Modi Gave Switzerland’s President Three Indian Cheeses
Mr Modi gave Mr Parmelin three specialty cheeses named Gulmarg, Konark and Yeoor. The presentation formed part of the Swiss president’s three-day visit to India and linked the diplomatic meeting with India’s developing premium-cheese industry and Switzerland’s established cheesemaking tradition.
Gulmarg is a French-style Brie produced from pasteurised cow’s milk. It has a soft interior, a white rind and earthy notes associated with mushrooms. At the 2026 Mundial do Queijo do Brasil, an international competition held in Brazil, it received a Super Gold award.
Konark draws on the French Tomme tradition. Its natural rind accompanies earthy and savoury flavours followed by a lemon-like finish. The cheese won Gold at the 2023 World Cheese Awards in Norway and Silver at a 2025 competition in Switzerland.
Yeoor is a mountain-style cheese influenced by Swiss Gruyère. It is matured for about eight to nine months, producing nutty, sweet and herbal flavours. The cheese combines Indian ingredients with methods associated with Alpine cheesemaking.
India’s specialty-dairy sector
The three products represent different approaches to adapting European cheesemaking styles to Indian production. Their awards and varied profiles reflect the range of products emerging in India’s specialty-cheese segment, which sits within a dairy industry supplied by the world’s largest milk-producing country.
Expansion of this segment involves requirements including reliable milk quality, processing facilities, food-safety controls and refrigerated distribution. Producers also need consumer awareness and appropriate maturation conditions for cheeses sold as premium or value-added products. International awards provide recognition for products such as Gulmarg and Konark, while Yeoor presents a separate example of a cheese based on Alpine influences.
During their meeting, Mr Modi and Mr Parmelin discussed bilateral relations, including commerce, investment, movement between the two countries and critical technologies. The gifts added an agricultural and cultural element to the talks. The selection of three cheeses also displayed Indian dairy products beyond conventional categories and placed them in a setting associated with Switzerland’s longstanding cheese-making heritage.
