Researchers in China discovered the oldest cheese ever found, dating back to the Bronze Age. The cheese was found in the coffin of a young woman in northwestern China, buried along with other items of significance. The cheese was identified as kefir cheese, made from fermenting milk using kefir grains. The DNA analysis of the cheese samples revealed important information about the Xiaohe people’s way of life and animal husbandry practices in East Asia. The study also traced the evolution of bacterial strains in the cheese over thousands of years, showing how they gained resistance to antibiotics and adapted to human consumption. Additionally, the research provided insight into the spread of kefir culture from Xinjiang via Tibet, showing how Bronze Age populations interacted. The study found evidence that the cheese consumption by the Xiaohe people lowered lactose content, despite their genetic lactose intolerance. The research highlighted the impact of human activities on microbial evolution, showing how the bacteria strains evolved and adapted over time. While the ancient cheese may not be edible anymore, the study provides valuable information about the history of cheese production and consumption, as well as the relationship between humans and bacteria over thousands of years.
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Ancient Chinese mummies found with world’s oldest cheese
