7 important facts about cheese every foodie needs to know

The most popular varieties of cheese come form Europe: mozzarella (Italy), gouda (Netherlands), cheddar (UK), feta (Greece) and ricotta (Italy).

• The first writing system invented in Mesopotamia dates back to ca. 3200 BC.
• The Neolithic cheese strainers discovered in Poland suggest that Europeans knew how to make cheese at least 7000 years ago.

Many foods we eat today are incredibly old – check how much you actually know about such products with this fun article.

Many people who love cheese crave it more than other foods, which can actually be scientifically explained. As it turns out, cheese contains a chemical called casein which can trigger our brain's opioid receptors, just like many drugs do. It actually makes cheese more addictive than other products (but not to a dangerous extent).

Many types of cheese are very low in lactose, as most of it is lost with the whey during the process. Hard and aged cheeses contain the least amount of lactose.

And I guess #3 explains it...

If you want to enjoy your good cheese the right way, take it out of the fridge a couple of hours before eating. All sorts of cheese flavor better at the temperature of approximately 20–22 °C (68–72 °F).

As eating cheese promotes the flow of saliva, it helps the self-cleaning function of our mouth. When you eat a piece a cheese at the end of the meal, you satisfy your taste buds and protect your teeth at the same time.