由 home-healthhaven 
Cheese is beloved worldwide, whether at fancy banquets or simple snack times. But few stop to think about how strange it actually is—essentially, it’s just aged milk that’s been turned solid and flavorful by bacteria over time. So who was the daring soul who decided to eat this for the first time?
### Early Cheese-Making in Poland
Surprisingly, the story of cheese might begin in Eastern Europe. Researchers have found pottery shards in Kuyavia, Poland, suggesting that humans there were making cheese around 7,500 years ago. Scientists at the University of Bristol discovered fatty acids from cheese in these ancient ceramics, which look like old cheese strainers. In cheese-making, strainers are used to separate curds from whey before the curds are pressed into cheese. This is one of the earliest pieces of evidence showing that ancient people made and enjoyed cheese.
### Why Early Humans Made Cheese
But why did they make cheese instead of just drinking milk? According to researchers, cheese is easier to store and transport than milk. Plus, cheese gave early humans a good source of protein without needing to butcher their livestock, which was both costly and labor-intensive.
Another important reason is that cheese is easier to digest than milk. In those ancient times, many humans were lactose intolerant. Milk can cause serious digestive problems for those who can’t process lactose, a sugar found in milk. But when milk is turned into cheese, most of the lactose is removed with the whey, making the curds much easier for people to digest. Thanks to this process, even lactose-intolerant folks could eat some cheese without digestive issues.
### Cheese Through the Ages
Over time, as lactose tolerance improved in many humans, the consumption of dairy, and especially cheese, became more widespread. Nowadays, most people around the globe can enjoy cheese without any trouble.
While we can trace the journey of cheese through history, we might never know exactly who first decided to try it. Perhaps it was an adventurous caveman or woman who tasted old milk one day instead of hunting. As others saw no harm in eating the new food, cheese caught on and became a staple. Fast forward to today, where friends and families savor a variety of cheeses at events like New Jersey bat mitzvahs.
Cheese has truly come a long way from its ancient beginnings to becoming a cherished part of modern cuisine.