Exploring Latvia’s Cheeses: A Perfect Fit for the Malaysian Market

The “Premium European Products” campaign under the initiative program of “Information Provision and Promotion Measures on Agricultural Products in Canada, Malaysia and South Korea”, aims to elevate the global recognition of European agricultural excellence. Its core objectives are to increase awareness, enhance consumer recognition, drive consumption, and ultimately boost exports of premium European products to Malaysia, Canada, and South Korea.

The campaign showcases a wide array of top-tier goods from both Greece and Latvia. Among them, the first category features 11 PDO-certified products from Greece, including olive oils, table olives, dried grapes, saffron, hard cheeses, and mastic gum and gum oil. Latvia proudly presents a diverse range of authentic dairy products - cheese that resonate strongly with Malaysian tastes.

Latvian Cheese: Artisanal Quality for Modern Consumers

Latvia’s dairy sector is renowned for its commitment to quality and tradition, producing cheeses that blend time-honoured techniques with modern innovation. Among Latvia’s most prized exports are its exceptional dairy products, especially a variety of cheeses celebrated for their rich flavours, clean production, and traditional craftsmanship. Latvian cheeses are made using fresh, high-quality milk sourced from local dairy farms adhering to strict EU safety, animal welfare, and quality standards.

Latvian cheese-making sector creates a wide spectrum of offerings. These include:

- Semi-hard and hard cheeses with mild to robust flavour profiles

- Smoked cheeses with distinctive aromas, ideal for platters or melting

- Fresh soft cheeses perfect for spreads, salads, or fusion recipes

Free from artificial additives and preservatives, Latvian cheeses meet the growing demand in Malaysia for natural, nutritious, and clean-label products.

Malaysia’s Multicultural Palate Embraces Cheese in Fusion Cuisine

Malaysia's dairy market is experiencing rapid growth due to increased health consciousness, rising incomes, urbanization, and Western cultural influences. The Malaysian dairy food market has seen consistent expansion, driven by growing consumer understanding of the nutritional benefits of dairy products.

As a vibrant and multicultural nation, Malaysia is well-known for its rich culinary diversity that blends traditional flavours with global influences. In recent years, cheese has emerged as a beloved ingredient among Malaysians, finding its way into everything from local street food to modern fusion creations. Whether it’s cheese-topped nasi lemak, roti with melted mozzarella, or spicy sambal pasta with parmesan, Malaysians are increasingly incorporating dairy products into their everyday meals. This growing appetite reflects a broader trend where Western ingredients, especially cheese, are being creatively infused into traditional dishes, making them uniquely Malaysian while appealing to a younger, more adventurous generation of food lovers.

Eyeing the Malaysian obsession for all things cheese, the evolving Malaysian market is increasingly embracing premium imported dairy products that balance indulgence with health. The four categories highlighting Latvian products (dairy products, candied fruits, chocolates and confectionery, and salty snacks), especially Latvian cheeses, have significantly fit this landscape with their authentic taste and nutritional profile.

The versatility of Latvian dairy products allows them to complement diverse culinary applications, from traditional Western dishes to innovative Asian fusion cuisine. Moreover, Latvian dairy producers adhere to transparent and hygienic production practices, making them suitable for halal-sensitive consumers seeking safe and ethically produced European dairy.

Strengthening Ties Through Shared Taste

Malaysia is one of key countries to start venturing into the Southeast Asia market where premium quality and food safety of Latvian dairy products are the paramount to consumers. According to the Malaysians’ preference of dairy products on milk, cheese, butter and spreads as well as yogurt, The Latvian Dairy Committee is confident to bring Latvian excellence directly to Malaysian households and retailers, offering consumers a new standard in taste and trust. It would be a perfect opportunity for Malaysian consumers to explore high quality dairy products and cheeses while innovating into the diverse eating culture in Malaysia.

Promoting Safety, Quality, and Animal Welfare

The campaign emphasizes three core themes: product safety, superior quality, and animal welfare—especially pertinent to the dairy sector. All participating Latvian products are manufactured under the strictest EU regulations, ensuring all products meet the highest global standards.

For more information about the "Premium European Products" campaign, please visit  https://premiumeuropeanproducts.eu/ or email us to info@premiumeuropeanproducts.eu.

Pages dedicated to this program can be found on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, @premiumeuropeanproducts.

Notes to Editor

About National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece (ETHEAS)

Founded by Greece's leading cooperatives and established by Greek law, ETHEAS is the national coordinating body of Agricultural Cooperatives in Greece. With over 300 member cooperatives representing approximately 80% of Greece's total agricultural cooperative turnover, ETHEAS aims to foster rural and cooperative development, support and promote its members' activities domestically and internationally, provide expert opinions on cooperative movement agricultural production and sector development, supervise the dissemination and promotion of cooperative ideas, and serve and educate its members through studies, research projects, and assignments.

About Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC)

The Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC), established in 1995, represents Latvian dairy processing sector and aims to protect its interests. It consists of 17 members processing approximately 80% of industrially produced milk in Latvia.

Reference :

Nuts about Cheese - The Sun Malaysia (https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/nuts-about-cheese-NC11648371)

Malaysia's dairy consumption to rise 3% to 5% annually - Efeedlink (https://www.efeedlink.com/contents/06-10-2013/1aa4f1de-00da-477f-874c-35b5156b2ed8-f082.html)

Malaysia Dairy Food Market Outlook to 2027 - Research and Markets (https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5938731/malaysia-dairy-food-market-outlook

Malaysia Dairy Market and Analysis Report - Opportunities & Forecast 2025 to 2032 (https://www.gmiresearch.com/report/malaysia-dairy-market/)