Different people have different ideas of what to prepare for a feast. Some may have a smoky, savory and spiced whole chicken coupled with a smooth **** on the side. Others may opt for the classic sweetness of cakes, tarts, pies and salads. No matter what else is served, a feast is never complete without the creamy and thick taste of cheese.
There are several kinds of cheese available and they can be classified in many ways. These factors are the age, the fat content, dairy content, texture, manufacturing methods, source country, and other special characteristics.
Cheese is made from the milk of mammals such as goats, sheep, and cows. The formation of cheese starts first with the process of acidification using bacterial culture. An enzyme called rennet is then used for the coagulation of milk, which then becomes curds and whey. The flavor and texture of the resulting cheese depends on the precision of the processing and the bacteria used.
Though cheese has become a common food and ingredient at home and in restaurants, there remain some little-known facts about this ancient food. Here are the top ten things you may not know about cheese.
Top 10: The Stretchy Mozzarella
Mozzarella
Mozzarella Cheese
Do you know why the consumption of mozzarella cheese has increased over the years?
Fact: The per capita consumption of mozzarella cheese has greatly increased by around 160%, from more than three pounds back in 1980 to about eight pounds in 1995. Today, because of the worldwide popularity of Italian dishes and pizza, mozzarella surely can stretch itself further.
Fresh and hot mozzarella is what makes pizza exciting to eat. This type of cheese has become well-loved and popular around the world. The term actually comes from the Italian verb mozzare, meaning “to cut”. Italian fresh cheese is created using spinning and cutting.
Mozzarella can be made from different types of milk. Some are mozzarella di latte di bufala, which is made from the unpasteurized milk of a water buffalo; mozzarella di bufala campana, made from the milk of a Campania’s buffalo; mozzarella fior di latte, from either fresh or unpasteurized milk of cows; and mozzarella cheeses made from mixtures as well those kept with preservatives.
Top 9: The Ripening Cheese
Did you know that cheese continues to ripen with time?
Fact: No matter how you store cheese, it will continue to ripen. Harder types of cheeses can keep for several months, while softer ones can keep for 1-3 weeks if you store them in air-tight containers.
Cheese
Different sizes of cheese
In the process of cheese ripening, the curd is matured or ripened at different temperatures until the flavor and the texture you want are achieved. The ripening agents such as the enzyme rennet, yeasts, bacteria, lactic culture, and lipases cause the change or destruction in the content of lactose, fat and proteins.
The biochemical composition and microbiological content of the curd plus the temperature and humidity are the factors that affect the resulting type of cheese. You need to wait for weeks or years on the final stage.
Top 8: Tax-Saving Swiss Cheese
Swiss Cheese
Cubes of Swiss Cheese
Do you know that Swiss cheeses comes in 200-pound wheels?
Fact: The tradition in Sweden of producing the cheese in 200-pound wheels actually started during the Middle Ages. At that time, the Swiss government based taxes on the number of cheese instead of total weight!
During 300 AD, cheese trading was developing in the Mediterranean area. Romans spread this practice around Europe. However, when the empire fell, there was little progress in chese making. It was then during the Middle Ages that the practice of making cheese was revived by European monks. The ripening and aging techniques were further improved and milder-tasting cheeses were created.
Top 7: The Rolling Edam Balls
Do you know why Edam balls are shaped as such?
Fact: Edam balls are round in shape so that cheese makers could easily roll them down gang planks into ships for export.
Edam
Queso De Bola
Edam cheese was the most important cheese in the Netherlands during the 17th century. It is called "queso de bola" in Spanish, which literally means “ball cheese”. With its name derived from the town Of Edam in North Holland, the cheese today appears as a sphere with a red outer coat made of paraffin and a pale yellow interior.
It has a mild taste and with almost no smell. Compared to other cheeses, Edam is also lower in fat. You can have it with crackers and bread and some **** to complement it. This is typical ********* food in Latin American and Filipino societies.
Top 6: The 10:1 Milk-Cheese Composition
Milk
A pitcher and glass of milk
Do you know how much milk it takes to produce cheese?
Fact: You need ten pounds of milk in order to produce one pound of cheese.
Milk is the main ingredient used in cheese making. The milk of several kinds of mammals can be used. The common sources are goats, cows, and sheep. However, for some varieties of cheese like mozzarella, buffalo’s milk is used. Other sources of milk for various cheese varieties are yak, deer, horses, camel, and llamas.
Top 5: The Cottage Cheese
cottage cheese
A tub of cottage cheese
Did you know that the curds and whey mentioned in Little Miss Muffet’s poem were early forms of cottage cheese?
Fact: In the nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet was sitting on a tuffet while eating her curds and whey. A spider then came along, sat beside her and scared her away. The “curds and whey” here pertain to cottage cheese or a kind of dessert with sugar, rennet and milk.
Cottage cheese is composed of cow’s milk cheese packed loosely. Its taste is a bit bland. Distinguished by the whey left with the cheese curds, this type of cheese is highly perishable.
Today, it is one of the favorite diet foods of weight watchers, as it is low in fat and high in calcium as well as protein.
Top 4: The British Cheddar
Did you know that the Cheddar cheese originated from British people?
Fact: Cheddar cheese is named after a village near Cheddar Gorge in England. Since the 17th century, cheddar has been produced in England and is America’s top favorite cheese today.
British Cheddar
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheeses are made by stacking curds on top of each other. This is done repeatedly to the curd slabs. Through this, you can control the loss of whey. These slabs must be milled into small pieces in order to take out more whey.
One example of an English classic cheddar is Montgomery’s Cheddar, produced on a farm located in Somerset.
Top 3: The Wisconsin Legacy
Blocks
Blocks of cheese
Did you know that the state of Winconsin is the largest cheese-producing state in America?
Fact: The state of Wisconsin is called America’s Dairyland. It produces more than 300 kinds, varieties, and styles of cheeses. Their cheeses have brought home several cheese recognition awards. This is no surprise because of more than 150-years of cheese making practice.
Back in 1859, the state was able to manufacture 400,000 pounds of cheese; today, it makes 2.1 billion pounds of cheese every year.
Top 2: The Cheesier Choice
Burger
Yummy cheeseburger
Did you know that cheese consumption has continuously risen and nearly tripled between 1970 and 2003?
Fact: In the United States, the average cheese consumption in 1970 was 11 pounds per person. Then, in 2003, this number increased to 21 pounds. Americans are big cheese-eaters, just like Europeans. In the United Kingdom, the average consumption is 31 grams per person a day. European breakfasts usually contain cheese.
If you like to add that creamy rich flavor to your soups, sandwiches, salads, vegetables and pastas, grab your favorite cheese now and give your palate a treat. As more people eat out and order from restaurants and fast foods, cheese becomes more in demand and used in the food manufacturing industry.
Top 1: The Tooth’s Cheesy Friend
Teeth
Nice teeth
Did you know that cheese can be your tooth protector as it can give minerals to your tooth enamel?
Fact: Cheese is a great source of calcium, which can help build strong teeth and bones. After you eat sugary snacks, you can prevent tooth decay and remineralize your tooth enamel by eating a piece of cheese.
Some of your cheese choices to prevent cavities include American, Monterey Jac, Bleu, Cheddar and Swiss cheese. When you eat cheese, the production of saliva is increased, which then aids in clearing the food particles left on teeth surfaces or spaces in between. Also, the proteins contained in cheeses can neutralize the acids and provide new minerals to your tooth enamel.
To maximize this cheese benefit, consume some immediately after having your meal or in between your snacks.
This reason is perhaps why photographers usually ask you to say “cheese” when smiling.
Cheese is today’s tiny wonder foods. You can enjoy it with all sorts of foods like fries, pastas and meats. With these top unknown stories on cheese, you can discover more about the world of dairy joys!