Cheese

Cheese is a dairy product made from milk curd. Cheese is most commonly made from cow's milk, but is also made from the milk of other mammals such as sheep, goats, and buffalo. Some cheeses, such as ricotta and cottage cheese, are fresh cheeses which are immediately ready to consume immediately after the curd is separated. However, it is more common for cheese to be aged and ripened before consumption.

History

There is no definitive answer as to when and where cheese originated. The popular legend is that it was discovered by an Arab nomad who had filled his saddlebags with milk before embarking on a trip across the desert. The nomad was shocked when he opened his bags later to find his milk had separated into liquid and semisolid parts. The saddlebag was made from an animal stomach and contained the coagulating enzyme rennin. The rennin, coupled with the heat and the motion of the horse, caused the curds to separate from the whey. While there is nothing to verify this story, it is plausible that cheese was discovered in a similar manner. Most likely it was first discovered in the Middle East and Central Asia prior to 6,000 BC. Cheesemaking was later enhanced in Rome and the knowledge was spread throughout Europe with their conquering legions. The process was further developed in the Middle Ages in monasteries, creating many of the varieties of cheese we still enjoy today.