Mauro Garcia Monllor is a cheesemonger at La Despensa de Andrés, his family’s cheese and charcuterie shop in the Mercado de Abastos de Ibi in Alicante, Spain.

Cheese has been part of Mauro’s life from the beginning: his parents have run the shop throughout his childhood, and family holidays were often centred around visits to cheesemakers. He began working with cheese at the age of 16 and now has a decade of experience behind the counter, working with a selection of more than 200 artisan cheeses.

The family business has grown beyond the traditional cheese counter to include a dedicated tasting room, an online store and bespoke cheese displays for weddings. Mauro also advises distributors about the world of artisan cheese and is involved in the launch of an online academy for cheese professionals. Every Saturday, he leads cheese tastings for customers, combining his product knowledge with his passion for sharing the stories behind the cheeses.

Mauro has visited and made cheese at creameries across Spain, Italy, France and England, giving him an international perspective on artisan cheesemaking.

For Mauro, cheesemongering is about honouring the work, history and dedication behind every cheese and making those stories accessible to customers.

Career highlight: Competing at the Mondial du Fromage in France

Favourite aspect of the job: Sharing the work, history and dedication behind each cheese with customers

Most frequently asked question: “Can I eat the rind?”

Career aspiration: To spread the word about artisan cheese and help more people discover and enjoy it

Cheese hero: His father, Andrés, who taught him everything he knows about cheese