LONDON, Aug 9 — A medium-strength blue cheese produced in the heart of rural England has been named the best cheese for 2013 at an international cheese show billed as the largest in the world.

The Claxstone Smooth Blue, produced by Long Clawson Dairy in Leicestershire, England beat out 4,285 other cheeses to be declared the “supreme champion” at the 116^th edition of the International Cheese Awards Nantwich last week.

Cheeses were submitted from 27 countries.

The cheesemakers describe their blue as soft, balanced, creamy, and mild. Milk used for the cheese comes from cows that are left to graze on some of the greenest pastures in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

The Claxstone series is available at upscale British grocer Waitrose.

Other winners this year included the Extra Creamy Gorgonzola produced by Arrigoni in Italy which took the title of Nantwich Reserve Supreme Champion, and the UK’s Belton Cheese which took the National Westminster trophy for the highest number of gold awards.

Retailer Marks & Spencer won the Supreme Retailer Award for its extensive cheese selection.

For the full results, visit http://www.internationalcheeseawards.co.uk/. – AFP-Relaxnews