What is Emmental cheese?
[[File:Emmental 015.jpg|thumb|Emmental Cheese in the market]] [[File:Swiss cheese and garlic cheese.jpg|thumb|That is Emmental cheese and Garlic cheese in Plates ]] '''Emmental cheese''' (sometimes also called '''Emmentaler''' or '''Emmenthal''') is a [[Swiss cheese]]. It first came from [[Switzerland]]. It is named after the ''[[Emmental]]'', the valley of a river, near [[Berne]]. Emmental cheese was first made around 1353 when Bern joined the confederacy. Today, most cheese-producing countries make a cheese called ''Emmental cheese'' - These cheeses often have little in common with the original though, except for the holes in the cheese. In 1882 was the first time, products could be protected in Europe. Already at that time, Emmentaler was made in countries other than Switzerland. Emmental cheese is amongst the best-known types of cheese. It is made from cow's milk. Two of the features that make Emmental distinctive are its holes and sweetness. The holes are there because of the way the cheese is made with [[bacteria]] which produce the cheese and over time (usually several months<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/glossary.asp?id=33274|title=Emmental Cheese|publisher=Hormel foods|accessdate=2007-10-05|archive-date=2004-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040101185311/http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/glossary.asp?id=33274|url-status=dead}}</ref>) create bubbles of [[carbon dioxide]] gas. Today, [[Switzerland]], [[France]], [[Austria]], and [[Germany]] produce Emmental cheeses that have a [[Protected Designation of Origin]]. In Switzerland, Austria and Germany, [[raw milk|untreated milk]] is used; most of the other countries use [[pasteurization|pasteurized]] milk. About 12 litres of milk are needed to make 1&nbsp;kg of cheese. Emmental is produced in loaves of 70–80&nbsp;kg. Usually, Emmental cheese is left to ripen for a period of 6–7 weeks. Ripening it for 8–12 weeks gives a more spicy (salty) cheese. In Europe, about 464 200 tons of Emmental are produced each year. This means tha