Cheese is a universal favorite – from cheddar to mozzarella, Roquefort to gouda, but how much do you know about how it was invented and its original iterations? Molly Brown, Director of Education at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s Cheese State University, says on day one every cheesemonger learns about, “how cheese was invented when an ancient shepard rode his camel across the desert.” Molly recently joined Cutting the Curd to discuss Cheese State University and the foundational story of cheesemaking.
A Desert Camel Ride Creates a Happy Accident
While scholars can’t definitively say where cheese originated, many believe its origins date to 8000 BCE when sheep were first domesticated. During that period, the organs of sheep were used as vessels to store food and water (or milk) and when a shepherd crossed the desert on his camel the fortuitous agitation of a bumpy ride, heat from the desert, and the naturally occurring rennet from the sheep stomach container caused his milk to turn into cheese.
Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome
While cheese was likely discovered over 10,000 years ago, it was the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans who refined the process. Murals depicting cheese have been discovered in tombs dating back to 2000 BCE, and in 2018 the world’s oldest cheese was discovered in an Egyptian tomb that dated back to 1200 BCE.
However, according to Ancient Greek mythology, the god Aristaeus created cheese, and the process is referenced in Homer’s Odyssey when Odysseus encounters the Cyclops’s cave. From there, a less epic reference to cheesemaking was documented in Columella’s De Re Rustica, a primary source of Roman agriculture from 65 CE, which details the rennet coagulation, pressing of the curd, salting, and aging used by ancient Cheesemongers.
Cheesemongers, Modern and Ancient
By understanding the history of cheese, you understand the connection between the past and present. Thanks to Cheese State University, you’re afforded the opportunity to learn not only about the technical nuances of producing, purchasing, identifying, and selling cheese, but also the ancient tradition you’re participating in.
To learn more about modern day cheese masters, check out Wisconsin Cheese. Cheese isn’t something they do, it’s who they are. Wisconsin is a state obsessed with making the world’s finest cheese, and has been making cheese since before it was even a state. In fact, Wisconsin has won more awards for cheese than any other state or country, and every Master Cheesemaker in America has called Wisconsin home. Visit WisconsinCheese.com to learn more about our commitment to producing the best cheese in the world.
Funded by Wisconsin’s dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin’s world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at WisconsinDairy.org