
Mozzarella is a cheese with a rich history. It was first developed in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D. and was likely made using sheep's milk. However, the first mozzarella cheeses were made from buffalo milk, with the earliest reference to this cheese possibly dating back to the 12th Century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First developed | Southern Italy, as far back as the 1st Century A.D. |
| Earliest form | Made using sheep's milk |
| Earliest reference | 12th Century, documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua |
| Name origin | "Mozza", meaning "cut", was used until the 15th and 16th Centuries |
| First confirmed reference | 1570, in a cookbook by Bartolomo Scappi, the first celebrity chef |
| First made | When cheese curds accidentally fell into a pail of hot water |
Explore related products
$13.07 $16.95
What You'll Learn
- Mozzarella was first made in Southern Italy, possibly as far back as the 1st Century A.D
- The cheese was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water
- The first mozzarella was made from sheep's milk
- The first written reference to mozzarella is from the 12th Century
- The cheese was originally called 'mozza' and was renamed 'mozzarella' in the 16th Century

Mozzarella was first made in Southern Italy, possibly as far back as the 1st Century A.D
Mozzarella was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water. The cheese was originally made from buffalo milk. The earliest reference to this cheese may be from the 12th Century, documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in *Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua*. In this document, Alicandri writes that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with 'mozza'.
Up until the 15th and 16th centuries, the cheese we now call 'mozzarella' was called 'mozza', which means 'cut'. The word 'mozzarella' first appeared in a 1570 cookbook by Bartolomeo Scappi, chef to the Papal Court. Scappi was very specific about the fact that mozzarella was a type of cheese made only from buffalo milk.
Mozzarella did not leave the region of Southern Italy until the 20th Century when refrigeration technology had advanced enough to allow the cheese to be transported around the world.
The Mystery Behind Processed Cheese Ingredients
You may want to see also

The cheese was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water
It is believed that mozzarella was first made in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D. The cheese was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water. The earliest form of the cheese was most likely made using sheep's milk.
Mozzarella was first made in Italy near Naples from the rich milk of water buffalos. Because it was not made from pasteurised milk and there was little or no refrigeration, the cheese had a very short shelf-life and seldom left the southern region of Italy near Naples where it was made.
The first cheeses were made from buffalo milk. The earliest reference to this cheese may be from the 12th Century and is documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in *Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua*. Alicandri writes that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with mozza.
Up until the 15th and 16th centuries, the cheese we call "mozzarella" was called "mozza". Mozzarella is a diminutive form of mozza, which means "cut". The word mozzarella first appeared in a 1570 cookbook by Bartolomeo Scappi, chef to the Papal Court. He was very specific and referred to mozzarella as a type of cheese only made from buffalo milk.
The Grilled Cheese's Historical Origins: A Foodie's Curiosity
You may want to see also

The first mozzarella was made from sheep's milk
Mozzarella was first made in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D. The earliest form of the cheese was made using sheep's milk. It is said that mozzarella was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water.
Mozzarella was first made in Italy near Naples from the rich milk of water buffalos. However, the first cheeses were made from buffalo milk, and it was not until the 16th century that water buffalo farming expanded and a switch from sheep's milk to authentic mozzarella di bufala began. The word mozzarella first appeared in a 1570 cook book by Bartolomeo Scappi, chef to the Papal Court. He was very specific and referred to mozzarella as a type of cheese only made from buffalo milk.
The earliest reference to this cheese may be from the 12th Century and is documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in “Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua. He writes that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with mozza. There is also a story from the 3rd Century A.D. in which the monks of San Lorenzo di Capua were recorded handing out bread to locals with a cheese they called “mozza." Up until the 15th and 16th centuries, the cheese we call “mozzarella” was called “mozza”.
Mozzarella is a diminutive form of mozza, which means “cut." Because it was not made from pasteurized milk and because there was little or no refrigeration, the cheese had a very short shelf life and seldom left the southern region of Italy near Naples where it was made. It was not until the 20th Century when refrigeration technology had advanced enough to allow the cheese to be transported around the world.
The Evolution of Chuck E. Cheese: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The first written reference to mozzarella is from the 12th Century
Mozzarella was first developed in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D. The first written reference to mozzarella is from the 12th Century and is documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in *Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua*. Alicandri writes that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with 'mozza'. The word 'mozzarella' is a diminutive form of 'mozza', which means 'cut'.
Mozzarella was first made in Italy near Naples from the rich milk of water buffalos. Because it was not made from pasteurised milk and there was little or no refrigeration, the cheese had a very short shelf-life and seldom left the southern region of Italy near Naples where it was made. It was not until the 16th century that water buffalo farming expanded and a switch from sheep’s milk to authentic mozzarella di bufala began. The word 'mozzarella' first appeared in a 1570 cook book by Bartolomeo Scappi, chef to the Papal Court.
There is also a story from the 3rd Century A.D. in which the monks of San Lorenzo di Capua were recorded handing out bread to locals with a cheese they called 'mozza'.
Babybel Cheese: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Making
You may want to see also

The cheese was originally called 'mozza' and was renamed 'mozzarella' in the 16th Century
Mozzarella cheese was first made in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D. The cheese was originally made using sheep's milk, although it is now made from buffalo milk. The cheese was originally called 'mozza', which means 'cut'. It was renamed 'mozzarella' in the 16th Century, with the earliest confirmed reference to the name being in a 1570 cookbook written by celebrity chef Bartolomo Scappi.
Mozzarella was first made by accident when cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water. It was made near Naples and seldom left the region due to its short shelf life. It was not until the 20th Century, when refrigeration technology had advanced, that mozzarella was transported around the world.
Tofu Cheese: How is it Made?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mozzarella was first made in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D.
Mozzarella was originally made from sheep's milk, but by the 16th century, it was made from buffalo milk.
The earliest reference to mozzarella may be from the 12th Century, when historian Monsignor Alicandri documented that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with 'mozza'.
The word mozzarella first appeared in a 1570 cook book by Bartolomeo Scappi, chef to the Papal Court.
Mozzarella didn't leave Italy until the 20th Century, when refrigeration technology had advanced enough to allow the cheese to be transported around the world.

























