Randy Chandler
Cheese is thought to have been invented over 7,000 years ago, although there is no conclusive evidence of where it was first made. According to ancient records, the first cheese was made by accident by an Arabian merchant who stored milk in a pouch made from a sheep's stomach. The rennet in the pouch, combined with the sun's heat, caused the milk to separate into curds and whey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Over 7,000 years ago |
| Origin | Likely the Middle East, possibly Europe, Central Asia, or the Sahara |
| Texture | Similar to rustic cottage cheese or present-day feta |
| Taste | Sour and salty |
| Production | Accidentally made by storing and transporting milk in ruminants' stomachs |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The first cheese was likely made accidentally by an Arabian merchant
- The earliest cheeses were similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or feta
- Cheese production began in the Middle East and spread to Europe
- The first cheese factory was built in 1815 in Switzerland
- The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking is found in excavated clay sieves over 7,000 years old
The first cheese was likely made accidentally by an Arabian merchant
It is unknown who made the first cheese, but according to an ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant. The merchant put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep's stomach as he set out on a day's journey across the desert. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to separate into curd and whey. That night, he found that the whey satisfied his thirst, and the cheese (curd) had a delightful flavour which satisfied his hunger.
The production of cheese predates recorded history, beginning well over 7,000 years ago. Humans likely developed cheese and other dairy foods by accident, as a result of storing and transporting milk in bladders made of ruminants' stomachs, as their inherent supply of rennet would encourage curdling. There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheese-making originated, but it could have been Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. 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, the latter with dried remains which chemical analysis suggests was cheese.
The earliest cheeses were sour and salty and similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or present-day feta. In Late Bronze Age Minoan-Mycenaean Crete, Linear B tablets recorded the inventorying of cheese, flocks and shepherds. Over time, as cheesemaking spread to areas with cooler climates, heavy salting wasn’t necessary, so the cheeses became softer and milder. Many of today’s well-known cheeses, including Camembert and Gouda, are said to have started in Europe during the Middle Ages.
The Stinky Story Behind Limburger Cheese
You may want to see also
The earliest cheeses were similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or feta
The production of cheese predates recorded history, beginning well over 7,000 years ago. According to ancient records, the making of cheese dates back more than 4,000 years. There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheese-making originated, but it was likely in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. 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.
Cheese Choices for Gyros: The Best Options
You may want to see also
Cheese production began in the Middle East and spread to Europe
The earliest cheeses were sour and salty and similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or present-day feta. As cheesemaking spread to areas with cooler climates, heavy salting wasn’t necessary, so the cheeses became softer and milder. Many of today’s well-known cheeses, including Camembert and Gouda, are said to have started in Europe during the Middle Ages. Over time, more types of cheese sprang up. For example, Parmesan, Swiss, and cheddar appeared within the past 500 years. The first cheese factory was built in 1815 in Switzerland, followed by scientific and industrial developments leading to mass production.
According to an ancient legend, cheese was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant who put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep's stomach as he set out on a day's journey across the desert. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to separate into curd and whey. That night, he found that the whey satisfied his thirst, and the cheese (curd) had a delightful flavour which satisfied his hunger.
Cheese and Pots: Selecting the Perfect Vessel
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The first cheese factory was built in 1815 in Switzerland
The first cheese was likely made by accident, possibly in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. According to an ancient legend, an Arabian merchant put milk into a pouch made from a sheep's stomach, and the rennet in the lining, combined with the sun's heat, caused the milk to separate into curds and whey.
The first cheese factory was built in Switzerland in 1815, ushering in the mass industrialisation of cheese. The introduction of industrial production standardised the types of cheeses, which were then rolled out on a global scale. However, large-scale production found real success in the United States, with the first cheese factory there being built in 1851 by Jesse Williams, a dairy farmer from Rome, New York.
Cheese is mentioned in ancient Greek mythology and evidence of cheese-making has been found on Egyptian tomb murals dating back over 4,000 years. 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.
The Cheesiest Question: What Makes a Ruben So Good?
You may want to see also
The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking is found in excavated clay sieves over 7,000 years old
The production of cheese predates recorded history, beginning well over 7,000 years ago. The earliest direct evidence for cheesemaking is found in excavated clay sieves (holed pottery) over seven thousand years old, for example in Kujawy, Poland, and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. The latter had dried remains which chemical analysis suggests was cheese.
There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheese-making originated, but it could have been Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. According to an ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant who put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep's stomach, as he set out on a day's journey across the desert. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to separate into curd and whey. That night he found that the whey satisfied his thirst, and the cheese (curd) had a delightful flavour which satisfied his hunger.
The earliest cheeses were sour and salty and similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or present-day feta. Over time, cheesemaking spread to areas with cooler climates, so heavy salting wasn’t necessary, and the cheeses became softer and milder. Many of today’s well-known cheeses, including Camembert and Gouda, are said to have started in Europe during the Middle Ages. By the time of Julius Caesar (46-44 BCE) there were hundreds of types of cheeses in the Roman Empire and beyond.
Cheese Secrets: Melting and Stretching Magic
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first kind of cheese was likely similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or present-day feta, and was sour and salty.
Cheese was likely made over 7,000 years ago, but there is no conclusive evidence of when it was first made.
Cheese was likely first made in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara.
Cheese was likely discovered by accident, as a result of storing and transporting milk in bladders made of ruminants' stomachs, as their inherent supply of rennet would encourage curdling.
Cheese production in the United States began in the 17th century, via English Puritan dairy farmers who brought their skills to the colonies.
