Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If Wisconsin was a country, it would rank fourth in the world in cheese production.
With the variety of milks, bacterial cultures, enzymes, molds, environmental conditions, and technical processes, literally hundreds of varieties of cheese are made throughout the world. And primitive forms of cheese have been made ever since humans first started domesticating animals—possible as early as 1000 BCE.
No one knows exactly who made the first cheese, but, according to one ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant crossing the desert. The merchant had put his drinking milk in a pouch made from a sheep’s stomach. The natural rennin in the lining of the pouch, along with heat from the sun, caused the milk to coagulate and then separate into curds and whey. At nightfall the whey satisfied the merchant’s thirst, and the curds (cheese), which had a delightful flavor, satisfied his hunger.
So how did Wisconsin end up one of the world's largest cheese producers? We talked with a real dairy farmer to find out.
Learn more from Britannica:
The history of cheese making: britannica.com/topic/cheese-making
Why does some cheese have holes? britannica.com/video/Overview-cheese-holes-types-discussion/-192428
Cheese science: britannica.com/topic/cheese
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#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
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If Wisconsin was a country, it would rank fourth in the world in cheese production.
With the variety of milks, bacterial cultures, enzymes, molds, environmental conditions, and technical processes, literally hundreds of varieties of cheese are made throughout the world. And primitive forms of cheese have been made ever since humans first started domesticating animals—possible as early as 1000 BCE.
No one knows exactly who made the first cheese, but, according to one ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant crossing the desert. The merchant had put his drinking milk in a pouch made from a sheep’s stomach. The natural rennin in the lining of the pouch, along with heat from the sun, caused the milk to coagulate and then separate into curds and whey. At nightfall the whey satisfied the merchant’s thirst, and the curds (cheese), which had a delightful flavor, satisfied his hunger.
So how did Wisconsin end up one of the world's largest cheese producers? We talked with a real dairy farmer to find out.
Learn more from Britannica:
The history of cheese making: britannica.com/topic/cheese-making
Why does some cheese have holes? britannica.com/video/Overview-cheese-holes-types-discussion/-192428
Cheese science: britannica.com/topic/cheese
~~~
#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
Instagram: instagram.com/Britannica
