Vancouver Island-based fromagerie, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, has won an international award for one of its products.
Natural Pastures’ Smoked Boerenkaas cheese won Gold Medal win at the 2025 World Cheese Awards, which was presented at a ceremony held in Bern, Switzerland.
According to the fromagerie, the cheese finished just one point shy of winning a “Super Gold” distinction.
This cheese came to be through a DIY experiment in which the company’s now-retired sales manager tested smoke flow using a Coleman camping cooler with a hole drilled into it.
This idea was developed when Natural Pastures created a specialized smoke room designed specifically for the cheese.
The Smoked Boerenkaas, according to Natural Pastures, offers a rich, savoury depth and a smooth, golden finish.
They added that it has a natural smokiness which pairs well with crusty artisan breads, buttery crackers and coastal-inspired charcuterie.
As for beverages, this cheese goes best with bold red wines, amber ales and smokey whiskies.
“We are thrilled to be recognized on the world stage,” said Doug Smith at Operations Manager Natural Pastures.
“This award reflects not only the skill and passion of our staff, but also the support of our customers, distributers [sic], retailers, and community across Canada. We are honoured to represent Vancouver Island and Canadian artisan cheesemaking at an international level.”
Natural Pastures’ Smoked Boerenkaas was the only Canadian cheese outside of Quebec and Ontario to receive an award at the 2025 World Cheese Award.
