05/06/2026
🧀 Gruyère, Emmental, Tilsiter... Why are Swiss cheeses famous around the world? 🇨🇭
Some Swiss cheeses are famous far beyond Switzerland’s borders. But this reputation did not appear overnight...
Although the exact origins of cheese remain unknown, the Middle Ages saw the rise of cow’s milk in cheesemaking and the appearance of hard cheeses.
In rural Swiss communities, turning milk into butter and cheese was long a practical way to preserve it. During the summer months, milk from cows grazing on alpine pastures was transformed into dairy products that could last through the winter.
The spread of Swiss products and know-how beyond the country’s borders can be explained by three main factors:
🛣️ the opening of the Gotthard route in the 13th century;
🌎 the migration of young Swiss people;
⛪ the easing of Church rules in the 15th century, as it became more tolerant of cheese consumption and, consequently, its export.
From the 19th century onwards, many Swiss cheesemakers settled in France, the United States, Canada and Eastern Europe, where they helped develop local cheesemaking. In France, they established themselves in mountainous regions. In North America, they contributed to the rise of large-scale dairies. They played a major role in spreading the reputation of Gruyère, Emmental and Tilsiter.
Swiss cheeses continue to be enjoyed both in Switzerland and around the world, and Swiss cheesemakers regularly stand out in international competitions.
This recognised expertise is rooted in high-quality training. Every year, around a hundred new cheesemakers complete their training in Switzerland, helping to carry on the tradition.
What’s your favorite Swiss cheese? 👇
