The 12-month-old Milhafre cheese from Graciosa Island won first place in the Queijos de Portugal competition (fifteenth edition, 2024) in the category of long-aged cow’s milk cheese. This limited-edition cheese is characterized by its intense flavor, accentuated by time.
The Queijos de Portugal competition is promoted by ANIL – the National Dairy Industry Association.
“Milhafre cheeses from the Azores benefit from an origin and a cheese-making wisdom that we are determined to preserve. We cohabit harmoniously with the biodiversity of the islands, namely Terceira and Graciosa, because this is how nature offers its best and allows us to produce something as special and unique as Milhafre cheeses,” according to Pedro Cunha, who manages the Milhafre dos Açores brand.
“We are proud of the accolades we have accumulated and especially of the distinction we have now achieved with the limited edition Milhafre Queijo da Ilha Graciosa 12 months matured. We started with three months of maturing, moved on to nine months and now 12 months, respecting ecosystems and decades of cheese-making wisdom,” according to Pedro Cunha, quoted in a note sent to DI.


Milhafre Queijo da Ilha Graciosa, 12 months matured, now arrives on the market in a limited and exclusive edition for the Portuguese market, with only 180 units of 10 kilos, each one hand-numbered, says the same press release.
UNICOL—União das Cooperativas de Lacticínios Terceirense, UCRL, has existed since 1960. By amending its articles of association, it succeeded the Federação de Cooperativas de Lacticínios do Distrito de Angra do Heroísmo (Federation of Dairy Cooperatives of the District of Angra do Heroísmo). UCRL is the organization responsible for producing Graciosa Milhafre cheese.
According to the most recent figures, there are just over 1,300 dairy cows on Graciosa. The island produces around eight million liters of milk a year. The cheese industry is mainly concentrated in the local UNICOL factory, although small cheese and butter productions exist.
According to the latest censuses (2021), Graciosa has 4090 inhabitants, a number that is likely to have fallen in the meantime, according to local information.

in Diário Insular–José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.