Cheeses of São Jorge, Azores
A long, narrow Azorean island of cliffs and fajãs whose cow's milk cheese is aged for months into a sharp, spicy wheel.
Made, aged and sold here
Best time: May to September.
São Jorge is a long, steep island in the middle of the Azores, rising from the Atlantic in cliffs with flat, fertile platforms called fajãs at their feet. Cows graze its high green pastures all year, and the island makes São Jorge cheese, a large, hard wheel. The tradition is often traced to Flemish settlers who arrived in the fifteenth century.
São Jorge cheese
São Jorge cheese is a cow's milk cheese made in big wheels of eight to twelve kilograms, aged for at least three months, and often seven or more. It has a firm, crumbly paste with small holes and a sharp, spicy flavour that grows with age. Most is made by island co-operatives, and it is a protected name.
The island
Velas, the main town, has a harbour and old churches. Walking trails lead down the cliffs to the fajãs, such as Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, a lagoon known for clams and surfing. Pico, the volcano on the island across the channel, dominates the view. Pastures are divided by stone walls and hydrangea hedges.
A trail idea for São Jorge, Azores
- Velas The harbour town and its cheese shops.
- A cheese co-operative See wheels aged on long shelves, where visits are offered.
- Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo Walk down to the lagoon on its cliff-foot plain.
- Pico viewpoints Look across the channel to the volcano.
Written by the EveryCheese desk with AI assistance. Background: "São Jorge Island" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets, caves and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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