Randy Chandler
Cheese is a beloved food product that has been enjoyed for thousands of years, with its origins dating back to prehistoric times. The exact time and place of its origin remain unknown, but evidence suggests that cheese was likely discovered accidentally by early humans storing milk in containers made from animal stomachs, taking advantage of the natural presence of rennet, an enzyme that causes milk to curdle and separate into curds and whey. This ancient practice, combined with the addition of salt for preservation, laid the foundation for what we now know as cheese. While the earliest evidence of cheesemaking is found in excavated clay sieves and pottery shards from over 7,000 years ago, the art of cheesemaking is also referenced in ancient Greek mythology and Egyptian tomb murals dating back over 4,000 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of origin | 8000 BCE |
| Place of origin | Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara |
| Earliest evidence | Excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) in Poland and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia |
| Date of earliest evidence | Over 7000 years old |
| Written evidence | Sumerian cuneiform texts of the Third Dynasty of Ur, dated to the early second millennium BCE |
| Visual evidence | Egyptian tomb murals made in approximately 2000 BCE |
| Ancient references | Homer's Odyssey (late 8th century BCE), Ancient Greek mythology, Pliny the Elder's writings |
| Common practice | By the Roman era |
| Process | Rennet coagulation, pressing of the curd, salting, and aging |
| Salt use | Less in Europe than in the Middle East due to cooler climate |
| Preservation | Hard salted cheese is the only form in which milk can be kept in a hot climate |
Explore related products
$8.8 $15.99
![Artisan Cheese Making at Home: Techniques & Recipes for Mastering World-Class Cheeses [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81eH1+cYeZL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
- The origins of cheese are unknown, but it is believed to be over 7,000 years old
- The practice is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep
- The earliest evidence of cheese-making was found in excavated clay sieves in Poland and Croatia
- Cheese-making was already considered an art form by the time of the early Roman Empire
- The discovery of cheese is credited to various legends, including an Arab trader who stored milk in a pouch made from a sheep's stomach
The origins of cheese are unknown, but it is believed to be over 7,000 years old
The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking is now being found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) over seven thousand years old, for example in Kujawy, Poland, and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Shards of holed pottery were also found in Urnfield pile-dwellings on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland and are hypothesized to be cheese strainers; they date back to roughly eight thousand years ago.
There are several theories about how cheese was first made. One theory suggests that it was discovered accidentally by storing milk in containers made from the stomachs of animals. Rennet, an enzyme found in the stomachs of ruminants, would cause the milk to coagulate, separating it into curds and whey. Another theory suggests that cheese was made by adding fruit juices to milk, which would curdle the milk using the acid in the fruit juice.
Cheese may also have been developed as a way to preserve milk, which was very perishable. By pressing and salting curdled milk, early humans could extend the shelf life of milk and make it more digestible, as traditionally made cheese contains much less lactose than fresh milk.
Cheese was certainly known in Europe by the time of Hellenic myth, and it was a sophisticated enterprise by the time of the Roman Empire. Pliny's Natural History (77 CE) describes the diversity of cheeses enjoyed by Romans of the early Empire, and Columella's De Re Rustica (c. 65 CE) details a cheese-making process involving rennet coagulation, pressing of the curd, salting, and aging.
Papa John's Real Cheese: Mozzarella Magic Explained
You may want to see also
The practice is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep
The exact time and place of the origin of cheese and cheesemaking are unknown. However, the practice is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep, which began 8,000-10,000 years ago.
Before the invention of refrigeration, animal skins and internal organs were used as storage vessels for various foods, including milk. These leak-proof containers were made from the bladders and stomachs of ruminants, which naturally contain rennet, an enzyme that causes milk to curdle and separate into curds and whey. Thus, it is likely that the process of cheese-making was discovered accidentally when milk was stored in these containers.
The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking comes from excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) that are over 7,000 years old, found in Poland and Croatia. Shards of holed pottery dating back approximately 8,000 years were also discovered in Switzerland. These shards are hypothesized to be cheese strainers. Additionally, traces of milk fats have been found on Neolithic pottery fragments from Europe, suggesting that cheese-making may have originated there up to 7,500 years ago.
The production of cheese may also have been influenced by the practice of salting curdled milk for preservation, as salt helps to draw moisture from the curd and firms its texture. Another possible explanation is the addition of fruit juices to milk, which would cause curdling due to the acid in the juice.
Cheese Fries and Gravy: A Match Made in Heaven
You may want to see also
The earliest evidence of cheese-making was found in excavated clay sieves in Poland and Croatia
The production of cheese predates recorded history, and it is believed that cheese-making began over 7,000 years ago. The earliest direct evidence of cheese-making has been found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) in Poland and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, which are over 7,000 years old.
In Kuyavia, Poland, traces of dairy fat in unglazed ceramic strainer fragments dating back 7,000 years provided the first unequivocal evidence that neolithic humans made cheese. The finding of abundant milk residues in pottery vessels from seventh-millennium sites in north-western Anatolia also provided early evidence of milk processing.
In addition to the excavated clay sieves found in Poland and Croatia, shards of holed pottery hypothesized to be cheese strainers have also been discovered in Switzerland and are believed to date back to around 8,000 years ago. These shards of holed pottery have also been found in Urnfield pile-dwellings on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland.
There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheese-making originated, but it is believed to have originated in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. The practice of cheese-making is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep, which began 8,000-10,000 years ago.
Chili Cheese Fries: A Delicious Combination of Ingredients
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cheese-making was already considered an art form by the time of the early Roman Empire
The exact time and place of the origin of cheese and cheesemaking are unknown. The practice is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep, which began 8,000-10,000 years ago. The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking is being found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) that are over 7,000 years old. These have been discovered in Kujawy, Poland, and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia.
By the time of the early Roman Empire, cheesemaking was already considered an art form. Pliny the Elder mentions in his writings that cheese became a sophisticated enterprise at the start of the ancient Rome era. Hundreds of varieties of cheese were being produced and traded across the Roman Empire and beyond. The Roman influence through documentation and trial and error also helped refine and improve cheesemaking techniques.
Columella's De Re Rustica (c. 65 CE) details a cheesemaking process involving rennet coagulation, pressing of the curd, salting, and aging. Pliny's Natural History (77 CE) devotes two chapters (XI, 96–97) to the diversity of cheeses enjoyed by Romans of the early Empire. He stated that the best cheeses came from the villages near Nîmes, but they did not keep long and had to be eaten fresh. Cheeses of the Alps and Apennines were also remarkable for their variety. A Ligurian cheese was noted for being made mostly from sheep's milk, and some cheeses produced nearby were stated to weigh as much as a thousand pounds each.
Cheese was likely discovered accidentally by the practice of storing milk in containers made from the stomachs of animals. Rennet, an enzyme found in the stomach of ruminant animals, would cause the milk to coagulate, separating it into curds and whey. Another possible explanation for the discovery of cheese is the practice of salting curdled milk for preservation. A third scenario involved the addition of fruit juices to milk, which would result in curdling the milk using the acid in the fruit juice.
Chick-fil-A's Cheese Sauce: What's the Secret Recipe?
You may want to see also
The discovery of cheese is credited to various legends, including an Arab trader who stored milk in a pouch made from a sheep's stomach
The origins of cheese and cheesemaking are unknown, but it is believed to have originated somewhere in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. The practice is believed to be closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep, which began 8,000-10,000 years ago.
The discovery of cheese is credited to various legends, one of which involves an Arab trader. According to this legend, the Arab trader stored milk in a pouch made from a sheep's stomach. The rennet, an enzyme found in the stomach, would have caused the milk to coagulate and separate into curds and whey. This process of accidental cheese-making is supported by the fact that animal skins and internal organs were already used as storage vessels for other foods.
Another legend credits Aristaeus, a figure from ancient Greek mythology, with the discovery of cheese. Additionally, Homer's Odyssey (late 8th century BC) describes the Cyclops producing and storing sheep's and goat's milk and cheese.
The earliest direct evidence of cheesemaking has been found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) in Poland and Croatia, dating back over 7,000 years. In Egypt, archaeological evidence for cheesemaking goes back about 5,000 years, and the earliest written evidence of cheese is in Sumerian cuneiform texts from the early second millennium BC.
By the time of the Roman Empire, cheesemaking had become a sophisticated enterprise, with a diverse range of cheeses enjoyed by the Romans. Cheesemaking was also practised in Europe, with evidence of its existence at the earliest level of Hellenic myth.
Co Jak Cheese: A Blend of Milk, Culture, and Time
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Cheese-making began around 7,000 to 7,500 years ago, but the exact time and place are unknown.
There is no conclusive evidence of how cheese was discovered, but it was likely accidental. One theory suggests that milk was stored in containers made from animal stomachs, which contain rennet, an enzyme that causes milk to curdle.
The earliest direct evidence of cheese-making has been found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) in Poland and Croatia, dating back over 7,000 years.
Yes, cheese-making was known in ancient times, with references to cheese found in ancient Greek mythology and Egyptian tomb murals dating back over 4,000 years.
The types of cheese made in prehistoric times are unknown, as most named cheeses were first recorded in the late Middle Ages, such as Cheddar in the 1500s and Parmesan in 1597.
