It is 3600 years old.
Scientists have succeeded in pulling a strand of DNA from what they believe is the oldest cheese in the world, after extracting it from Bronze Age mummies in a Chinese tomb, dating back to around 2000 BC.
Dairy delight is kefir cheese – A healthy alternative to modern cream cheese. – It was found strangely smeared or “scattered” around the heads and necks of preserved corpses, dating back 3,300 to 3,600 years, in the Tarim Basin in northwest China, according to the research. Published in Cell.
Specifically, the substance was found covering the necks and heads of several deceased individuals in a Xiaohe tomb. Although the white substance was first spotted two decades ago, it was only recently confirmed that it was a favorite noodle topping.
“Foods like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity,” said researcher Qiaomei Fu. “Studying ancient cheese in great detail could help us better understand the diet and culture of our ancestors.”
The mitochondrial extract – which was found to contain cow and goat DNA – was extracted from three different tombs after learning about Xiaohe’s culinary preferences. Unlike the customs in Greece and the Middle East, different types of animal milk were separated into batches of cheese.
Fungal bacteria were also found to be compatible with modern kefir grains, allowing the team to trace their lineage.
One in particular, the Lactobacillus bacteria, is currently used in cheesemaking. The bacteria appear to have originated in China and Russia.
Previous beliefs were of a character exclusive to the Caucasus Mountains of Russia.
The study also reveals that bacteria may have stabilized genes and promoted milk fermentation over time.
“This is an unprecedented study, allowing us to observe how bacteria have evolved over the past 3,000 years. Furthermore, by examining dairy products, we have gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and interactions with the world,” Fu said.
“This is just the beginning, and with this technology, we hope to be able to explore other previously unknown artifacts.”
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”