Source: Supplied
The 2026 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show has crowned its champions. The winners emerge from over 600 dairy products judged this year, with fourteen ultimately named best in class across milk, butter, cheese, dessert and ice cream categories.
Unexpected flavour profiles featured strongly. Cow & The Moon’s Olive Oil, Honey, Lemon and Thyme ice cream won Champion Low-Fat Ice Cream or Gelato, while Sharma’s Kitchen’s Khajoor Milk claimed Champion Flavoured Milk.
“Tonight was a chance to celebrate our 2026 champions and shine a light on our industry as a whole,” said Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show Chair of Judges, Tiffany Beer.
“Judging provides producers with the opportunity to showcase their products, whether that is innovative new offerings or homegrown classics, and receive expert feedback from food and dairy specialists.”
Buffalo dairy also had a moment this year. Borghi’s Dairy secured Champion Butter for its Del Bocia Australian Herb Butter, and its Del Bocia Buffalo Cream Butter was named Champion Sheep, Goat, Buffalo or Camel Milk Product. Judges reported more buffalo entries this year beyond mozzarella, including butter, ghee, curd and milk.
“We saw an increase in buffalo products, which was exciting for the judges. Buffalo Cheese is the most common entry; however, this year judges also evaluated butter, ghee, curd and milk, with the buffalo butter proving exceptional.”
Little Big Dairy Company walked away with two titles, winning Champion Milk for its Non-Homogenised Full Cream Milk and Champion Cream for its Pure Double Cream.
In dessert, V’s Dessert Gluten Free secured Champion Dessert for its Original Basque Cheesecake. Scoopanova’s chocolate and liquorice ‘2019 Event Horizon’ won Champion Full Cream Ice Cream and Gelato.
Beer said, “Over the past two years, we’ve seen continued growth in innovative and culturally diverse flavour profiles, such as date and cardamom. This trend was again reflected across various categories, including the flavoured milk category – with Sharma’s Kitchen winning Champion Flavoured Milk for its Khajoor Milk.”
On the cheese front, Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese’s Riverine Blue was named Champion Cheese of Show. Milawa Cheese Company’s King River Gold took Champion Specialty Cheese, while Bega Cheese’s Bega Rindless Cheddar claimed both Champion Cheddar Cheese and Champion Cow Milk Cheese.
“For the producer, a Sydney Royal medal signifies to consumers that their product is at the top of its game.”
Fourteen champions were named in total, with the full list including cheeses selected for the Australian Cheeseboard.
All gold, silver, and bronze medal winners are listed on the official RANSW website.
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