CHANCE DISCOVERY

The origins of cheese are thought to date back 4,000 years, although it is not clear which civilisation was responsible for creating the first-ever cheese. One of the theories concerns a nomad who had some milk stored in a pouch made from the stomach of a sheep. As he journeyed, the movement, combined with the rennet in the lining of the pouch and the heat of the desert around him, caused the milk to curdle. Taking rather a risk, he ate the resulting ‘curds and whey’, and found his hunger satisfied and thirst quenched. Cheesemaking thankfully became a little more sophisticated over time, and it is thought to have been brought to Europe by travelling merchants. The Romans were also very fond of cheese and brought the art of cheesemaking with them to England. Now, there are approximately 750 distinct cheeses made in the UK, of which Cheshire cheese is believed to be Britain’s oldest; reputedly dating back to Roman times. Cheddar is the most popular cheese in the UK, accounting for approximately half of all sales, and originated from Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset, in the 12th century. Records show that King Henry II purchased 10,240lb (4,645 kg) of Cheddar in 1170, at a cost of one farthing per lb, declaring it to be the best cheese in Britain.