Preceden

History of Cheese Timeline

(c. 8000 BCE–Present)

The history of cheese traces how ancient communities transformed milk into a durable, nutritious food and developed diverse regional traditions. Less

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Ancient origins

Cheese found in an Egyptian funeral meal

2900 BC

Remains identified as cheese were found among the provisions of a funeral meal in an Egyptian tomb dating to around 2900 BC.

Image source: History of cheese

Cheese found in an Egyptian funeral meal

Egyptian cheesemaking shown in tomb murals

2000 BC

Egyptian tomb murals made at approximately 2000 BC provide visual evidence of cheesemaking practices in ancient Egypt.

Preserved cheese found in the Taklamakan Desert

1615 BC

Preserved cheese dating from 1615 BC was found in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China.

The oldest known cheese is reported from Egypt

2018

The 2018 report by archaeologists from Cairo University and the University of Catania identified an Egyptian find as the oldest known cheese.

Cairo University participates in cheese discovery

2018

Archaeologists from Cairo University participated in the 2018 report concerning the discovery of the oldest known cheese from Egypt.

University of Catania participates in cheese discovery

2018

Archaeologists from the University of Catania participated in the 2018 report concerning the discovery of the oldest known cheese from Egypt.

Oldest known Egyptian cheese discovered

2018

Archaeologists from Cairo University and the University of Catania reported the discovery of what was then identified as the oldest known cheese from Egypt.

European cheesemaking

European cheesemaking advances slowly after Rome

476

After the fall of Rome, the advancement of the art of cheesemaking in Europe proceeded slowly for centuries.

Parmigiano production begins

1200

The production of Parmesan, also known as Parmigiano, began in 1200.

Image source: Parmesan

Parmigiano production begins

Cheddar is recorded

1500

The existence of cheddar cheese has been recorded since the 1500s.

Image source: Cheddar cheese

Cheddar is recorded

Gouda production is recorded

1697

Gouda cheese production is recorded from 1697.

Image source: Gouda cheese

Gouda production is recorded

Camembert production begins

1791

The production of Camembert began in 1791.

Cheese in culture

Variations on the green-cheese sentiment are repeated

1546

Variations on the sentiment that the Moon is made of cheese were repeated for centuries.

The Proverbs of John Heywood mentions green cheese

1546

In 1546, John Heywood's work The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed that “the moon is made of a greene cheese.” Here, “greene” referred to cheese that was new or unaged.

The moon-and-cheese saying enters popular culture

1546

The 1546 reference helped establish the enduring humorous association between the Moon and green, or unaged, cheese.

Households continue using cheese before refrigeration

1900 - 1913

Cheese remained popular in most households until the introduction of the home refrigerator.

Home refrigerator is introduced

1913

The introduction of the home refrigerator in 1913 marked a change in household food storage and ended the period described as one in which cheese remained popular in most households.

Image source: Refrigerator

Home refrigerator is introduced

NASA exploits the green-cheese myth

2006

NASA exploited the long-repeated Moon-and-cheese myth in an April Fools' Day spoof announcement in 2006.

NASA issues an April Fools' cheese spoof

Apr 1, 2006

On April Fools' Day in 2006, NASA used the popular belief that the Moon was made of cheese as the basis for a spoof announcement.

Industrial production

Factory production expands cheese consumption

1800

The rise of factory-made cheese in the early 19th century contributed to the increasing inclusion of cheese products in the diets of developed nations, including the United States.

Cheese consumption grows in developed nations

1800

Since the advent of factory-made cheese in the early 19th century, diets in developed nations such as the United States increasingly included cheese products among popular consumption items.

Factory-made cheese emerges

1800

The early 19th century saw the advent of factory-made cheese, beginning a major transformation in how cheese was produced and distributed.

Cheesemaking becomes industrial in Switzerland

1815

Switzerland became the site of the first factory dedicated to industrial cheese production in 1815.

Industrial cheese factory opens in Switzerland

1815

The first factory for the industrial production of cheese opened in Switzerland in 1815.

Assembly-line cheese uses farm milk

1851

The 1851 assembly-line operation attributed to Williams relied on milk collected from neighbouring farms.

Williams begins assembly-line cheesemaking

1851

In 1851, Williams began making cheese in an assembly-line fashion.

Neighbouring farms supply Williams's cheese production

1851

Williams's 1851 assembly-line cheesemaking operation used milk supplied by neighbouring farms.

Pure microbial cultures are produced

1900

By the turn of the century, scientists were producing pure microbial cultures, an important development for controlled food production.

Processed cheese becomes a major American purchase

2004

In 2004, Americans were reported to have purchased more processed cheese than “real,” factory-made cheese.

Americans favor processed cheese over factory-made cheese

2004

The 2004 comparison reported that processed cheese purchases in the United States exceeded purchases of real, factory-made cheese.

Key Facts

  1. The earliest cheese likely emerged soon after animal domestication during the Neolithic period, around 8000 BCE.
  2. Cheese-making helped preserve milk, making its nutrients available for longer periods and easier transport.
  3. Evidence of cheese production appears in ancient pottery strainers from Europe dating to roughly 5500 BCE.
  4. The Romans refined cheese-making methods and helped spread particular techniques throughout Europe.
  5. Modern cheese varieties reflect differences in milk, cultures, aging conditions, geography, and production technology.

Source

This History of Cheese timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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