Gastronomy

Eleven cheese dairies to discover Gran Canaria’s ‘coloured cheeses’

Getting to know Gran Canaria’s cheese dairies is a way of understanding its cultural richness, appreciating the complexity of its landscape, and recognising the wisdom embedded in its traditions. Gran Canaria is home to a remarkable number of small cheese producers. In these establishments, artisanal cheeses are produced; that is, made from raw milk, most of them with goat’s milk. Three routes to discover the artisanal cheeses of Gran Canaria. Although goats and sheep of native breeds are found throughout the island, the presence of goats is more strongly concentrated in the south and south-east, and in the warmer central and western areas of Gran Canaria. Meanwhile in the north, the influence of the trade winds favours the rearing of migratory sheep, in a more humid climate with richer vegetation.

South–South-East Route

The south–south-east of Gran Canaria is the island’s main tourist area. However, as we move inland along this route, the landscape reveals another side of itself, allowing visitors to enjoy the cheeses that are produced artisanally in the warmest part of the island. Here we recommend five cheese dairies where visitors can discover and purchase cheeses made from goat’s milk or mixed milks.

Queso Amurga

This dairy, run by Verónica Naranjo Ríos and Antonio Suárez Perdomo, is located in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. It is a family-run cheese dairy with a long tradition of cheesemaking and pastoralism, and has been awarded two Super Gold medals at the World Cheese Awards.

Its cheeses can be tasted and purchased at the dairy itself, although the producers also have a more easily accessible shop on Calle Alcalde Enrique Jorge, in San Fernando (Maspalomas, San Bartolomé de Tirajana).

Address: Cruz de los Muchachos, Tarajalillo Alto. Barranco Los Ahogados - San Bartolomé de Tirajana . Phone: (+34) 695 591 881. Shop phone number: (+34) 675 878 281

Quesos La Gloria

Quesos La Gloria is another of the island’s award-winning dairies. It is located at the Cortijo de La Gloria, at an altitude of 212 metres. Access is via a dirt track which, intriguingly, begins at the service car park of the Hotel Gloria Palace, next to San Agustín beach, where José Miguel Ortega and his wife, Paqui Pérez, have continued the family tradition of goat cheesemaking.

The farmhouse is home to one of the largest herds on the island. Here, a wide range of fresh, semi-cured and cured cheeses is produced (whether natural, coated with gofio, seasoned with paprika, or smoked) alongside more innovative creations such as their blue cheese and lactic-coagulation cheese. In their shop, located at Calle Acusa No. 55, Santa Lucía, Vecindario.

Address: La Gloria, San Agustín, San Bartolomé de Tirajana

Phone: (+34) 928 497 251

Visits: Please call ahead to arrange a visit (usually between 09:00 and 12:00 a.m.)

Quesería Era del Cardón

A must-visit dairy to taste and purchase its award-winning cheeses, with particular highlights including its aged goat’s cheese and cured goat’s cheese. The range includes fresh, semi-cured and cured cheeses, the latter boasting international awards.

The dairy is run by Luis Martel and Lucía Torres, and was founded in 1970. Online sales are available via their website, with in-store collection: queseriaeradelcardon.com

Address: Lomo de Padilla, Temisas, Agüimes

Phone: Telephone: (+34) 636 488 271 (available on Whatsapp)

Visits: (08:00 to 13:00; confirm visiting hours by phone)

Los Quesitos de Anabel

La Jaira de Ana is a family project that began in 2002 and was consolidated in 2018 as an agri-livestock farm in a rural environment. They offer activities such as ‘Day in the life of a farmer’, where visitors can interact with the animals and taste local products. The farm is open from Friday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 16:00.

Address: Calle Acequia San Antonio, 40. Phone: (+34) 623 105 316

Quesería Cueva del Paso

A stop to taste and purchase their cheeses made from raw Majorera goat’s milk. Run by Ramón Ortega Sánchez and Soraya Ojeda Rodríguez, Cueva del Paso is located in Aldea Blanca, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. With a long family tradition in cheesemaking and herding, this farm produces approximately 3,000 kg of semi-cured cheese and another 3,000 kg of cured cheese each year.

The cheeses from Cueva del Paso are available to taste and buy at the cheese dairy itself, as well as in local shops and restaurants. They also offer a home-delivery service, so you can enjoy their fresh products without leaving home.

Address: Aldea Blanca, Aldea Blanca. San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

Phone: (+34) 928 75 04 91

Centre–Highlands Route

We recommend two cheese dairies where you can discover and purchase these ‘high-altitude’ cheeses directly. The route covers the municipalities of Santa Brígida, Vega de San Mateo, Tejeda, Artenara, Valleseco and Teror.

Queso El Roque

El Roque cheese dairy, run by Benedicta González Quintana, is located in El Roque, Tejeda. This cheese dairy specialises in the production of artisanal cheeses, using raw goat’s and sheep’s milk from animals grazing in the area. The cheeses can be tasted and purchased at the cheese dairy itself and in local shops.

Address: El Roque, 3 El Roque, Tejeda

Phone: (+34) 928 708 000 / (+34) 618 39 65 67

Cuevas del Rey

This cheese dairy is run by Begoña Quintana Bolaños, who has taken on the generational legacy of a long family tradition in cheesemaking. Located in Cuevas del Rey, in the municipality of Tejeda. All their cheeses are made with raw Majorera goat’s milk, and their average annual production of semi-cured cheese reaches approximately 3,240 kg. Cuevas del Rey cheeses are recognised for their quality and flavour, and can be tasted and purchased at the cheese dairy itself, as well as in supermarkets, shops and restaurants in the area.

Address: El Roque, 18 El Roque, Tejeda

Phone: (+34) 928 170 033 / (+34) 680 625 630

North Route

The northern route of Gran Canaria is characterised by its impressive coastal cliffs and headlands, offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, natural pools and banana plantations. It is worth noting that the Flor de Guía cheese, protected under its Designation of Origin and curdled using thistle flower, is produced in small quantities and only within a limited seasonal window, usually from January to June.

A must-visit is La Casa del Queso La Casa del Queso - Santa María de Guía - Turismo where guided visits reveal the history and tradition behind Flor cheese, Media Flor cheese and Guía cheese. Located in the historic centre of Guía, La Bodega de Guía Tourist Interpretation Centre is also a recommended visit for tasting the local cheese specialities.

We recommend four cheese dairies to discover the Northern Route of Gran Canaria, which covers the municipalities of Arucas, Firgas, Moya, Santa María de Guía, Gáldar and Agaete.

Quesería La Caldera

Tania Rivero and Francisco González began their journey as young livestock farmers and cheesemakers at the Cortijo de Galeote, until in 2019 they were able to move to their current location in La Caldera, from where, after milking each day, their one hundred and sixty sheep head out to pasture.

In La Caldera (1,166 m) they produce semi-cured cheese, as well as Media Flor cheese, in addition to butter and almogrote (a traditional Canarian pâté made mainly with cured cheese, red peppers, garlic and olive oil). Their cured sheep’s cheese has won one of the two Super Gold medals at the World Cheese Awards.

Address: Camino La Caldera 4, Fagajesto Gáldar

Phone: (+34) 678 139 996

El Cortijo de Caideros Cheese

Run by the well-known transhumant shepherd Cristóbal Antonio Moreno Díaz and Benedicta Ojeda Almeida, El Cortijo de Caideros cheese dairy is located in Caideros, in the municipality of Gáldar.

They work with raw Canarian sheep’s milk and are recognised for their inclusion in the Protected Designation of Origin cheeses Flor de Guía cheese, Media Flor de Guía cheese and Guía cheese. El Cortijo de Caideros cheeses can be tasted and purchased at the dairy itself, in local shops, in certain supermarkets in Gáldar, and at the food markets of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Telde.

Address: Lomo La Mareta, 3 Caideros, Gáldar

Phone: (+34) 660 824 467

El Cadeiro Cheese

Located in Moya, Quesos El Caidero is a family-run cheese dairy managed by Yolanda, representing the third generation of the family. Here, cows, goats and sheep are raised, grazing freely in the beautiful and distinctive natural setting of the farm. Their cheeses are made with a blend of three types of milk goat, sheep and cow, resulting in buttery and oily cheeses that stand out for their strong flavour. In addition to cheese, they also produce butter. Visitors have the opportunity to tour the facilities, taste the cheeses and observe the production process, as well as the care and management of the animals. Products from Quesos El Caidero can also be found at the Guía market, where they can be enjoyed by lovers of local gastronomy.

Address: Camino Lomo El Marco, 13 Moya

Phone: (+34) 928 610 855 / (+34) 699 941 996

Del Rosario Artisanal Cheese

Located in Los Llanos de Agaete (288 m), Macarena Rosario is a young livestock farmer who continues her family’s long tradition in animal husbandry and cheesemaking. At her cheese dairy, she offers semi-cured and cured cheeses, which can be purchased directly on-site.

What sets her production apart is the use of milk from a predominantly cattle herd of around sixty Friesian cows and their calves, together with the milk from a dozen Majorera goats. Macarena also organises tastings so that visitors can enjoy the experience of sampling her products.

Address: Lomo de Valerón, Agaete

Phone: (+34) 928 898 78

Gran Canaria’s artisanal cheeses are the best-kept secret of our gastronomy. Explore these routes, meet their master cheesemakers, and enjoy the most authentic and award-winning flavours of our island at every stop.