The Rich History of Cheese

Cheese, one of the world’s oldest and most beloved foods, has a history almost

as long as civilization itself, dating back approximately 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.

It is believed to have originated shortly after the domestication of milk-producing animals

like sheep and goats in the Fertile Crescent region. The discovery of cheese was likely

accidental, when early humans stored milk in containers made from the stomachs of animals,

where natural enzymes called rennet caused the milk to curdle, separating into solid curds and

liquid whey. This earliest form of cheese was simple, similar in texture to modern-day cottage

cheese or feta. Archaeological finds, such as 7,500-year-old cheese strainers in Poland,