Patrick Oconnell
It turns out that cheese is not just influenced by factors like milk source, bacteria, and aging time but also by sound! A Swiss experiment called Cheese in Surround Sound – a culinary art experiment found that exposing cheese to different genres of music during the fermentation process can affect its taste. The experiment concluded that Emmental cheese exposed to hip-hop music for eight months tasted fruitier and better than cheese exposed to other genres or no music. Additionally, fresh cheese curds are known to squeak when you bite into them, earning them the nickname squeaky cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese exposed to music | Hip-hop music or low-frequency sounds |
| Mozart | |
| Led Zeppelin | |
| Effect on cheese | Stronger smell |
| Fruitier taste | |
| Milder taste | |
| Cheese | Emmental |
| Swiss | |
| Swiss cheese curds | |
| Cheddar | |
| Sound | Squeak |
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What You'll Learn
Cheese exposed to hip-hop music tastes better
A Swiss experiment, "Cheese in Surround Sound – a culinary art experiment", found that exposing cheese to hip-hop music resulted in a better taste than cheese exposed to other genres of music or no music. The experiment was conducted by students of the University of Arts Bern and veterinarian and cheesemaker Beate Wampfler. Eight wheels of Swiss Emmental cheese were exposed to different types of music or frequencies for 24 hours a day for eight months during the fermentation process. The cheese exposed to hip-hop music, specifically A Tribe Called Quest, was found to have a unique flavor profile, described as fruity and distinct from the other samples.
The results of the experiment suggest that sound waves, ultrasounds, or music can have physical effects on the formation of the taste of cheese. Michael Harenberg, director of the music program at Bern University of the Arts, initially skeptical of the project, discovered the field of sonochemistry, which explores the influence of sound waves on solid bodies. Wampfler and his collaborators plan to expose cheese to different types of hip-hop music to further investigate the effects of music on cheese maturation and explore the potential for marketing cheeses based on the music they were exposed to during aging.
The impact of music on the taste of cheese may be attributed to the influence of sound waves on the bacteria responsible for the formation of cheese's flavor. The enzymes produced by these bacteria play a crucial role in the cheese maturation process, and it is believed that external factors such as sound can influence their activity. This phenomenon, known as sonochemistry, highlights the potential for innovative techniques in the culinary arts and cheese-making.
While the Swiss experiment yielded intriguing results, further investigation is warranted to confirm and expand our understanding of the relationship between music and cheese maturation. Additional research can delve into the specific effects of different music genres, sound frequencies, and other variables that may influence the taste and aroma of cheese. By understanding the complex interplay between sound and flavor, cheesemakers and culinary enthusiasts alike can explore new avenues for creating unique and exquisite cheese experiences.
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Fresh cheese curds squeak like a mouse
Cheese curds are famous for their squeak, resembling a mouse's squeak. This sound is a result of the intact calcium and protein bonds in the cheese, which break down over time, causing the squeak to fade within a few days of production. Therefore, to enjoy the squeak, it is best to consume cheese curds within 3 to 5 days of making them. Freshness is key to the squeakiness of cheese curds, and their texture has been likened to stringless string cheese, with a slight springiness.
Cheese curds are available in various flavors, such as Old Bay, Tomato Basil, Bacon Smoked, Wood Fired Pizza, Cajun, and Garlic Dill. They can be enjoyed straight from the container or incorporated into recipes. For instance, they can be beer-battered and fried, added to salads, or used in poutine.
While cheese curds are particularly known for their squeak, other young, fresh cheeses can also produce this sound, including Finnish bread cheese, young mozzarella, and fresh Halloumi cheese. These cheeses are similar to cheese curds in that they are enjoyed fresh, preserving the calcium and protein bonds that create the squeak.
The squeakiness of cheese curds is not an indication of their quality. Even if they lose their squeak, cheese curds can still be delicious and enjoyed in various ways. In fact, the loss of squeak is a natural consequence of the aging process, as the cheese matures and the bonds between its components begin to break down.
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Swiss cheese exposed to different music genres
In a quirky experiment, Swiss scientists and cheesemakers played music to Swiss cheese as it aged to determine the effect of music on its taste. Nine 22-pound wheels of Emmental cheese were placed in individual wooden crates in a cheese cellar. Each cheese was exposed to an endless, 24-hour loop of one particular song or genre of music for six months using a mini-transducer, which directed the sound waves directly into the cheese wheels. One cheese 'listened' to Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, another heard the hip-hop track 'Jazz (We've Got)' by A Tribe Called Quest, while a third listened to Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'. There was also an ambient cheese that listened to Yello's 'Monolith', a techno cheese that heard Vril's 'UV', and a control cheese that aged in silence.
The results showed that the cheese exposed to music had a milder flavor compared to the non-musical cheese. The hip-hop cheese, in particular, stood out with a stronger aroma and a funkier, more distinct flavor. It was described as "remarkably fruity, both in smell and taste, and significantly different from the other samples." The Mozart cheese also had a milder taste compared to the cheese that listened to rock and techno music.
The experiment, titled "Cheese in Surround Sound – a culinary art experiment," was conducted by Swiss cheesemaker Beat Wampfler, who is also a veterinarian, and a team of researchers from the Bern University of Arts. Wampfler believed that sound waves and music could influence the taste of cheese, and he was proven right by the results of the experiment. The jury of culinary experts and food technologists who sampled the cheeses during blind taste tests agreed that there were noticeable differences in taste and texture between the cheeses exposed to different genres of music.
Wampfler and his collaborators plan to continue their research by exposing Swiss cheese to different types of hip-hop music to determine if it has similar effects on the flavor. They also want to explore the impact of other music genres, such as the blues, Balkan music, and rock music by artists like AC/DC. The potential for marketing cheeses based on the music they matured to is an intriguing prospect that Wampfler and his team intend to explore further.
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Emmental cheese exposed to music during fermentation
In a quirky experiment, Swiss scientists and a cheesemaker played music to Emmental cheese as it aged. The project, titled "Cheese in Surround Sound – a culinary art experiment", exposed eight wheels of Swiss Emmental cheese to different types of music or frequencies for 8 months, 24 hours a day, during the fermentation process. The cheese wheels were placed in wooden crates and a speaker was attached to the bottom of each one, where the sound waves pulsated through the cheese.
The experiment was conducted by students of the University of Arts Bern and veterinarian and cheesemaker Beate Wampfler. The music selections included hip-hop, rock, classical, and ambient genres, with specific songs such as A Tribe Called Quest's "Jazz (We've Got)", Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", Mozart's "The Magic Flute", and Yello's "Monolith". One cheese wheel was kept as a control and aged in silence, while others were exposed to high, medium, and low-frequency tones.
When it came time to taste the cheeses, a panel of scientists and culinary experts agreed that there were noticeable differences in taste and smell. The cheese exposed to hip-hop music, specifically A Tribe Called Quest, was described as having a stronger aroma and a unique, fruity flavor profile, distinct from the other samples. The hip-hop cheese was even ranked as the favorite by the tasters.
The findings suggest that the bacterial cultures in cheese, being alive, react to music and certain frequencies, influencing the chemical reactions that impact the cheese's taste and aroma. This experiment opens up intriguing possibilities for marketing cheeses based on the music they were exposed to during fermentation, catering to customers' musical preferences and taste profiles.
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Music and sound affect the taste and texture of cheese
Music and sound do indeed affect the taste and texture of cheese. A study conducted by Swiss cheesemaker Beat Wampfler and researchers from the Bern University of the Arts found that different genres of music affect the taste of cheese. In the study, nine 22-pound wheels of Emmental cheese were exposed to music 24 hours a day for six months during the maturation process. The cheeses were each exposed to a different genre of music, including classical, rock, techno, and hip-hop. The results showed that the cheese exposed to hip-hop music had a stronger and fruitier flavor, while the cheese exposed to classical music had a milder flavor.
The concept of sound affecting taste is known as "cross-modal correspondence." Research has shown that people from different parts of the world associate certain sounds with specific tastes. For example, higher-pitched sounds are associated with sweet and sour tastes, while lower-pitched and dissonant sounds are associated with bitterness. Sounds can also affect our perception of food texture. Studies have shown that reducing the loudness and pitch of biting sounds can make foods seem softer, while hearing pre-recorded sounds of crunchy foods can make other foods seem harder and drier.
The study by Wampfler and colleagues is not the first to explore the effects of music on cheese. In 2019, a team from the University of Arts Bern and veterinarian and cheesemaker Beate Wampfler conducted a similar experiment called "Cheese in Surround Sound – a culinary art experiment." They exposed eight wheels of Swiss Emmental cheese to different types of music or frequencies 24 hours a day for eight months during fermentation. The results showed that the cheese exposed to hip-hop music had a unique flavor profile that was distinct from the other samples.
While the idea of music-influenced cheese may seem far-fetched, it is based on the understanding that the environment plays a crucial role in the development of cheese. Factors such as location, temperature, and humidity are known to impact the taste, texture, and color of cheese. The studies on the effects of music on cheese add a new dimension to this understanding, suggesting that sound waves may also be a factor in the complex dance between milk and bacteria that results in the final product's taste and texture.
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Frequently asked questions
Fresh cheese curds are known to squeak when you bite into them. Some people even refer to curds as "squeaky cheese". The sound has been compared to "a tiny window washer squeegeeing your teeth" or "two balloons trying to neck".
According to a Swiss study, exposing cheese to music during the fermentation process can affect its flavour. In the study, Emmental cheese that was exposed to hip-hop music was found to have a fruitier taste than cheese exposed to other genres or no music.
The study found that hip-hop music produced the most unique flavour profile in the cheese, making it taste fruitier than the other samples.
The sound of cheese has been found to affect its metabolic processes, which in turn influences its texture, flavour, and taste. For example, cheese exposed to low-frequency sounds has a stronger smell and taste than cheese exposed to higher frequencies.
