Cheese

Cheese is a dairy product made in a wide range of flavors, textures and forms by curdling milk, usually from cows, goats or sheep and sometimes water buffalo. In production, the milk is usually acidified and rennet or similar bacterial enzymes are added to coagulate the protein casein, after which the solid curds are separated from the liquid whey and pressed into finished cheese; some cheeses develop aromatic molds on their rind or throughout. Over a thousand types of cheese are produced across many countries, with their style, texture and flavor shaped by the origin and diet of the milk animal, whether the milk was pasteurized, its butterfat content, the particular bacteria and mold used, the processing method, and how long the cheese is aged.