What do you gift the Swiss President? PM Modi chose 3 Indian cheeses
Switzerland is synonymous with cheese. So when Swiss President Guy Parmelin arrived in India for a three-day state visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an appropriately cheesy gift waiting for him, except, these weren't Swiss cheeses.
On Monday, October 5, PM Modi gifted Swiss President Parmelin three award-winning Indian cheeses: Gulmarg, Konark and Yeoor, during their meeting in New Delhi. The selection was presented as a showcase of India's growing cheesemaking tradition, while also nodding to Switzerland's own global reputation for cheese.
And these aren't your standard cheese-board varieties.
First up is Gulmarg, a French-style Brie. It is a heart-shaped, soft and creamy cheese made from pasteurised cow's milk, with a snowy-white rind and earthy, mushroom-like notes.
The cheese recently picked up a Super Gold award at the 2026 Mundial do Queijo do Brasil, an international competition for cheese and dairy products.
PM Modi's shoutout post when Eleftheria Gulmarg won big in Brazil:Cheese from India makes its mark globally India made an impressive debut at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, which is a vibrant international competition for cheese and dairy products. Four Indian products won medals, including 1 Super Gold, 2 Golds and 1 Silver. The Super Gold was won by Eleftheria Gulmarg (Brie Style), the Golds were won by Yak Churpi-Soft, Nordic Farm, Leh, Ladakh and Eleftheria Brunost (Whey Cheese) while the Silver was won by Eleftheria Kaali Miri (Belper Knolle Style). Congratulations to Mausam Narang and Thenlay Nurboo. Such successes strengthen India’s artisanal dairy sector on the world stage.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2026Konark
Then there is Konark, a French Tomme-style cheese with a rustic natural rind. It has a supple texture and earthy, savoury flavours, followed by a lemony finish.
It won Gold at the 2023 World Cheese Awards in Norway and a Silver in Switzerland in 2025.
The third cheese, Yeoor, perhaps makes the India-Switzerland connection most obvious.
It is a mountain-style cheese inspired by Swiss Gruyere and is aged for around eight to nine months. That ageing gives it nutty, sweet and herbaceous flavours.
Its rind is decorated with rose petals and fennel, giving the cheese an Indian touch while retaining an Alpine influence. It also melts well, making it suitable for dishes such as fondue and grilled preparations.
The cheese wasn't the only Indian craft on the gift list.
The prime minister also gifted President Parmelin a hand-carved Kashmiri walnut wood wall panel made from Himalayan walnut wood. The panel features traditional landscapes, flora, human figures, horses, carriages and scenes of village life, reflecting Kashmir's woodcarving traditions.
The Swiss president’s wife, Caroline Parmelin, received a Kutchi shawl placed in a Sadeli box. The shawl represents the weaving traditions of Kutch, while the Sadeli box from Surat is known for its intricate geometric patterns created by assembling and layering contrasting materials.PHOTO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gift to Spouse of President of Switzerland. Kutchi Shawl in Sadeli Box The Kutchi Shawl and Sadeli Box showcase Gujarat’s rich traditions of weaving and decorative craftsmanship. The Sadeli Box, from Surat, features intricate geometric patterns created by precisely assembling and layering contrasting materials, while the Kutchi Shawl is a vibrant handwoven textile from Kutch, distinguished by geometric motifs and supplementary-weft weaving. Together, they celebrate Gujarat’s artistic heritage and the skill and ingenuity of its artisans. (Source: Third Party)— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 5, 2026
The gifts came during President Parmelin's first state visit to India. He arrived in New Delhi on Monday and received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. PM Modi and Swiss President Parmelin also held talks focused on strengthening India-Switzerland ties, including trade, investment, mobility and critical technologies.- Ends
