What is Cheese?
[[File:International cheese platters.jpg|thumb|International Cheeses on the board]] [[File:Four Luxurious Cheese Plate from Baci.jpg|thumb]] '''Cheese''' is a [[dairy product]] that is made from [[milk]] from many different animals milk. There are many types of cheese, such as [[Cheddar cheese|cheddar]], [[Swiss cheese|Swiss]], and [[provolone]]. Many things affect the [[form]], [[texture]], [[colour]] and [[flavor|flavour]] of a cheese. These include the milk ([[cow]] or [[Domestic goat|goat]]), if the milk has been [[Pasteurization|pasteurized]], the amount of [[butterfat]], [[bacteria]] and [[mold]] in the cheese, how the cheese is made, how much fat is in the cheese, and how old the cheese is. == Origin == People have been making cheese since before [[history]] was written down. It is not known when cheese was first made. It is known that cheese was eaten by the [[Sumerians]] in about 4000 BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/cheese/cheese2/history.asp|title=The history of cheese: from an ancient nomad's horseback to today's luxury cheese cart |work=The Nibble|publisher=Lifestyle Direct.|accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref> == Classification == There are many different ways to classify cheeses. Some ways include: [[File:The Eighth of French Cheese plate from Terroirs by LQV.jpg|alt=|thumb|Some cheeses on the wood board]] * How long the cheese was aged * The [[texture]] of the cheese. These include Hard, Soft and Softer. * How the cheese was made * What type of [[milk]] was used to make the cheese. This is mainly what [[animal]] the milk comes from, such as cows, sheep, and goats. The [[diet]] of the animal can also affect the type of cheese made from its milk. * How much [[fat]] is in the cheese * What color the cheese is (common colors are yellow, and white) There are also man-made foods that some people use instead of cheese. These are called [[Cheese analogue]]s. Different types of cheese include: {| width=75% |- |align=top| * [[Feta]] * [[Cream cheese]] * [[Processed cheese]] * [