Perron, Que.Tipsy, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., Ont.Griffon Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
Category 19: Smoked Cheese(19 of20)
Open Image Modal
Gouda Smoked Natural Cheese, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AltaAppletree Smoked Cheddar, Cows Creamery, P.E.I.Naturally Smoked Boerenkaas, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
Category 20: Flavoured Cheese With Added Particulate Solids And Flavourings(20 of20)
Open Image Modal
Definition: Cheese with a little something added to it, like peppers or herbs (as seen here)Raclette de Compton au poivre, Fromagerie La Station, Que.Formaggino Garden Herb, Bella Stella Cheese, B.C. Pepper Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.

Related

2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Finalistsbest canadian cheeseCanadian cheeseCanadian cheese contestCanadian Cheese Grand Prix
Suggest a correction
-- This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.