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Every time a venture from the bounds of Pondicherry or crafted in the locale crosses my path, I look at it with the love of a local. I may not have been born in Pondicherry, but I would like to claim that I am someone who was built by the seaside town and the many doors it opened for me. From fashion to food, the possibilities for exploration are endless in this small town. Living in Pondicherry is where I discovered what clothes I feel most at home in, and it is also where I discovered meals that truly knocked my socks off.
Owing to the cosmopolitan population of the locale, there is no dearth of continental restaurants in Pondicherry. But what was even more interesting to me was discovering the truly unique food-related ventures that existed here - from chefs and farmers to chocolatiers and cheesemakers and everything in between. In India where the predominant form of cheese was always Paneer and nothing beyond, Le Pondicherry Cheese is one of the game-changers along with the likes of Casarro Creamery from Kerala or Nari&Kage from Bangalore in the world of Artisanal Cheese from India.
The brand was founded by Parshva Kapadia in 2022, after being a dedicated cheesemaker for almost seven years of experience. In the two years since its inception, Le Pondicherry Cheese has made a significant impact both locally and on the international stage. His dedicated pursuit of quality, and perfecting the cheese palette for Indian consumers underscores the varying aspects of Le Pondicherry Cheese. The brand prides itself on producing wholesome, natural cheese that is made from 100% unadulterated milk, using cultures from globally recognized and certified sources.
While the prolific usage of Le Pondicherry Cheese by the expert chefs of Pondicherry and Auroville and even the rest of the nation is a marker of its quality, the Awards also add a layer of qualitative credibility to it. The brand garnered International acclaim for some of its products; In 2023, their Baby Swiss and Pondy Orange cheeses won Gold and Silver at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in Stafford, UK. In late July 2024, the brand further solidified its reputation, with its Grana Chéry cheese snagging silver for best low-fat cheese and best cheese made by a novice cheesemaker. The brand’s Baby Swiss and Daddy Swiss also won silver and bronze, showcasing the brand’s consistent excellence.
The brand’s range includes many flavours and variants of Dairy products that include Baby Swiss, Pondy Orange, Mozzarella, Bocconcini, Feta, Buratta, Ricotta, Halloumi, Paneer, and even high-quality butter offering a variety of flavours and textures to suit different people. Featuring both fresh and aged Cheese, they cater to a wide range of customers with varied palates and preferences.
But when talking about the Award-winners, The Baby Swiss, according to their social media is a “sweet, nutty flavour, is perfect for salads and omelettes,” while the Pondy Orange, which the brand considers to be their signature flavour is a cheddar-style cheese, that is delectable and especially shines through in grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese. The brand in the past has even delved further into its process and talked about how Pondicherry, as a region profoundly influences the flavour of their cheeses. According to them, “the coastal breeze and salty sea air are said to infuse the cheese with a unique character. The Pondy Orange, aged for 5-6 months, exemplifies this with its creamy, flavorful profile and a hint of sharpness from the local environment.”
From its slow beginning to becoming a prominent name among those in the know of the Indian cheese world - Le Pondicherry Cheese is a product of Parshva Kapadia’s dedication and unwavering commitment to Cheesemaking. The brand has recently expanded its facilities with better equipment and increased production capacity, with its eyes set on continuing to push the bounds as an Indian Artisanal cheese brand of great quality, that is still affordable and accessible.
Follow Le Pondicherry Cheese here.
