Five fascinating facts about delicious cheese

With a wide spectrum of flavors and textures, there’s a cheese to match every taste, dish and occasion.

It’s no wonder that cheese has been a staple of diets across generations and around the world.

Today, it’s our reason to celebrate. National Cheese Lovers Day offers the perfect occasion to savor one of your favorites or experiment with something new. From its rich history to its vast variety, cheese is as fascinating as it is delicious.

Ponder these interesting facts while preparing your celebratory platter:

On the books: Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland and its residents take great pride its cheese. At one time, serving cheese was more than an excellent suggestion – it was the law. Wisconsin passed legislation that required restaurants to serve a small amount of cheese and butter with meals they served. The law was effective from June 1935 to March 1937.

That’s a long checklist: You could eat a different cheese every day for five years without trying them all. While mozzarella is the global favorite, there are more than 2,000 different varieties of cheese served around the world.

Giving aged cheese a new meaning: Experts believe cheese has been produced for as long as 10,000 years. Research in 2018 revealed the earliest evidence of cheesemaking we have to date. Fatty acids found on pottery residue in modern-day Croatia suggests cheese had been made in that region at least 7,200 years ago.

Sound research: A 2019 study conducted in Switzerland determined that sound affects the taste, aroma and texture of cheese during the aging process. Eight wheels of Emmental cheese were aged separately to different songs played on repeat. A ninth control wheel was aged in silence. At the end of aging, it was found music indeed had an impact. As for results, cheese aged to hip-hop had "a discernibly stronger smell and stronger, fruitier taste than the other test samples," according to the study.

One cheesy gift: Couples today would probably draw some whispers and raised eyebrows if cheese was part of their online wedding registries. In 1840, Queen Victoria received a present still talked about today. Farmers celebrated her marriage to Prince Albert with the gift of a massive cheddar. The cheese wheel was 9 feet in diameter and weighed more than 1,200 pounds.

There’s one more interesting fact to consider: Agropur is the cheese of choice for restaurants and international retail brands. We produce more than 1 billion pounds of cheese every year, and our dedication to quality ensures superior consistency and exceptional flavor. We’re able to produce more than 20 varieties and specialize in mozzarella, provolone, cheddar and feta. Click here to learn more about our award-winning cheese and expert service.