Patrick Oconnell
Cheddar Jack cheese is a derivative of Monterey Jack cheese, which was first created in the 18th century by Spanish missionaries in California. The cheese was originally called Queso del Pais or queso blanco país, meaning country cheese. Over time, the cheese became known as Monterey Jack after a businessman named David Jack, who sold the cheese commercially. Today, Cheddar Jack is a mix of traditional Cheddar and Monterey Jack, combining the sharpness of Cheddar with the mild flavour and melting quality of Monterey Jack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Monterey Jack |
| Invented By | Spanish Franciscan missionaries, or possibly Domingo Pedrazzi of Carmel Valley |
| Commercialised By | David Jacks |
| Place of Origin | Monterey, California |
| Date of Origin | 18th century |
| Main Ingredients | Cow's milk |
| Flavour | Mild, slightly tangy, and sweet |
| Texture | Semi-hard or semi-soft |
| Melting Quality | Good |
| Tyramine Content | Low |
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What You'll Learn
The origins of Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack cheese, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a semi-hard or semi-soft cheese with a mild flavour and slight sweetness. It is made using cow's milk and originated in Monterey, on the Central Coast of California.
The exact origins of the cheese are debated. Some sources claim that it was brought to California from Spain (via Mexico) by Franciscan monks in the 18th century. Franciscan Father Junipero Serra founded the first California Catholic mission in present-day San Diego in 1769, and the second was founded in Monterey Bay the following year. The missionaries brought with them foods such as grapes, olives, and cattle, the latter providing meat, milk, and a soft, white cheese they called "queso blanco país" or country cheese. The cheese is said to be a descendant of the semi-soft Italian cheese that fed Caesar's armies.
However, others attribute the creation of the cheese to individuals such as Dona Juana Cota de Boronda, Domingo Pedrazzi of Carmel Valley, or David Jacks, a businessman and landowner who sold the cheese commercially. Jacks is said to have marked the cheese as "`Jacks' Cheese"` or "Jack's Cheese", and the name "Monterey Jack" is thought to have come from customers asking for the cheese made by "Monterey Jack".
In its earliest form, Monterey Jack was made by 18th-century Franciscan friars of Monterey, Alta California. Over time, the cheese became popular throughout California and was known as "Monterey Jack's cheese".
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How David Jack popularised the cheese
While there is some debate about who invented Monterey Jack cheese, David Jack is credited with popularising the cheese and giving it its name. Jack was a businessman and land speculator in California, who settled in Monterey in 1857. He is described as a ruthlessly corrupt landowner who, along with attorney Delos R. Ashley, acquired nearly all of Monterey's 30,000 acres of land in an auction in 1859 for a mere $1,000.02.
Jack began selling the cheese throughout Monterey with his name on it, calling it "Jack's Cheese". The cheese was originally brought to California by Spanish Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century. It was a soft, white cheese called "queso blanco país" or "country cheese". Jack recognised the marketability of the cheese and soon it became popular across California, with people asking for "Monterey Jack's cheese".
Over time, the name was shortened to "Monterey Jack", and it became one of the few cheeses created in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States officially sanctioned the name "Monterey Jack" in 1955. Today, Monterey Jack is a semi-hard, white cheese made using cow's milk, with a mild flavour and slight sweetness. It is often mixed with other cheeses to create derivatives such as Colby Jack and Cheddar Jack.
David Jack's role in popularising the cheese led to it bearing his name, despite the fact that he did not invent it. This has caused some controversy, with some sources claiming that Jack stole the cheese from the Franciscan missionaries who introduced it to California.
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The Franciscan monks who invented it
The origins of Cheddar Jack cheese can be traced back to the Franciscan monks of the 18th century. This variety of cheese, also known as "Monterey Jack", was introduced to California by Spanish missionaries. The monks brought with them not only their religion but also their culinary traditions, including the art of cheese-making. Thus, Monterey Jack, the base cheese for derivatives like Cheddar Jack, was born.
Monterey Jack, or simply "Jack", is a semi-hard or semi-soft cheese made from cow's milk with a mild, slightly sweet, and tangy flavour. Its origins lie in the Monterey region of California's Central Coast. The cheese is said to be a vestige of Spanish rule in the early 19th century, deriving from a monastic style of farmer's cheese practised by Franciscan monks. These monks, led by Spanish Franciscan Father Junipero Serra, founded the first California Catholic mission in present-day San Diego in 1769 and later established another mission in Monterey Bay in 1770.
The Franciscan monks' cheese-making traditions date back to Italy, where the Romans brought it to Majorca, and then to Spain. Eventually, it made its way to Mexico and finally to California. The monks' cheese was a soft, white variety known as "queso blanco país" or "queso del pais", meaning "country cheese". Over time, this cheese evolved into what we now know as Monterey Jack.
While the Franciscan monks are credited with bringing cheese-making to California, the commercialisation of Monterey Jack cheese is a different story. It involves individuals like David Jacks, a businessman who sold the cheese commercially, and Domingo Pedrazzi, who created a cheese using a housejack device, leading to the name "jack cheese". Despite these disputes, the contributions of the Franciscan monks in introducing cheese-making to California and laying the foundation for varieties like Cheddar Jack cannot be overlooked.
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How the name 'Jack' came to be
The name "Jack" in "Cheddar Jack" cheese is derived from Monterey Jack, which is a type of cheese that is often shortened to just "Jack".
There are several stories about how the name "Monterey Jack" came to be. One story attributes the name to David Jack, a businessman and land speculator in California. Jack is said to have sold the cheese commercially, marking it as "'Jack's Cheese' or "Jacks' Cheese". The cheese became so popular that people began asking for "Monterey Jack's cheese", and eventually, the name was shortened to "Monterey Jack".
Another story credits the invention of the cheese to Spanish Franciscan missionaries who brought it to California from Spain via Mexico. This cheese was originally called "queso blanco país" or "queso del pais", which translates to "country cheese".
There are also other individuals who have been claimed to have invented Monterey Jack cheese, such as Domingo Pedrazzi of Carmel Valley, who allegedly created a cheese that required the application of pressure using a device called a "housejack", hence the name "jack cheese".
Despite these various claims, it is worth noting that the official title of "Monterey Jack" was given by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States in 1955.
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Other varieties of Jack cheese
There are several varieties of Jack cheese, with the most common being Monterey Jack. This cheese, sometimes shortened to Jack, is a Californian white, semi-hard cheese made using cow's milk, with a mild flavour and slight sweetness. It is often used in Mexican-American food, shredded on top of dishes such as nachos, or melted on quesadillas, burritos, and grilled cheese sandwiches. It is also a popular choice for pizza and burgers.
Monterey Jack was first made by 18th-century Franciscan friars in Monterey, California, and was later sold commercially by California businessman David Jacks, who gave the cheese its name. However, there is some debate over who truly invented the cheese, with other potential creators including Domingo Pedrazzi, Dona Juana Cota de Boronda, and Andrew Molera.
Over time, several other varieties of Jack cheese have been created, including:
- Colby-Jack—a blend of orange Colby cheese and white Monterey Jack.
- Cheddar-Jack—a combination of yellow cheddar and Monterey Jack.
- Pepper Jack—a version of Monterey Jack flavoured with chilli peppers, bell peppers, and herbs. It has a spicy kick, yet remains buttery, making it a breakfast favourite.
- Dry Jack—a harder variety of Monterey Jack, aged for up to 24 months. It was created by accident in 1915 when a San Francisco wholesaler forgot about some wheels of fresh Jack, only to rediscover them later as they had aged into a product similar to classic hard cheeses like Parmesan.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheddar Jack cheese is a derivative of Monterey Jack cheese, which was invented by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century.
There is debate around who invented Monterey Jack cheese. Some sources claim it was invented by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century, while others attribute it to individuals such as David Jacks, Dona Juana Cota de Boronda, or Domingo Pedrazzi.
Cheddar Jack cheese is a mixture of Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses.
Monterey Jack is a semi-hard or semi-soft cheese made from cow's milk. It has a mild, slightly tangy flavor and a creamy texture.
Cheddar Jack is often used in cooking due to its sharp flavor and melting capabilities. It is a popular choice for dishes such as quesadillas, burritos, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pasta.
