Grinning Gecko
HANDMADE ON THE DAY OF MILKING FROM CERTIFIED ORGANIC MILK
He kaimahi matou o ngā tīhi tino reka
We are makers of very delicious cheese.
Here at Grinning Gecko, we make all our cheese by hand in our factory in Whangārei, Northland, on the day of milking. Our fresh organic milk from a local farm is in our pasteuriser within an hour of milking, where it is then gently batch pasteurised and turned into one of our many products. Enjoy our delicious collection of award-winning New Zealand cheeses or find out more about us and our range.
Our Awards
Organic and sustainable, the better way
We are passionate about ensuring our products and processes are sustainable, as are our local organic farmers. They keep stock numbers low, they don’t send bobby calves to the works, they don’t use pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers and they don’t feed palm kernel. Being certified organic means that care is being taken to be responsible kaitiaki (guardians) of the land and waterways.
At the factory we re-use all our hot water, from heating the pasteuriser, for equipment cleaning, and we re-use, or as a last resort, recycle everything we can. Whey, which is a byproduct of making cheese, is collected by a local pig farmer as it is a nutritional feed source. We are always looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
A labour of love for passionate cheesemakers
We have a small team of talented, dedicated cheesemakers who show genuine care and respect to ensure every batch is deliciously unique and flavourful. We are passionate about every aspect of cheese making, which is a genuine labour of love for our entire team. All our cheeses are handmade on the day of milking and are cared for, cut, wrapped and labelled by hand and on site.
We’re not the only ones who think our cheese is world class.
Our commitment to artisan cheese making has been rewarded with dozens of national and international medals and awards, including our three times champion Brie, our champion washed rind Kau Piro and two of our cheesemakers winning Aspiring Cheesemaker Awards. From our very first year of production, we have been recognised at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, as well as successfully competing against 5000 entries from 30 countries on the international stage at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards.
Combining the best of tradition and innovation
Each batch of cheese is a unique reflection of the environmental conditions affecting the cows prior to milking. This includes subtle changes in flavour due to the type of pasture they are grazing on (all are grass-fed). The weather and the stage of lactation also influence the taste and quality of the final cheese so we have to adjust our processes to suit the unique composition of the milk, each and every day. While our cheese making pays tribute to European traditions, our wonderful climate and talented team ensures every cheese is an authentically Kiwi creation. Like a good wine, each batch of cheese has its own vintage.