The title of world’s best cheddar given by the cheese is available in most US supermarkets

This cheese is the best.

The World Cheese Awards, held earlier this month in Viseu, Portugal, have named a US-based brand as the best cheddar cheese in the world, and you can get it at any grocery store.

The annual awards are hosted by a different country each year, with the Guild of Fine Food, to judge over 4,000 cheeses from over 40 countries.

The winning can of cheddar cheese is right here in the United States—in Oregon, to be exact.

Judges named the Tillamook County Creamery Association the 2024 “World’s Best Cheddar” maker for Maker’s Reserve 2014 Extra Sharp White Cheddar.

Tillamook’s trophy-winning cheddar is extra sharp with notes of brown butter and caramel.

The cheese is part of the brand’s Maker’s Reserve program, which focuses on aging the cheese. Each year, the brand releases four consecutive vintages that have been aged for at least three years, plus a 10-year vintage cheese.

“We are very proud of our Tillamook Grower’s Reserve program and are honored that our 2014 Grower’s Extra Sharp White Cheddar received the award for World’s Best Cheddar,” Jill Allen, director of excellence, told Food & Wine of Tillamook products.

After the cheeses are aged naturally, Allen and her team of expert tasters in Tillamook grade each batch to decide which ones will be selected for that year’s vintage release.

“Our Creator’s Reserve Cheddars are truly special and reflect the all-important time factor,” said Allen. “Our aging process transforms the cheese into an unforgettable taste experience.”

The 115-year-old farmer-owned joint also won two bronze-level awards at this year’s World Cheese Awards for their Farmers’ Collection Hickory Smoked Extra Sharp White Cheddar and Farmers’ Collection Sweet Style English.

But Tillamook wasn’t the only American brand to take home the gold.

Jasper Hill Farm was awarded a Super Gold medal with the World Cheese Awards Trophy for “Best American Cheese” in 2024 for Bayley Hazen Blue.

The Vermont-based farm was also awarded two gold medals for its Harbison cheese and Vault 5 Cave Aged cheddar; four silver medals for her Cabot Clothbound, Caspian, Moses Sleepe and Alpha Tolman cheeses; and a bronze for its Willoughby cheese.

This year marked the largest ever world cheese awards with 1,032 companies from 47 countries competing for 4,786 cheeses, according to F&W.

The United States ranked fourth with 160 total medals, behind the top three of Spain, Italy and Switzerland.