The Best Cheese on Earth

Rudy won my heart. He deserved a video commemorating his work. (Also, to be clear, the web is from time in prison, not white nationalism - nobody is a saint but that doesn't make them demons)
Sorry for the upload delays, Kata and I are on the road again and it's hard to both film and edit at the same time. One more from the Azores, and it'll be huge. Probably our largest video of all time, even.
Hope you get a chance to try Sao Jorge cheese someday. It truly was magnificent.
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This video was made possible thanks to our incredible Patreon subscribers: &pointer, Aaron Jennings, adam lenk, AJ, Akasha Yi, Alan Camolinga, Alex boneck, Alex Papageorgiou, Alex Ross, Alex The Magical Cat, Alexander Lee, Alexander Reilly, Alf Einar Solberg, Alice LWatson, Allmightydregs, Almighty Bidoof, Amal Isaac, Ammobunny, Andrew, Andrew Beals, Andrew Larson, Anina Shaorandra, Anthony Ascencio, Aqeel Fassuhudeen, Arsalan N, Atsushi, Audrey Brown, Austin Cousineau, bajr, BattleGoat Studios, Ben Hewitson, Ben West, Benkei Paczek, Blacksun, BlobyTwo, Bob Dai, Bradley Brown, Brenna and Peter, Brian ONeel, Calvin McAnarney, Carl Bodnaruk, Catherine Berry, Chien Lu Anderman, Chris Ferguson, Christopher Perrin-Porzondek, Christopher Simpkins, Cody Belichesky, Cody Schneider, Cole Skelton, Colin Miskowitz, CollapsingHrungDisaster, Colton Creasey, Cullen McFater, Curtis Shimamoto, Dan Nottingham, Daniel Sierra Matus, Daniel Tyler, David Badilotti, David James McConnell, Douglas Danger Manley, duckin, Dustin Sysko, Dykam, Edward Sykes, Einar Holmedal, Elsilan, Emma, Eric Floehr, Eugene Pakhomov, Evan, f1r3w4rr10r, fadingnebula, fatsaxman, feo, Gabe S, Ggamefreak22, Gilberto Hart, Giulian Fava, Graeme, Gregory Kintz, Hollis Davis, Igor Stavchanskiy, J Neko, Jake Bryant, Jake Capoun, Jakob Mynster Blüdnikow, Jakob Ruder, Jan Langguth, Jan Vilhuber, jannes Dirks, Jason, Jean, Jeffery Konowal, Jeremy Impson, Jeremy Wheelis, Jesse Smith, Jessica Mayberry, Jesus Christ, joanne kokol, Joe Brown, John Cline, John Goff, Jonathan Gerry, Jonathan Lonowski, Joseph King, Josh Hoppes, Joshua Clarke, Juan Coronado, Julia, Julian Fiander, Julian Fong, Justin Thomson, JustRus, Kameron Stroud, Karol Pilat, Kenny Coulter, Kush Patel, Kyle Hofer, L W, Lane & Kate Seppala, larry82, Lars Hjort Christensen, Lars Sturm, Lexi, Liam Gilles, Lilith Berkana De' Anu, Lillian Mark, Lorentz, Louis Lenders, Lukas Jackowski, luketd, Mad Sumac, Marc Anderson, Martin Green, Matt, Matt Keller, Matthew Barrett, Matthew Roche, Max Poley, Melanie Sumner, Michael, Michael Abernathy, Michael Amesse, Michael S, Miguel Martínez Chapa, Mike Frysinger, Mondoria, Mrburgerdon, Ms Tek, Muncorn, MysticCobra, Nancy Reid, Nicholas Kraabel, NiordSir, NM, Noah Hawkes, Nuno Balbona Perez, Oliver Frommeier, Oliver 'Kannik' Bollmann, Ollie b, Omar A., Pablo D Lopez, Pablo Rodriguez, Patrick Holdsworth, Paul Estella, Paul Hui, Peter Bjorvand, Peter Gravelle, Petr Doležal, Pjotr Bekkering, Pranav Maddula, Ricardo Machado, Rich Saber, Robert Velten, Rocky Yip, Roger L. Basler de Roca, Roger Wu, Ron Warris, Ronen Finegold, Ryan Breaker, Sabolc Jut, Sam Collins, Samuel Reed, Saul, Scott Pressman, Scotty From Marketing, Sean Dennis, Sean McCool, Sergi Rincon, Shawn Wang Williams, Shikyo_The_Dragon, Shivan, SilliusSodus, Simen Thoresen, Simon Bohnen, smaz ruby, Space_Chickun, Sriram Govindarajan, Stephen Bourne, Steve Sick, Steve Williamson, Svein Ove Aas, Tedd, Theo Davis, Thomas, Thomas Paris, Thornton, Tim Barrett, Tim Dahl, Traxys, Ubikwitus, Varun Perumal, Vasserot, Viktor Lundell, Vitali Perchonok, wandering3ngineer, Wes Mills, Whitefang, Will Mullins, Wu Jim, Xellos, Zach Preston, Zaratan, Zoltán Ulrich, and ZZ. We love you guys!
Thanks for watching! You're clearly one of the good ones.

[@RareEarthSeries]

Feed the hand that bites: www.patreon.com/rareearth ko-fi.com/rareearth

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Earliest I’ve been on here.. usually 2-3 years late…

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Rudi…👍🏻

[@visibletoonlyyoutubeusers9574]

@@malcolmyoung7866 The "Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinasaurs" movie reference . "Rudy "!

[@EricK-ff2ff]

@rare earth when you post a video on a person like this. could you please add some basic contact info for the guy or a way to maybe purchase said cheese? like a link to a website or what store he sells it in. please and thank you :)

[@willyreeves319]

a thought for you: a series on various things in the ocean or maybe the sea floor. you've touched on at least one - the cod that used to be in the grand banks. plus the pirate treasure episode. anyway doing a series about interesting things in the seas as rare earth sounded cool and maybe no customs checks.

[@Wesyan1999]

Born too late to create a small Portuguese society of cheesemakers in a small island in the Atlantic Born too early to create a small Portuguese society of cheesemakers in a small moon of the solar system

[@Secretly_Tank_Dempsey907]

I am cheese

[@TagusMan]

My island. It's mine! Got some of that Queijo de São Jorge in my fridge right now. No cheese like it. What I didn't know until recently was that São Jorge was known as the islamd of wine long before it became the island of cheese. The vines were wiped out by disease and never made a comeback. Then the cheese took over. Happiest cows on Earth, the Azores. Even heard of a farmer who soothes his cows with the Beatles. And as a descendant of old Van der Haagen myself, I salute you with the family motto. .. Panem, Caseum et Vinum!

[@olchat2012]

Pan! Queso! Vino! Salud!!

[@_leivo]

and what do they do once the cows can't produce milk?

[@michaelvernon9459]

​@@_leivo what do you mean?

[@_leivo]

@@michaelvernon9459 'happiest cows on earth', they get their lives taken away once they can't deliver any more product.

[@Secretly_Tank_Dempsey907]

IM THE BEST CHEESE!

[@pnf197]

As a Torontonian I'm fortunate to live amongst tens of thousands of Azoreans that have settled here over the last 50 yrs or more. I'm familiar with Sao Jorge cheese -- it's a spicier, tangier, hard-cheese and I love it! So cool to see the heritage of the cheese in the men like Rudy.

[@fishsmell3939]

@@kittymaid420 have you seen western women lately? Most are fat cows.

[@fishsmell3939]

@@kittymaid420 hahahaha. Yo are you 12? Or just like slow in the head?

[@Invictus_Mithra]

Where can one find this cheese in Toronto?

[@joecollins1942]

why would Azorians randomly and upliving in Toronto? what is the historical 'connection?

[@jamescoulson7729]

@@joecollins1942 there’s weird things like that in Canada like how 1/3 ethnic Icelandic people live in Canada most are around lake Winnipeg. there is just weird small pockets of cultures that just randomly ended up here

[@freelancepear87kakkoka11]

"he wasn't socially conditioned to talk about himself." as an introvert i love this so much, it's such a nice way of looking at pretty much anyone who may be shy or otherwise quiet.

[@JesseFrancis]

So no more of that torture and public ruination of the ungregarious? We should respect you just as much as the clowns and other criers for attention? I mean ok that's fine. We should have thought of it a long time ago.

[@michaelcherry8952]

I think the world could do with a few more Rudys. Thank you for introducing us to this one (and his beautiful daughters, of course!)

[@RudyBleeker]

Thank you! "Ruud" is a more adult form of the name, but as a kid my parents called me Rudy. Mind you, I don't know how to make delicious cheese but I sure do appreciate it. Hopefully I can find some Sao Jorge cheese at the market next week.

[@mygetawayart]

The Azores are absolutely one of the most interesting and unique corners of Europe because they're literally on a world of their own and where they weren't blessed with lots of land, they made up for in quality of their products.

[@SturmZebra13]

Not only the products, but the architecture and the landscape and the flora and the people.

[@garygreen2146]

Here in New Zealand our country also has been built upon by the Dairy industry for generations now, though nowhere near as long as the Azores. I like this video, in New Zealand we would say you can taste the love , dedication and skill of the people who made it. I really like how you focus on Rudy, the dairy farmer ,the essential individual as the focus of the source of the best of humanity

[@alext.]

"The best thing this world ever produces is men like Rudy". A wonderful, wonderful video about something otherwise so obscure, I might never had heard of it. But thanks to you, I have. I'm gonna get me some of Rudy's cheese.

[@whyjnot420]

I truly respect it when people simply enjoy what they do and love to show it to people who are interested. Whatever else I think about a person, that always gets respect from me.

[@OmarLivesUnderSpace]

Love what you do, do what you love. Old as life itself, true nevertheless

[@whyjnot420]

@@OmarLivesUnderSpace This is why I do not use the word 'amateur' in a derogatory manner. As it comes to English via French from Latin _amator_ "lover", ultimately from _amare_ "to love". Someone who does something not for personal gain, other than the love of what they are doing, is what is meant by 'amateur'.

[@OmarLivesUnderSpace]

@@whyjnot420 Let me ask, if you actually were to use it in a derogatory manner, what word would you employ?

[@whyjnot420]

@@OmarLivesUnderSpace Perhaps "you are an insult to all you claim to love". Or just call them a hack or scum. If you are referring to the common use of amateur to mean something akin to 'lacks ability and/or skill'.

[@OmarLivesUnderSpace]

@@whyjnot420 Wow, that hits 🔥 Thanks!

[@RaichuKFM]

This was a really nice video. I'm glad you made and shared this, and I'm glad Rudy and all the others participated to let you tell it. Especially the cows.

[@scottmacs]

Blessed are the cheese makers.

[@lohphat]

You're being a very naughty boy!

[@MrDoggysmut]

I understood that reference!

[@CenarosNL]

As a cityboi, I worked and lived on multiple cow farms in the Netherlands. And learned to really respect the level of work that goes into our food. Including the people. This was really interesting to hear to me. Curious how the world works sometimes. Thank you ♥

[@byergo]

You have a real gift for making these videos. Thank you!

[@boycy69]

What the hell, I randomly bought my first Sao Jorge this week and happened to be eating some when I watched this! 😂 It *is* a damn nice cheese, very interesting and complex flavour. Great to learn more about its heritage

[@MrBigCookieCrumble]

"The best this world ever produces are men like Rudy" Amen! I love these kinds of videos where you get to see NORMAL people, you can see their struggles in the wrinkles on their face, makes my heart warm.

[@19karpatil90]

Cheers from Hungary Evan. I hope you'll have a great time here. This series about the Azores is something really special. Thank you as always for video :)

[@veronicahutchinson4580]

My dad's family is from Azores mostly Sao Miguel a few from Sao Jorge, they came to Ca in the late 1800s and had dairies :) I love these videos as they give me a visual on places I have read about.

[@NirrumTheMad]

Rudy has a full web tattoo on his elbow. I would not want to fight rudy, I don't think he'd go down

[@RareEarthSeries]

Rudy is a thick boy who did some time abroad before realizing what he had at home - the web being a reminder of that

[@mc101]

"The best thing a world like this can produce is a man like Rudy" AMEN!

[@BRBTechTalk]

Rare Earth credits are always entertaining, a story about the story. I love them ❤

[@kurtdunbar912]

Tomorrow my pilgrimage to find São Jorge cheese begins. Thanks for a another wonderful story.

[@gadguard]

You're a treasure. I love your little documentaries.

[@theFLCLguy]

There's only one problem with these videos, they aren't long enough. I demand more!

[@nazarenoperezpelicon947]

I now feel the strong urge to sit on a pub and share a pint with Rudy

[@EnergiaPV.RuiAzevedo]

Being for so long away from home, it was wonderful to watch some familiar faces! My mother works at the factory, my brother also works at the factory and my sister have a small herd of cows that produce fine milk to make one of the jewels that we produce in São Jorge. Proud of being Azorean! Thank you very much for creating such a beautiful content!

[@scpatl4now]

I love how attentively the cow seemed to be listening at the beginning

[@yikemoo]

Lol

[@gregorcutt1199]

Your very last line, "it produces men like Rudy." That's truly legendary. Thank you

[@righteousham]

So, I love cheese and every week purchase something I've never tried before and I think I'm going to try and find some of their cheese! Thank you for the recommendation!

[@spitfirered]

What A Wonderful Education Story Rare Earth, This Was Truly A Feel Good Video, God Bless You, Wendy

[@TomMaynard--TCM--]

Good golly, what a wonderful video! I just discovered your oeuvre and I'm hooked. Thank you so much! What a poetic tale....

Thank you so very much for this lovely and interesting video. I'll be sure to share it, it brought me joy

[@Geeksmithing]

Wow, great job with the audio in such winds!

[@Dev._.]

Great cinematography and great story 👍🏾

[@sunny_muffins]

I was waiting him to say something like "and the secret ingredient for the best cheese on earth is love" but I guess that would have been too cheesy.

[@selectionn]

well its probably true given rudy calls them his daughters I doubt there is someone as passionate making the normal cheese we all eat.

[@XxXenosxX]

Always happy to see a Rare Earth upload!

[@zetijeti]

It's good to see you're here in Hungary, I hope you like our 'sajt' too! I hope someday you'll cover this country too - so that I, and others can learn more about hungarian people

[@DrJamez]

What a great story. I'm loving these Azores videos

[@vilstef6988]

Evan, your skill at touching the heart, and finding the heart of a story is unsurpassed!

[@mike83ny]

If only all people were like Rudy - just looking forward each day to doing one thing and do it well, even if it means no riches and no glory.

[@TheRmbomo]

Such a wholesome video, loved to watch it 😌 Also remember to see the clip after the credits 😉

[@tinbatur5746]

wow... probably one of the top 5 videos to date of you Evan

[@pilotcirwin]

This one's right up my ally! Thanks Evan!

[@johnransom1146]

I knew a woman that ran a nice restaurant in Woodstock Ontario. She was from the Azores. So very friendly and great food. I miss the custard tarts immensely. Really good coffee too. I made homemade Camembert from the Amish jersey milk locally. Yes raw milk. On no. So much better than store bought. There’s a really good cheese shop in Kensington market in Toronto that I bet has this islands cheese.

[@austinking5420]

The vibe is unmatched 👌🏽

[@itsJaysPOV]

fantastic shots. love the quality and narrative. may I ask what equipment you use to shoot?

[@RareEarthSeries]

Francesco used his Red for this, but I honestly don't know our gear it always changes every season

[@BabakoSen]

"I am currently in Hungary, my ancestral home. They also have cheese; they call it shite." :D I love your little gems in the credits. I also have Hungarian ancestors. It breaks my heart to see what happened to the country after Orban took over. Especially since watching Cody's new Showdy on Hungary and all the depressing, scary parallels (and actual connections) to the US's far right wing.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

The “Orange Messiah” of the U.S. white working class takes some of his cues from Orban.

[@shaorandra]

I would love to try that cheese. On the island, surrounded by the cows, the weather and everything!

[@kevincurrie2052]

That was my first thought, but then again if we all there and bought the cheese the locals wouldn’t be able to afford it. I will take Evan’s word for it. It’s not like you get epic cheese from other places too.

[@throrthegreat6482]

I’m not sure what it is about this video, but I think its one of your best so far!

[@anthonycolbourne4206]

You also have to find the tea from Cha Gorreana or some of the liquers like the Anisette from A Mulher de Capote... some of my absolute favourites of any I've had, unfortunately I didn't get to sample the cheese but I will look out for it.

[@theethicsofliberty4642]

👍 ... São Jorge Island ... Cheese ... and a guy named Rudy ...

[@contrafax]

Thank you for introducing us to Rudy. I am not sure why but this important to me today.

[@AnthonyVandergugten]

Thank you for this personable video, and thank you for the end 'credits'.

[@WelfareChrist]

good advertising is really just good storytelling, and this is a great story.

[@toddpearson2823]

Love your view of things.

[@psychedellictoxin1195]

I am still loving every single video.

[@kkkk-wg6je]

I hope someone out there sees this and pays Rudy a lot of money for his amazing cheese. Rudy deserves it. Rudy has earned it.

[@justinahole336]

In spite of the odd coincidence of puns, I have fond memories of eating cheese, kolbasz, peppers, and bread for just about every meal when I was in Hungary for a summer when I was in university. Good time!

[@Salty_Sloops]

The Azores no longer need a statue - citizens like Rudy are solid enough.

[@_BangDroid_]

I might be the only person to notice this, but what you did with the audio at the end was very clean!

[@RareEarthSeries]

Thanks it was too windy

[@jamesawaokpanku5601]

The cow in the background in the documentary intro is the star of the documentary.

[@FreshEDMMusic]

Thank you for another great video.

[@rhondawest6838]

The cheese is great because the cows are freakin' adorable.

[@CanadianBear47]

Still coming out with bangers

[@nochepatada]

The island is so small even the cow's thinking "this guy's not from 'round here"

[@kareliask]

I agree that "terroir" factors with produce are largely bs. It's the quality of the ingredients (animal stock/sub-breeds, feed, welfare of the animals) and production methods (including maturation) that has the dominant effect, plus the local food culture that supports the producer's ability to make a product with no compromises. After all, you can make artisanal Swiss-style cheeses in many places around the world, that could win any category of a competition if produced well enough, and the best Swiss-type ones I've tried from England in particular don't suffer from a lack of altitude ;) The best ones still tend to come from Switzerland, because that's where the greatest culture of appreciation for that style resides. There are so many producers like the one in your video scattered around Europe (and I am sure other places, but cannot speak with confidence on that), people with access to these products are fortunate indeed. Martijn Doolaard's channel on KZbin reminded me of this. He's half-way up a mountain in the Italian alps, and a few videos of his have included small cameos of local cheeses made by people working in a rather hostile environment who have no option other than to make everything laboriously by hand using traditional methods, and it shows - it just takes the will to not cut corners. I doubt much of what they make travels beyond the province they operate in, they're just producing great quality food for a local population who appreciate it. It's a reminder of how all produce used to be made pre-industrialisation, and it's great that some of this tradition still survives.

[@Zaitor]

"...it simulated the landscapethat the Flemish colonists knew best" Well, Flanders and Netherlands aren't exactly made of hills, tho.

[@andrerenault]

I'm no expert in clickbait, but a thumbnail that said RARE CHEESE would've drawn me in quicker

[@foodstuff]

That was some smooth ADR at the end there!

[@killercaos123]

We need more people in the world like Rudy

[@markmower6507]

Serious question. I live in North Carolina and used to be able to get Oka cheese and I love it but for some reason I can't find it available anymore. Does anyone know why that is?

[@Epiceli169]

Rare earth video notification is always a nice thing

[@nitehawk86]

Before watching the video, I said out loud "Rochefort". And, he is descended from the Flemish, so I will believe that this is the best cheese on earth.

[@user-xz9dp7qo2b]

"Blessed be the cheesemakers" - Bryan 8:43

[@laksh_ayy]

The cow just vibin along is the real gem in this video.

[@Nono-hk3is]

"You can convince me what happens in these fields isn't unique, but you will never convince me that it's not special."

[@manas1743]

What a beautiful video

[@Seruvius]

beautifully said

[@c.d.silbernagel]

Rare Earth is one of the best channels on KZbin, thanks to videos like this. Thank you so much.

[@dreamendles4828]

No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away

[@aregularperson7573]

As a Wisconsinite when someone says cheese I click the video

[@BrorealeK]

Boy I sure hope the algorithm sees all the ENGAGEMENT this CONTENT produces!

[@timothygreer188]

Picking up some Quejo São Jorge DOP tomorrow. I hope it's from the creamery Rudy supplies to

[@tammystratford7079]

My favourite episode. I live in Cambridge, Ontario. We have the highest Portuguese population in Canada. I love the food, the culture. That cheese is, indeed, special.

[@TheRealDoctorBonkus]

What I expected when I clicked a video from RareEarth about cheese: “this cheese is made from the tears of the 20.000 children that were abducted and enslaved during the Nguciesa de toro-crisis” What I got: a cute story about a Dutch speaking immigrant who squeezed utters

[@A3Kr0n]

Best cheese on Earth? Wisconsin fried cheese curds. Your move.

[@biomorphic]

The cow is like: what the fuck is saying the guy, it's all because of me!

[@cbrasil2010]

Beautiful 'cheese monologue'!

[@grizzlyaddams3606]

Wow. These guys are my distant relatives!

[@Kalas82]

great video thanks

[@seero]

you sir, are a great storyteller! would love to hear what you can come up with in Transylvania

[@RareEarthSeries]

I ended up not going to Transylvania as it was too much of a logistical pain with other family obligations - eventually!

[@plokiju8876]

The cow in the beginning makes this video.😂😂😂

[@Rosenritter_]

Cheese

[@RareEarthSeries]

Cheese

[@akzai8661]

Cheese

[@thegeopard2313]

Cheese

[@scpatl4now]

Hard cheese or soft cheese? 🐮🐮🐮

[@scpatl4now]

@Bohemian Rap City Hard cheese it is!

[@MrLuisf80]

As a Portuguese I´m very happy you took so much interest in the Azores. But making claims that this is the best cheese might put you on the kill list of some french or italian mafia XD

[@ravenfeeder1892]

This is top form Rare Earth.

[@Cobbido]

"he squeezes out more than just a living, he squeezes out a life" what? really bro?

[@Stoner075C]

Always impressive.

[@sprocketgear]

love this story, and the cows are so cute

[@rreplogle]

Great job in getting those cows to be so attentive

[@kerekesbalint2978]

Are you filming in Hungary too or just passing by?