Cheese. The episode I have been dreading since we came up with the concept for Quest for the Best. I know I am among the minority in the United States, but I really do not care for cheese. I am certainly the minority of this episode, surrounded by cheese lovers.
Which cheeses are we trying today?
Provolone
Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar
Swiss
Munster
Gouda
Who is on this cheesy quest?
Janet, it’s her pleasure.
Hannah, cheese guru.
Matt, ignorant in the way of cheese.
Amy, cheese butcher.
And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!
The History of Cheese
As early as 8000 BC, the earliest Neolithic farmers living in the fertile crescent began a legacy of cheesemaking. The rise of agriculture led to domesticated sheep and goats, which they obviously used for milking. When this harvested milk was left in warm conditions for several hours, the milk began to sour. Its lactic acids caused proteins to coagulate, binding into soft clumps. When this was discovered, the farmers drained the liquid and would eat the curds. Since the milk was rich with proteins, fats and minerals, it was very beneficial. Additionally, it could be preserved and stockpiled, making it an asset during winters or times of famine.
By the end of the bronze age, cheese was a standard commodity in maritime trade throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Cheese making spread around the globe, giving way to a wide variety of cheeses. When the Western Roman Empire collapsed, Cheese making continued to evolve. In hundreds of Benedictine monasteries scattered across Europe, medieval monks experimented with different types of milk, cheese making practices, and aging processes that led to many of today’s cheeses, such as parmesan, Roquefort, and Munster.
Cheese making remained popular throughout history. Many cheeses we eat today, such as cheddar, swiss, parmesan, and gouda, are relatively new to the cheese story, appearing within the last 500 years. And while cheese making flourished in Europe and the middle east, North and South America were completely void of cheese until it was introduced by European immigrants.
One of the areas of the United States that people associate with cheese, is Wisconsin.
In 1831, Wisconsin’s first farmstead cheese factory was opened. In 1841, Mrs. Ann Pickett established Wisconsin’s first cottage industry cheese factory. The 1850 census records reveal 400,283 pounds of cheese made on Wisconsin farms in 1849. Wisconsin is the #1 cheese producing state, making about 26% of the county’s cheese. These cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin’s milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year.
As of 2018, the world produces roughly 22 billion kilograms of cheese a year.
In an average day, a dairy cow will eat about 90 pounds of feed, drink a bathtub full of water, and produce 5-6 gallons of milk. It takes about 10 pounds of whole milk to make one pound of cheese.
The average American eats more than 27 pounds of cheese each year, and will consume around a ton of cheese in a lifetime.
The most popular cheese in the country is cheddar, followed by American cheese, mozzarella, swiss, and pepper jack. Ricotta was the least popular. 4-6% of Americans don’t like cheese.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
5th Place: Provolone
Amy: 1
Hannah: 6
Janet: 3
Matt: 3
4th Place: Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar
Amy: 2
Hannah: 7
Janet: 6
Matt: 5
3rd/2nd Place (Tie): Swiss
Amy: 1
Hannah: 6
Janet: 9
Matt: 6
3rd/2nd Place (Tie): Gouda
Amy: 2
Hannah: 7
Janet: 8
Matt: 5
“The gouda was not that exciting.” - Janet
1st Place: Munster
Amy: 3
Hannah: 8
Janet: 7
Matt: 6
There you have it. Munster receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.
Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these cheeses? We would love to hear your rating as well.
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.
And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. Additionally, paid subscribers will have access to monthly content where we put two restaurants head to head in a Quest for the Best battle. You definitely do not want to miss out.
SHOW NOTES:
https://nationalhistoriccheesemakingcenter.org/history-of-cheese/
https://www.eatthis.com/news-most-popular-cheese-america-cheddar-2021/
Let's get cheesy!