Cheese has become a very widely used luxury product. The stretchy and gooey goodness of cheese can make any dish ten times better! You can put it on pretty much anything; bake with it, fry with it, and melt it; it is a versatile ingredient. But why is it so expensive?
Cheese consumption has been increasing globally. Cheese is expensive because of its portability, long shelf life, and high fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus content. Cheese is more compact and can be stored for longer than milk, although how long a cheese will keep depends on what type of cheese you use. Thus, in countries where cheese is still considered a luxury among the masses, people are willing to pay a high price.
There is so much more to find out about cheese. Keep reading to find out more,
How was Cheese found?
The actual time and place of the origin of cheese and cheesemaking are unknown. The practice is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, primarily sheep, which began 8000-10,000 years ago. The art of cheesemaking is referred to in ancient Greek mythology, and evidence of cheese and cheesemaking has been found on Egyptian tomb murals dating back over 4000 years.
Cheese may have been discovered accidentally by the practice of storing milk in containers made from the stomachs of animals. Rennet, an enzyme found in the stomach of ruminant animals, would cause the milk to coagulate, separating into curds and whey.
Another possible explanation for the discovery of cheese stemmed from salting curdled milk for preservation purposes. One more scenario involved the addition of fruit juices to milk which would result in curdling the milk using the acid in the fruit juice.
Although the origin of cheese and cheesemaking is shrouded in mystery, we know that by the time of the Roman Empire, cheesemaking had become a widespread, highly valued process practiced throughout Europe and the Middle East.
By Julius Caesar’s time, hundreds of varieties of cheese were being produced and traded across the mighty Roman Empire and beyond. The Roman influence through documentation and trial and error also aided in refining and improving the techniques employed to make cheese.
Many famous kinds of cheese we eat today, such as Cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan, and Gouda, are relatively new to the cheese story (appearing within the last 500 years). In its early history, cheese was never a worldwide phenomenon.
As cheesemaking flourished in Europe, the Middle East and North and South America were utterly void of cheese and the art of cheesemaking until much later, when European immigrants introduced it. Ever since then, cheese has become valuable and has evolved to be more refined as time goes on.
Types of Cheese
Cheese comes in various types, and among the most common are cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, and American cheese, which is used in everyday life and fast food like burgers and pizzas.
Cheese, however, isn’t cheap and can be very expensive. Here are some types of cheese and their prices.
Bitto Cheese
Bitto Cheese is very expensive and is about $150 per pound. Bitto cheese is a combination of goat’s milk and cow’s milk. This luxury cheese is expensive because it can take up to 10 years for a wheel to ripen to its fullest potential. It has a long life due to its early processing, beginning about 30 minutes after milking.
The early processing helps prevent bacteria from forming. This rare cheese originated in Italy and was then imported to Hong Kong. Bitto became very popular in China because it provided citizens with flavors they had never tasted before.
Wyke Farms Cheddar Cheese
Wyke Farms is the largest independent cheese producer in the United Kingdom, and its cheese is $200 per pound. It is based in Somerset, England, and exports its cheese internationally. The company is known for having the most expensive cheddar cheese in the world.
The production of Wyke Farms cheddar cheese began in 1861. Cheddar cheese is made from cow’s milk and its ripening period is about a year. This cheese is aged in wooden maturing boxes constantly monitored by cheesemakers. Although the recipe is known to be safely locked on the farm, we do know that it is infused with gold leaves and French truffles that provide the cheese with a flavorful and tangy taste.
White Stilton Gold Cheese
White Stilton gold cheese is $420 per pound. Long Clawson Dairy company, located in Leicestershire, England, created its version of the Stilton cheese as a holiday exclusive. The company produced a Stilton gold cheese made with real gold flakes and gold liqueur, providing the cheese with its alluring colors.
This gold cheese is creamy, tangy, and has a distinct taste that makes it extremely popular during the holiday season. The gold flakes and liqueur increased the value of the Stilton cheese and are one of the rarest cheeses in the world. This luxury cheese has a crumbly texture and is made with different fruit flavors such as lemon, ginger, and apricot.
Moose Cheese
Moose Cheese is $450 per pound. The Elk House in Bjurholm, Sweden, sells moose cheese, one of the most expensive cheeses in the world due to its rarity. The Elk house produces 4 types of moose cheese from 3 domesticated moose named Juna, Helga, and Gullan. The cheese is only available for a limited time because the moose lactates from May to September.
Pule Cheese
Pule cheese is the most expensive cheese in the world. It is $650 per pound produced exclusively at Serbia’s Zasavica Special Nature Reserve. This rare cheese is made from the milk of Balkan donkeys, endangered and native to Serbia and Montenegro. Balkan donkeys at the nature reserve are milked 3 times a day to help gather the amount of milk needed to make Pule cheese.
About 6.6 gallons of donkey milk produces 2.2 pounds of Pule cheese. Pule cheese has a rich and complex flavor with a crumbly texture. The cheese is smoked during production, giving it a unique flavor.
Natural vs. Processed Cheese
Each natural and processed cheese type has a unique shape, size, and flavor. Processed cheese is typically wrapped in plastic or sold in a can, while natural cheese is available in a loaf or wheel.
Besides the variation in flavors and appearance, the main difference between natural and processed cheese is the way they’re produced. Natural cheese is made from pasteurized or raw milk and doesn’t contain any chemicals or preservatives that help extend its shelf life. Processed cheese is made from melted natural cheese and emulsifiers that are held together with preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Several processed kinds of cheese contain saturated vegetable oil, salt, food colorings, and sugar to help prevent them from separating when cooking. Processed cheese consists of other ingredients, making them easier to produce and more affordable than natural cheese.
Conclusion
Cheese is considered a luxury item and is often used in expensive dishes. Even though cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella are cheaper and more widely available, some cheese varieties can be expensive due to the time and care that goes into producing them. These often take years upon years to age and thus have a high price due to their taste and shelf lives.
