Queensland's reign over the ice cream awards has come to an end with a chocolate gelato from New South Wales being named Australia's best.
The title was awarded to Gelato & Co from Murwillumbah at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show's Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbet Competition Awards presented by King Street at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday.
The Cioccolato Arancia, a chocolate gelato with a hint of orange, beat 151 other entrants to claim the King Street Grand Champion Ice Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show trophy.
Queensland producers have won the title four years in a row and chief judge Russell Smith admitted even he was expecting to see a fifth.
"I was surprised to see a New South Wales producer take out the win, as Queensland has some exceptional ice cream makers who have consistently entered excellent products," Mr Smith said.
"In saying that, the competition was very close with a dozen Queensland ice creams up there with the Cioccolato Arancia.
"The winning ice cream just had that wow factor and a beautiful balance of really big bold flavours."
Meanwhile, Victoria's Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese also saw their four-year winning streak come to an end, with the title of Australia's best cheese in the Cheese and Dairy Produce Show awarded to Tasmania's Lion Dairy and Drinks for their Heidi Farm Raclette.
Berrys Creek had been taking out the title with their blue cheeses, but this year their Riverine Blue which won a gold medal, was just outshone by the raclette, known as a melting cheese.
Mr Smith said the Heidi Farm Raclette was world-class.
"It had a range of flavours including fruity, savoury and nutty that lingered on the palate," he said.
"The Heidi Farm Raclette could win its class in any competition in the world and was one of the best wheels of that particular cheese the judges had tasted in several years."
A team of 19 judges tasted their way through 547 entries over four days last week, with entries up more than 20 per cent on last year and the highest they've been in three years.
Some of the award-winning cheeses and ice creams announced on Friday will be showcased at the Royal Queensland Show in August.
