Sao Jorge Travel Guide

Sao Jorge © Azores Tourism/Via Oceanica

Overview: Say 'cheese' when on holiday in Sao Jorge, the resort island surrounded by sheer, black cliffs, because this is the centre of the Azores' dairy industry. The lush green grass of the island's fields plumps up the grazing cows, who in turn produce rich milk that is turned into creamy, straw-coloured wheels of cheese, weighing about 22 pounds (10kg). The cheeses are cured for several months in temperature-controlled rooms, acquiring a honey-coloured rind and piquant flavour. Not only is Sao Jorge renowned for its cheeses, but the island also has exclusive rights to the delicious fleshy cockles that are caught in the waters of its lake called Caldeira de Santo Cristo.