The world's oldest cheeses and their history — from ancient cheesemaking origins to the oldest named cheeses still made today.
Cheese is one of humanity's most ancient foods, with a history stretching back thousands of years. Here's a look at the world's oldest cheeses and their history.
Cheese: An Ancient Food
Cheese is one of the oldest prepared foods, with origins reaching back thousands of years — it was a way to preserve milk, likely discovered accidentally and refined over millennia. From ancient civilizations to the oldest named cheeses still made today, cheese has a long and fascinating history. Here's a look at the world's oldest cheeses and cheesemaking, from the ancient origins of cheese to the venerable cheeses with the longest documented histories.
The Ancient Origins of Cheese
Cheesemaking is ancient — archaeological evidence suggests cheese was made thousands of years ago (with evidence of cheesemaking dating back many millennia, into prehistory). Cheese likely originated as a way to preserve milk, possibly discovered when milk stored in animal-stomach containers (containing rennet) curdled into cheese. Ancient civilizations — including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans — made and prized cheese, and it spread and diversified across the ancient world. So cheesemaking has prehistoric origins, thousands of years old, beginning as a way to preserve milk and developing across ancient civilizations. Cheese is among humanity's oldest foods.
Ancient Cheesemaking Cultures
Ancient cultures advanced cheesemaking. The Romans, in particular, were sophisticated cheesemakers, developing many techniques and spreading cheesemaking across their empire (their methods influenced many European cheeses). Ancient Greeks made and valued cheese (it appears in their mythology and writings). Across the ancient Mediterranean, Middle East, and beyond, diverse cheesemaking traditions developed. These ancient cultures laid the foundations for the cheeses we know today. So ancient cultures like the Romans and Greeks advanced and spread cheesemaking, developing techniques and traditions that shaped later cheeses. Much of European cheese heritage traces to these ancient roots.
Some of the Oldest Named Cheeses Still Made
Among cheeses still made today, several have very long documented histories. Cantal (France) is often cited as one of the oldest, with roots reportedly reaching back around two thousand years to ancient Gaul. Cheshire (England) is considered England's oldest named cheese, with a medieval (and earlier) history. Other ancient cheeses include certain pecorinos and traditional cheeses with roots in antiquity, and cheeses like Roquefort and Gorgonzola with very old histories. So some cheeses still made today — like Cantal and Cheshire — have documented histories stretching back many centuries or even to antiquity. These venerable cheeses connect us to cheesemaking's deep past.
How Cheese Spread and Diversified
Over the centuries, cheese spread and diversified enormously. From ancient origins, cheesemaking spread across Europe and the world, with each region developing its own cheeses shaped by local milk, climate, and traditions. Monasteries played a key role in medieval Europe, developing and preserving many cheeses. By the modern era, thousands of cheese varieties had developed. So from ancient roots, cheese diversified across regions and centuries into the thousands of varieties we know today, with monasteries and regional traditions shaping its development. The history of cheese is one of continual spread and diversification from ancient beginnings.
Cheese History Today
Today, cheese's ancient history lives on in traditional cheeses made by age-old methods, in protected designations that preserve heritage cheeses, and in the continued making of cheeses with centuries or millennia of history. At the same time, new cheeses continue to be created, adding to the ongoing story. Appreciating cheese's deep history — from prehistoric origins to ancient civilizations to the venerable cheeses still made today — adds richness to enjoying it. So cheese's ancient history endures in traditional and heritage cheeses, while the story continues with new creations. Cheese connects us to thousands of years of human food history, one of our oldest and most enduring foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is cheese?
Very old — cheesemaking has prehistoric origins, with archaeological evidence dating back thousands of years. Cheese is among humanity's oldest prepared foods, originating as a way to preserve milk.
What is one of the oldest cheeses still made?
Cantal (France) is often cited as one of the oldest, with roots reportedly reaching back around two thousand years to ancient Gaul. Cheshire is considered England's oldest named cheese.
How did cheese originate?
Cheese likely originated as a way to preserve milk, possibly discovered when milk stored in animal-stomach containers (containing rennet) curdled into cheese, then refined over millennia and spread by ancient cultures.