Yellowish clumps—found on the necks and chests of Chinese mummies—have been revealed to be the world’s oldest cheese. USA Today reports the Chinese cheese dates back as early as 1615 BC, making it by far the most ancient ever discovered. Thanks to the quick decay of most dairy products, there isn’t even a runner-up.
It’s not clear why people were buried with bits of cheese on their bodies, says analytical chemist Andrej Shevchenko, though perhaps it was food meant for the afterlife. All we know is, we love aged Cheddar—so this 3,000-year-old Chinese cheese might be all kinds of delicious.
Here’s some more interesting things we dug up on the Internet today:
The economics of fast food breakfasts, explained. [Bloomberg]
9 Chili recipes that are like a warm hug. [Food52]
Eataly is opening the ‘Disneyland of food’ in Italy in 2015. [Grub Street]
Here’s a look at the new Marc Forgione cookbook. [Eater]