Bushra Griffith
Goat cheese has a long history, with the first documented proof of humans making cheese of any kind dating back 7,500 years to Poland. The first animal to be domesticated, goats have been used to make cheese for at least 5,000 years, with some found in Tutankhamun's tomb. The Romans were also fond of goat cheese, eating it raw or cooked with olive oil and white wine. In the 8th century AD, the Moors brought goats to the Loire Valley, where French goat cheeses were first made.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First made | 5,000 BC |
| First documented proof of any cheese | 7,500 years ago in Poland |
| Brought to the Loire Valley | 8th century AD |
| Mastered by the Romans | 77 BC |
| Used as currency | Middle Ages |
| Found in Tutankhamun's tomb | 3,000 years old |
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What You'll Learn
Goat cheese has been made for at least 7,000 years
Goat cheese was also enjoyed in ancient Rome, where it was eaten raw or cooked with olive oil and white wine. In the 8th century AD, the Moors brought goats to the Loire Valley, where French goat cheeses were first made. By the Middle Ages, goat cheese had become so popular that it was used as currency by pilgrims along the routes leading to Santiago de Compostela.
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The first documented proof of goat cheese was found in Poland
The first documented proof of goat cheese being made was found in Poland, dating back to 5,500 BC. This was a cheese similar to mozzarella produced in Neolithic times in Kujawy, north-central Poland.
Goats were first domesticated around 9,000 years ago in what is now Iran, and the first cheeses to be made were from their milk. Goat cheese has been made at least as far back as 5,000 BC, with evidence of it being found in ancient Egypt, including in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
The Romans were also fond of goat cheese, eating it raw or cooked with olive oil and white wine in the first century BC. By 77 BC, they had mastered the manufacturing process and were producing 13 varieties. In the Middle Ages, goat cheese was so popular that it was used as currency by pilgrims along the routes leading to Santiago de Compostela.
Goat cheese has long been considered peasant fare due to its ease of making. In the 8th century AD, the Moors brought goats to the Loire Valley, where French goat cheeses were first made. Today, India is the biggest goat cheese-making country by volume in the world, and pretty much all domesticated breeds of goat originate from the Middle East.
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Goat cheese was considered peasant food
Goat cheese has been made for at least 7,000 years, with the first documented proof of humans making cheese of any kind dating to 7,500 years ago in Poland. In ancient Egypt, only priests knew the formula for making goat cheese, and some was discovered in the tomb of an Egyptian dignitary, aged 3,000 years. The Romans were also fond of goat cheese, eating it raw or cooked with olive oil and white wine. In 77 BC, they had mastered the manufacturing of goat cheese to the point that they could produce 13 varieties.
Goat cheese has long been considered peasant fare because of the ease of making it. In the 8th century AD, the Moors brought goats to the Loire Valley, where French goat cheeses were first made. Farmers who used fresh goat's milk to make cheese have referred to it as chèvre for centuries, and the use of the word spread with the cheese's popularity. Today, goat's milk is used to make cheese across the globe, from small artisanal farms to mass production.
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The Romans were fond of goat cheese
Goat cheese has been made for at least 7,000 years, with the first documented proof of humans making cheese of any kind dating back 7,500 years to Poland. The first animal to be domesticated was the goat, around 9,000 years ago in what is now Iran, and the first cheeses to be made were from their milk. Goat cheese was found in Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt, dating back 5,000 years.
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Goat cheese was used as currency by pilgrims
Goat cheese has been made for at least 7,000 years, with the first documented proof of humans making cheese of any kind dating to 7,500 years ago in Poland. The first animal to be domesticated was the goat, about 9,000 years ago in what is now Iran, and the first cheeses to be made were from their milk. Goat cheese was found in Tutankhamun's tomb, and in the tomb of an Egyptian dignitary, aged 3,000 years. Goat cheese was also popular with the ancient Romans, who invented a press to perfect the draining technique. In the first century BC, they enjoyed it raw or cooked with olive oil and white wine. During the time of Pliny the Elder in 23 – 79 AD, little goat cheeses were made and sent to markets every morning as special treats for Roman shoppers.
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Frequently asked questions
Goat cheese has been made for at least 7,000 years, with the first documented proof of humans making cheese of any kind dating back 7,500 years to Poland.
Goat cheese was first made in Egypt, with some found in Tutankhamun's tomb.
In ancient Egypt, only priests knew the magic formula for making goat cheese.
Goat cheese is made from goat's milk, which has higher proportions of medium-chain fatty acids, such as caproic and caprylic, which contribute to the characteristic tart/"goat" flavour of the cheese.
