Cheesemaking is both an art and a science, an ancient practice using cultured milk byproducts, which people have been eating for over 4,500 years. Its discovery, like fire and other great discoveries, is not something that's well-established and was probably the result of a serendipitous accident. Maybe an early homo-sapien spilled milk into a preserved animal stomach which caused the milk to coagulate because of the natural rennet, and early man thought it tasted good, then replicated it. Maybe.
What we DO know is that since cheese was 'discovered,' people have learned to create more than 1,600 different types of cheeses, each with a distinctive taste, feel, and texture. And all of them are dependent upon the kinds of milk used, the environment in which the cheese is made, and even the cheesemakers. As a result, it's a multi-stepped, complicated process that belies the simple slices of cheese you may see attractively arranged upon your charcuterie board.
So, let's take a look.
Six Important Steps to Cheesemaking - How to Turn Milk into Cheese
Acidification - Begins the process of turning milk into solid by adding starter culture.
Coagulation - Rennet added, transforms liquid into semi-solid.
Curds and Whey - This is when the milk solidifies. Whey remains liquid, and curds, the solids, are separated from it.
Salting - Salt is added for flavor and as a preservative during aging.
Shaping - Each type of cheese is placed into a mold and takes the familiar form of a solid block or wheel. It is also pressed, or weights are used to expel any remaining water.
Ripening - This process ages cheese, using controlled temperatures and humidity, until it reaches the optimal ripeness for each specific type. Some cheeses must be turned during this time or brushed with brine or oil.
So, there you have it! Extensive work goes into making the artisan cheeses Arriving in Style Gifts uses in their curated gift boxes. Our Supreme Snacker, with cheeses, truffles, nuts, and other assorted artisan snacks, says you care that your employees and family have only the best.
And our Wine and Cheese Lovers Gift Box sets the mood for sipping wine and sharing cheese with the finest of friends, coworkers, and employees. The unique cardboard packaging on this beautiful set of cheese knives with their brushed champagne finish is just part of what makes this an extra special gift when paired with all the other items in this lovely, thoughtfully curated gift box.