Andy Montoya
Monterey Jack is a semi-hard, creamy cheese made from cow's milk. It originated in the Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California, in the 1700s. The cheese was first made by Spanish Franciscan friars, but it was an American entrepreneur named David Jack who started selling it commercially.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Monterey, California |
| Type of cheese | Semi-hard, creamy, mild-flavoured |
| Milk used | Cow's milk |
| Ageing time | Around one month for softer varieties, up to 24 months for harder varieties |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Monterey Jack is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk
- It originated in the Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California
- It was first made by 18th-century Franciscan friars
- It was later sold commercially by California land speculator and businessman David Jacks
- It is commonly used in Mexican and Spanish cuisine
Monterey Jack is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk
In its earliest form, Monterey Jack was made by 18th-century Franciscan friars of Monterey, Alta California. The priests brought along grapes, olives, and cattle, the latter of which became an important source of fresh milk for cheese-making.
David Jack, a California businessman, owned most of the land in Monterey and thus owned pretty much everything made on it. He produced a mild white cheese that came to be known as "Jack's Cheese" and eventually "Monterey Jack". The cheese became popular and was sold all over California.
Monterey Jack is commonly used in Mexican and Spanish cuisine because it has a mild flavour and melts well. It is also often marbled with Colby to produce Colby-Jack, or with yellow cheddar to produce cheddar-Jack. Other varieties include Pepper Jack, which is flavoured with chilli peppers and herbs, and Dry Jack, a harder cheese with a longer ageing time.
White Queso Cheese: What's the Secret Ingredient?
You may want to see also
It originated in the Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California
Monterey Jack cheese, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a Californian white, semi-hard cheese made using cow's milk. It has a mild flavour and slight sweetness. The cheese originated in the Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California, in the 18th century. The cheese is said to be a vestige of Spanish rule, deriving from a Franciscan monastic style of farmer's cheese. The priests brought along grapes, olives, and cattle, the latter of which became an important source of meat and fresh milk, which was used to make the cheese.
David Jack, a ruthless California businessman, owned most of the land in Monterey and therefore owned pretty much everything made on it. He produced a mild white cheese that came to be known eponymously as "Jacks' Cheese" and eventually "Monterey Jack". Other ranchers in the area also produced the cheese, including Andrew Molera, whose Monterey Jack was especially well regarded.
Monterey Jack is commonly used in Mexican and Spanish cuisine because it is mild in flavour and melts well. It is often used as an interior melting cheese for quesadillas, California-style burritos, and some Mexican-style burritos. It can also be used on cheeseburgers or for grilled cheese sandwiches, and it has a good melting quality for some pasta dishes.
Limburger Cheese: US Production and History
You may want to see also
It was first made by 18th-century Franciscan friars
Monterey Jack cheese, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a semi-hard, creamy, white cheese made using cow's milk. It was first made by 18th-century Franciscan friars in the Mexican monasteries of Monterey, California. The cheese is mild in flavour and melts well, making it popular in Mexican and Spanish cuisine.
The earliest forms of Monterey Jack were made by Spanish Franciscan friars in Alta California. The priests brought grapes, olives, and cattle with them, and the latter became an important source of meat and fresh milk, which was used to make cheese.
David Jack, a ruthless California businessman, owned most of the land in Monterey and therefore owned pretty much everything made on it. He sold the cheese commercially, and it became known as 'Jacks' Cheese' or 'Jack's Monterey', eventually acquiring the name Monterey Jack.
Other ranchers in the area also produced the cheese, including Andrew Molera, whose Monterey Jack was especially well regarded.
Humboldt Fog Cheese: A Taste of Northern California
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was later sold commercially by California land speculator and businessman David Jacks
Monterey Jack cheese, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a Californian white, semi-hard cheese made using cow's milk. Originating in Monterey, on the Central Coast of California, the cheese was first made by Spanish Franciscan friars in the 18th century. The earliest forms of the cheese were made using milk from cattle brought over by the priests, along with grapes and olives.
David Jack, a ruthless California businessman and land speculator, owned most of the land in Monterey and therefore owned pretty much everything made on it. He sold the cheese commercially, producing a mild white cheese that came to be known as "Jacks' Cheese" and eventually "Monterey Jack". The cheese became popular under the names "Monterey Jack's" or "Jack's Monterey". Other ranchers in the area also produced the cheese, including Andrew Molera, whose Monterey Jack was especially well-regarded.
Philly Cheese Steak: Sliced Beef, Melty Cheese, and More!
You may want to see also
It is commonly used in Mexican and Spanish cuisine
Monterey Jack, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a semi-hard cheese made using cow's milk, with a mild flavour and slight sweetness. It originated in Monterey, California, and was first made by Spanish Franciscan friars in the 18th century. It is commonly used in Mexican and Spanish cuisine because it is mild in flavour and melts really well. It is often used as an interior melting cheese for quesadillas, California-style burritos, and Mexican-style burritos ("bean and cheese"). It can also be used on cheeseburgers or for grilled cheese sandwiches, and its melting quality makes it suitable for some pasta dishes.
Monterey Jack is also used to make other varieties of cheese, such as Colby-Jack and cheddar-Jack. Pepper Jack is a version flavoured with chilli peppers and herbs, while Dry Jack is a harder cheese with a longer ageing time.
The cheese gets its name from David Jack, a California businessman who owned most of the land in Monterey and sold the cheese commercially. It is also known as "Jacks' Cheese" or "Jack's Monterey".
Bega Cheese: A Tasty Australian Treat
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Monterey Jack cheese is made in California.
The earliest forms of Monterey Jack cheese were made during the 18th century by Spanish Franciscan friars of Monterey, Alta California.
California land speculator and businessman David Jacks sold the cheese commercially.
Monterey Jack is made from cow's milk.
