When is National Cheese Lovers Day?
January 20th is National Cheese Lovers Day.
What is National Cheese Lovers Day?
The secret ingredient to Gorgonzola cheese is not Italian cow’s milk. It’s the injection of mold spores and two different kinds of bacteria. Sound gross? For cheese lovers around the world, that’s par for the cheese course. National Cheese Lovers Day celebrates cheese in all its wildly divergent forms.
Cheese production takes many forms. Ricotta and cream cheese are eaten fresh while Stravecchio is aged sometimes for three years. The process begins with milk, which is soured, separated, and then salted for ripening. As a wheel of cheese rests, enzymes and microbes break down proteins and milk fats. Hard cheeses need a warm place to rest, but soft cheeses usually need cooler temps.
With all that variety, there is a cheese for almost everyone—perhaps even the lactose intolerant. So whether you’re a cheese connoisseur or you just love your cheddar, take National Cheese Lovers Day to enjoy your favorite cheese.
Fun facts about National Cheese Lovers Day!
- There are 2,000 varieties of cheese, but more than half the cheese eaten in the world is Gouda.
- More than 25% of cheese made in the U.S. comes out of Wisconsin.
- Cheeses made with raw milk and then aged for less than 60 days are banned from the U.S. This includes Brie de Meaux, Roquefort, and Camembert de Normandie. You can find them in France though.
- Cheeses that are aged contain less lactose, so lactose intolerant people can often enjoy ripened cheeses like Brie, Gouda, Muenster, and Parmesan.
- Mice prefer bread over cheese.
How to celebrate National Cheese Lovers Day:
Throw a cheese lovers party. Get your friends to chip in, and come up with a diverse cheese board so that you can find your favorites. Do you prefer creamy cheeses or hard cheeses? Are you into the longer aged varieties or more fresh kinds of cheese? (This also makes a great in-home date.)
What’s the hashtag for National Cheese Lovers Day?
Post your love for cheese with #CheeseLoversDay on social media.