Origins of Cheese

Cheese is sometimes described as 'a gift to us from Nature' because, in its simplest form (cottage cheese), it can be made more or less by accident!


Legendary beginnings

An old tale involves an Arabian traveller trekking across the desert carrying milk, in a pouch made from an animal's stomach, flung across his camel's flanks. The stomach enzymes and bacteria present, plus motion and heat from the camel, separated the milk into curds (solids resembling cottage cheese) and whey (liquid). The rest, as they say, is history.


Cheese conquers the palates of the 'known' world

Cheese has an ancient pedigree. It is mentioned in the bible, was a favourite of the Romans and was even used as a form of currency in some countries. Middle Eastern travellers took the art of cheese making to Europe and the Romans introduced it to Britain. During the Middle Ages, monks (the 'scientists' of the period) further developed the art. Once the age of exploration began cheese became known in every part of the globe.