Uncovering the world’s oldest preserved cheese on ancient mummies in China has sparked curiosity among scientists. Discovered over two decades ago on 3,600-year-old Xiaohe mummies in Xinjiang, China, the samples remained a mystery until recently. In 2014, it was revealed that the enigmatic curds were actually made from kefir, a yogurt-like drink produced by fermenting milk with kefir grains containing live bacteria and yeast cultures. This finding makes it the oldest preserved cheese sample globally, surpassing the previous record by almost 400 years. Despite its age, when squeezed, the samples felt like “dense dust,” according to Fu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.
By analyzing the bacteria’s DNA present in kefir cultures used for fermentation, researchers can trace the spread of fermentation techniques. Contrary to previous beliefs that these techniques spread mainly from Russia to Europe, evidence now suggests an additional route through modern-day Xinjiang into Tibet and inland East Asia.
2024-09-26 11:30:00
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