Everybody’s Favourite Food, Cheese!

Considering how popular cheese is, no one really knows where it came from, or when! Some food historians think it may have originated in the Middle East, while others place it in Central Asia, or Eastern Europe. There is a consensus that the art of cheesemaking probably began around 8000 BCE when people first began to domesticate wild sheep. The theory holds that those ancient cheese makers were using inflated stomachs from the sheep they were slaughtering for food to store milk in. This caused a happy accident to take place, the stomach’s rennet, an enzyme used to digest grass, turned the milk into curds and whey, and so led to the discovery of the delicious cheese we so delight in today!

In these advanced modern times, we no longer need to store milk in sheep’s stomachs, that’s what we have the fridge for! Not only will you find milk in its cool recesses, you are also very likely to find cheese stored within, just waiting to be sliced and placed on bread or a cracker, or to be melted into macaroni or onto a pizza! A recent survey showed that over 15 million Australians regularly purchase cheese, and it is almost everybody’s favourite food! Cheese comes in an amazing variety of types, let’s take a look at just some of them now- don’t forget to bring crackers!

• Cheddar – Perhaps the most popular of all cheeses, this hard cow’s milk cheese takes its name from the town of Cheddar in England, where it was made for English kings in the late 12th century. It has a unique flavour that balances creaminess with sharpness, and is one of the best types for melting. In its basic form it is white in colour, the famed orange hue comes from added pigment derived from marigold, saffron, and carrot juice, which was thought to make it more attractive!
• Mozzarella – The name is derived from the Italian word for “cutting”, “mozzare” and refers to the cheesemaking process in which the curds are cut into little pieces and added to hot water which gives it that famed elastic texture. Originally it was made from the milk of the water buffalo, but now cow’s milk is used. Mozzarella has a mellow, milky flavour and is soft, but still a bit chewy, making it perfect for melting onto pizzas!
• Gouda – This famous Dutch cheese is traditionally made from cow’s milk. Its long maturing process gives it a firm texture, and changes its colour from ivory to a pale gold. Gouda’s strong taste and fragrance makes it a wonderful cheese for snacking with crackers, and it melts well for grilled cheese sandwiches, too.
• Brie – Once dubbed “The Queen of Cheeses”, this creamy cow’s milk cheese takes its name from the Brie region of France where, much like Cheddar in England, it was relished by kings and their courts! Its unusual piquant and nutty taste is unique and may take some getting used to, but once you have tried it you will be back for more!

Of course, we have barely dipped into the top of the cheese barrel, but we hope we have whetted your appetite! Pass the crackers!