Mexican Town Makes 1,611-Kilo Cheese Ball, Breaks Record

A small Mexican town just wound together 1,611 kilograms of string cheese into the largest cheese ball ever recorded, proving that community pride and dairy traditions make for delicious world records.

Eight cheese-producing companies in Pijijiapan, Chiapas spent nearly four hours on August 29 carefully winding fresh quesillo into an enormous ball. They built a special rotating metal structure to handle the weight as the cheese sphere grew bigger and bigger.

The town needed about 15,500 liters of fresh milk to create enough string cheese for their ambitious goal. Mayor Carlos Alberto Albores said the teams ran three practice sessions before attempting the official record.

Guinness World Records official Alfredo Arista verified the achievement and presented the town with their certificate. The massive cheese ball more than doubled the previous record of 636.2 kilos set by nearby Oaxaca cheesemakers in 2024.

This victory is especially sweet because Pijijiapan held the original record in 2023 with a 558-kilo cheese ball. When they lost the title to Oaxaca, the community of 18,000 decided to come back stronger and aim for more than 1,500 kilos.

The record attempt serves a bigger purpose than bragging rights. Municipal officials are working to protect Pijijiapan's cheesemaking identity by obtaining official geographical indication status for their quesillo through Mexico's Institute of Industrial Property.

The Ripple Effect

Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez sees the giant cheese ball as a gateway for visitors to discover everything Pijijiapan offers. The Pacific Coast town is already celebrated for exceptional dairy products, especially its famous doble crema fresh cheese.

"Behind this large ball of string cheese lies a lot of work, tradition and pride," Rodríguez said. The state Tourism Ministry praised how local cheese-producing families keep regional traditions alive through their craft and dedication.

The record brings international attention to a place where generations have perfected the art of turning fresh milk into beloved cheeses.

One massive cheese ball is introducing the world to a small town's big heart and even bigger talent.