The three cheeses, Gulmarg, Konark, and Yeoor, are among the most celebrated examples of India’s emerging artisanal cheese movement. Produced by Mumbai-based Eleftheria Cheese, they have won recognition at international competitions and were notably gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Swiss President Guy Parmelin, a symbolic acknowledgement of India’s growing cheesemaking expertise.
Gulmarg is a Brie-style cheese inspired by the famous French Brie (a soft cow’s milk cheese with creamy interior) tradition but crafted in India using Indian milk and artisanal techniques. Aged for about 2-3 weeks, Gulmarg develops a velvety bloomy rind and a rich, buttery interior with earthy mushroom notes.
In 2026, it won Super Gold at the Mundial do Queijo do Brazil, one of the world’s notable cheese competitions. Unlike processed cheeses commonly sold in India, Gulmarg is a living, ripened cheese that continues to develop flavour over time.
Konarkis India’s Globally Acclaimed Tomme (a small, round artisan cheese traditionally made in the French Alps and Switzerland)that takes its name and visual inspiration from the wheel of the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. It is modelled on a traditional French Tomme-style cheese. Aged for approximately two months, Konark develops a natural rustic rind, earthy savoury flavours, and a subtle citrus finish, made primarily from cow’s milk, using French-style techniques adapted to Indian conditions.
It won Gold at the World Cheese Awards 2023 in Norway and later secured Silver at the World Cheese Awards 2025 in Switzerland. Most cheeses available in India are either fresh cheeses such as paneer or industrially produced processed cheeses. Konark is a carefully aged, natural-rind cheese more comparable to premium European farmhouse cheeses. It offers greater flavour complexity and terroir-drivencomplete character than mass-market products.
Yeooris an Indian Interpretation of Switzerland’s famousGruyère(a hard, pale yellow cow’s milk cheese). Named after the Yeoor Hills near Mumbai, Yeoor is aged for 8 to 9 months, developing nutty, sweet, herbal notes and exceptional melting qualities. What truly distinguishes Yeoor is its rind, which is decorated with rose petals and fennel, giving it a distinctly Indian identity.
While Gruyère follows strict Swiss regional rules, Yeoor interprets the style through an Indian lens. The use of rose petals and fennel, along with Indian milk characteristics, creates flavour nuances rarely found in European Alpine cheeses.
These cheeses represent a significant shift in India’s dairy narrative. For decades, India was primarily associated with paneer, despite being the world’s largest milk producer. Gulmarg, Konark, and Yeoor demonstrate that Indian artisans can successfully create world-class aged cheeses capable of competing with European counterparts at international competitions. These cheeses are available through the company’s direct channels, specialty gourmet stores, premium food retailers, and select high-end restaurants and hotels.