Draft:Mausam Narang
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'''Mausam Narang''' is an Indian artisanal cheesemaker and entrepreneur based in [[Mumbai]]. She is the founder of Eleftheria, a brand that produces European-style cheeses using local Indian ingredients. Narang has received international acclaim for her work, including multiple awards at the World Cheese Awards and the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil.{{Cite web |first=Heena |last=Khandelwal |date=2026-04-24 |title=HR job to cheesemaker with global glory, meet this Mumbai woman PM praised |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/hr-job-to-cheesemaker-global-glory-woman-pm-praised-10653651/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
==Early life and education==
Mausam Narang was raised in [[Mulund]], Mumbai. She pursued higher education in the [[United Kingdom]], where she studied [[human resource management]]. During her time in Europe, she lived in [[Germany]] and travelled extensively, which developed her interest in diverse cheese varieties, such as the German [[Butterkäse]] and English cloth-bound cheddar.
==Career==
===Corporate background (2005–2015)===
Prior to entering the food industry, Narang spent eight years working in human resources for French and German multinational conglomerates, including the IT firm [[Capgemini]]. In 2013, while still employed in the corporate sector, she began baking [[sourdough]] bread at home. Due to a lack of high-quality artisanal cheese in the local market to pair with her bread, she began experimenting with cheesemaking in her mother's kitchen on weekends.
By 2015, Narang decided to leave her corporate career to focus on cheesemaking. As there were no formal cheesemaking schools in India at the time, she taught herself the craft through extensive reading and trial and error.
===Eleftheria (2015–present)===
Narang founded Eleftheria in 2015, initially operating from a small rented space with a single assistant. Her production philosophy is centered on the idea that "cheese is milk's leap towards immortality," focusing on preserving local Maharashtrian milk without the use of artificial flavorings or preservatives.
In 2016, Narang began supplying boutique restaurants in Mumbai after receiving validation from prominent chefs such as Kelvin Cheung and Alex Sanchez. The company's operations eventually moved to a creamery in [[Bhandup]]. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Narang expanded the business into the direct-to-consumer (B2C) market by launching an online shop and offering specialized cheese boards.
By 2026, the company had grown to a team of 65 employees, supplying major hospitality groups such as the [[Taj Hotels|Taj]] and [[Oberoi Hotels & Resorts|Oberoi]] groups, as well as numerous high-end restaurants across Indian metropolitan areas.
==Awards and recognition==
Narang's products have been recognized at the World Cheese Awards annually since 2021. In 2026, at the fourth edition of the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil—a prestigious blind-tasting competition featuring nearly 2,700 entries—her cheeses won medals in three separate categories:
'''Super Gold''': Awarded to ''Gulmarg'', a French Brie-style cheese.
'''Gold''': Awarded to ''Brunost'', a Norwegian-style whey cheese featuring [[Devanagari]] script branding.
'''Silver''': Awarded to ''Kaali Miri'', an aged cheese seasoned with black pepper, garlic, and Himalayan pink salt.
Following these victories, Narang and her team received formal recognition and public commendation from the [[Prime Minister of India]] for their contributions to the artisanal craft in the country.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Early life and education==
Mausam Narang was raised in [[Mulund]], Mumbai. She pursued higher education in the [[United Kingdom]], where she studied [[human resource management]]. During her time in Europe, she lived in [[Germany]] and travelled extensively, which developed her interest in diverse cheese varieties, such as the German [[Butterkäse]] and English cloth-bound cheddar.
==Career==
===Corporate background (2005–2015)===
Prior to entering the food industry, Narang spent eight years working in human resources for French and German multinational conglomerates, including the IT firm [[Capgemini]]. In 2013, while still employed in the corporate sector, she began baking [[sourdough]] bread at home. Due to a lack of high-quality artisanal cheese in the local market to pair with her bread, she began experimenting with cheesemaking in her mother's kitchen on weekends.
By 2015, Narang decided to leave her corporate career to focus on cheesemaking. As there were no formal cheesemaking schools in India at the time, she taught herself the craft through extensive reading and trial and error.
===Eleftheria (2015–present)===
Narang founded Eleftheria in 2015, initially operating from a small rented space with a single assistant. Her production philosophy is centered on the idea that "cheese is milk's leap towards immortality," focusing on preserving local Maharashtrian milk without the use of artificial flavorings or preservatives.
In 2016, Narang began supplying boutique restaurants in Mumbai after receiving validation from prominent chefs such as Kelvin Cheung and Alex Sanchez. The company's operations eventually moved to a creamery in [[Bhandup]]. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Narang expanded the business into the direct-to-consumer (B2C) market by launching an online shop and offering specialized cheese boards.
By 2026, the company had grown to a team of 65 employees, supplying major hospitality groups such as the [[Taj Hotels|Taj]] and [[Oberoi Hotels & Resorts|Oberoi]] groups, as well as numerous high-end restaurants across Indian metropolitan areas.
==Awards and recognition==
Narang's products have been recognized at the World Cheese Awards annually since 2021. In 2026, at the fourth edition of the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil—a prestigious blind-tasting competition featuring nearly 2,700 entries—her cheeses won medals in three separate categories:
'''Super Gold''': Awarded to ''Gulmarg'', a French Brie-style cheese.
'''Gold''': Awarded to ''Brunost'', a Norwegian-style whey cheese featuring [[Devanagari]] script branding.
'''Silver''': Awarded to ''Kaali Miri'', an aged cheese seasoned with black pepper, garlic, and Himalayan pink salt.
Following these victories, Narang and her team received formal recognition and public commendation from the [[Prime Minister of India]] for their contributions to the artisanal craft in the country.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
