by Danna Martínez
Some have reasons to love cheese. Others have reason to hate it. The reality is that cheese is a very famous product. This food is part of history and the meals of millions of people. Also, this article has some distinctive and exciting aspects and curious facts about the cheese.
The term cheese comes from the Latin casĕus. However, the Greek origin of this word is tyros. It is considered that the origin of cheese lies in ancient civilizations. Some believe that its making was an accident. The transport of milk, formerly in leather, and the different climatic temperatures are some aspects that support this theory.
Cheese is defined as a product obtained from the coagulation of milk. Cheese is made up of different characteristics. Of course, not all cheeses are the same. Many may be alike, but they all have a peculiarity that distinguishes them from the rest. Some of the exceptions that categorize cheeses are:
- Origin: Cheese is a product recognized and produced globally. Each cheese carries a representative touch of its place of origin depending on the cultures and particular tastes.
- Sensation: Cheese can be regulated between mild or strong taste and odor. Many producers notice the feel they want for their cheese. It can be sweet, salty, bitter, and even spicy.
- Presentation: The presentations of the cheese can differentiate in texture, color, and shape. The texture of cheese can be consistent and, at the same time, very soft. On the other hand, there are cheeses with altered colors. For example, it is considered that for the composition of blue cheese, cows ingest a substance called penicillium. This substance, present in mushrooms, produces a blue or gray-green color in the cheese.
- State: The cheese can vary between fresh or ripe, solid, semi-solid, or often liquid.
Here are six fun facts about cheese:
- People who have a great love for cheese are known as turophiles. The word turophile has its origin in the Greek tyros and Philos. The word tyros means cheese, while the word Philos implies love.
- Yes! there is “The country of a thousand cheeses.” France takes this title for being one of the most prominent producers in the world. Moreover, it is estimated that in France, there are approximately 400 varieties of cheese.
- According to the Guinness World Record, “The most expensive cheese sold at auction is € 20,500 ($ 22,787; £ 18,615).” The record was broken in Spain on August 25, 2019. The cheese was sold as a block of semi-hard blue cheese weighing 2 kg and a strong flavor.
- French Benoît Bruel set the record for “The greatest variety of cheese on a pizza.” According to the Guinness World Record, “it is 254, and it was achieved by Benoît Bruel (France) in Lyon, France, on February 22, 2020”. The official site added, “Benoît took this as a patriotic challenge as one of the things France is most for is its cheeses.”
- The most potent cheese in the world has a name. The Vieux Boulogne or Sablé du Boulonnais is recognized for being the cheese with the most powerful smell in the world. The cheese was made with raw milk and semi-hard pasta in the North of France. The aromatic touch in this cheese originates from its treatment during preparation. For some, the cheese was washed in beer and refined for a particular time.
- According to the TotFormatge website, “A team of German archaeologists and biochemists from the Max Plank Institute have confirmed the discovery of some 3,500-year-old cheese remains.” But how is this possible? according to the website, “It was common in various ancestral cultures to provide food at the funeral of loved ones because of the belief that the deceased might need it on their journey to the other world.” In this way, and for environmental reasons, the cheese was preserved.
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