Portuguese Cheese Paradise - The Açores Islands

Did you know that theres is a Portuguese Cheese Paradise Between New York and Portugal?

The Açores Islands are nine volcanic islands between continents directly in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Covered with grasslands and hydrangeas, the islands boast virtually no pollution and incredibly pure air, which the Portuguese call “the beautiful islands” according to Chef José Avillez of Lisbon, Portugal.

The volcanic soil enriches the grasslands with minerals and nutrients, creating pastures rich in essential nutrients. This unique volcanic soil improves the quality of grass, producing more flavorful milk. It’s a paradise for cows—so friendly that visitors can often walk right up and pet them. Off the shore, the ocean quickly plunges to depths of nearly 500 meters, reinforcing the islands’ pristine isolation.

On one of the smaller islands, Santa Maria, cows even outnumber the human population!

This volcanic environment produces Portuguese cheeses of remarkable quality. The Açores Islands sell approximately 100 tons of cheeses each month, almost exclusively within Europe. These Portuguese cheeses are hidden treasures that WorldClass is proudly importing to America—though they're hardly hidden in Europe.
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Award-Winning Açores Cheeses

São Miguel Cheese

Winner of the prestigious 2024 Best Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food, São Miguel cheese is a Portuguese cheese notable for its semi-firm texture, honey-colored paste, and distinctive scattered, uneven holes. Its flavor profile begins sweet and milky but evolves into a subtly nutty, spicy finish, and a sharpness that lingers on the palate. Our Chefs use São Miguel cheese as a flavorful addition to paninis, charcuterie boards, and gourmet sandwiches.
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Ilha Azul Cheese

Named after Faial Island—also known as "Ilha Azul" for its hydrangeas—this semi-soft Portuguese cheese has a buttery, smooth texture, making it a versatile and delicious ingredient. Ilha Azul Cheese is excellent melted on sandwiches, paired on cheese boards, or incorporated into a variety of dishes like mac and cheese.
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Cheating with American Compliance:

Any cheese lover will tell you that European cheese tastes better than American cheese—but why?

In the United States, labeling something as "cheese" or "cheese product" is regulated by the FDA. Some products labeled as cheese often contain less than 51% real cheese, meaning nearly half of what you're consuming could be water or filler ingredients.

That melty slice of American cheddar? It’s filled with preservatives, milk solids, and food coloring.

Here's a simple equation:

Cheese + 49% Extra Water + Fillers – Real Dairy = Less flavor and a weird texture
Butter + More water – Butterfat = Less rich and less creamy

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Happy Cows = Better Cheese

Factory farming has disrupted centuries of traditional livestock practices. Animals once roamed freely, but industrial agriculture introduced fences, crowded conditions, and growth hormones to increase productivity.

Growth hormones first appeared in the cattle industry during the 1930s to boost milk production. Injecting hormones into cows’ pituitary glands can increase milk output by 10-20%. However, this practice negatively affects the animals’ health, increasing risks of mastitis (painful infections on the mammary glands), reproductive problems, digestive issues, and elevated stress levels.

Cows, like people, have unique personalities—optimistic or pessimistic, stubborn or shy—but hormone treatments interfere with these natural traits, causing distress and negatively impacting the quality of dairy and meat products.

In contrast, Açorean cows graze freely on volcanic pastures, creating the perfect conditions for exceptional cheese—because happy cows make better milk.

This is what WorldClass tastes like.

At WorldClass, we proudly import the finest Portuguese cheeses—available exclusively for wholesale purchase and sold only in bulk boxes. If you’re looking to bring the exceptional flavors of the Azores Islands to you, click here to place your order now.

Explore our full selection of European cheeses here.