It is generally believed that cheese was first made in the Middle
East. Legend has it that a nomadic Arab accidentally made cheese when a saddlebag filled with milk fermented due to the hot sun and the galloping of his horse.Early cheeses were not the solid products known today. They were simple curds and whey. The curd is the solid part while the whey is liquid.
Workmen making cheese are depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics. In ancient times, the whey was eaten immediately while the curd was salted or dried for preservation.
The Roman Legion helped spread the art of cheesemaking throughout Europe and England. The monasteries and feudal estates of Europe made great improvements in cheesemaking during the Middle Ages.
Many of the classic varieties of cheese enjoyed today were developed by monks. During the Renaissance, cheese dropped in popularity because it was considered unhealthy. By the nineteenth century, sentiment had changed and cheese production moved from farm to factory. No one involved in the early history of cheese could have imagined that today people would buy cheese online.
While most cheeses are mass produced today, some artisanal cheeses are still made by hand using old-fashioned techniques.
Food History
