About
Cheese was likely discovered accidentally around 10,000 years ago when early farmers stored milk in pouches made from animal stomachs — containing rennet, which causes milk to curdle. From this happy accident grew one of humanity's most diverse and complex food traditions. Over 2,000 named varieties of cheese exist worldwide.
France alone produces over 400 types of cheese, leading Charles de Gaulle to famously ask "How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 kinds of cheese?" Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano), made in the same region of northern Italy for 700 years, takes 14 months to age. Stilton, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola are aged with Penicillium molds — the same genus as the antibiotic penicillin.
# Top 10 Cheese facts
- 1Cheese may have been discovered accidentally when milk was stored in animal stomachs 10,000 years ago
- 2France produces over 400 varieties of cheese — Charles de Gaulle complained it made France ungovernable
- 3Blue cheeses like Roquefort are made with the same genus of mold (Penicillium) as the antibiotic penicillin
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Cheese may have been discovered accidentally when milk was stored in animal stomachs 10,000 years ago
- ◆France produces over 400 varieties of cheese — Charles de Gaulle complained it made France ungovernable
- ◆Blue cheeses like Roquefort are made with the same genus of mold (Penicillium) as the antibiotic penicillin
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