Chiapas town reclaims Guinness World Record for world’s biggest cheese ball

In the small town of Pijijiapan, Chiapas, cheesemakers have reclaimed the Guinness World Record for crafting the world's largest cheese ball. On August 29, the record was established at the city’s Campo Nuevo Milenio field. The colossal ball of quesillo weighed in at 1,611 kilos. Alfredo Arista, the official adjudicator of Guinness World Records, confirmed the new record and presented an award to Mayor Carlos Alberto Albores.

Eight cheese-producing companies collaborated on the project, working for nearly four hours to wind strings of cheese together. The endeavor required around 15,500 liters of fresh milk to produce the giant ball. Special rotating equipment with metal platforms helped in forming the ball as it grew. Pijijiapan, with a population of over 18,000, is renowned for its high-quality dairy products, particularly its fresh cheeses like the popular doble crema.

The Tourism Ministry praised the achievement, highlighting the town's tradition, talent, and the pride of its cheesemaking families. This record reclaiming effort was aimed at regaining the title lost to cheesemakers in Reyes Etla, who had set a 2024 record of 636.2 kilos. The town also seeks to protect the identity and tradition of its cheese production by obtaining a Geographical Indication declaration for "Quesillo de Pijijiapan, Chiapas."