Did you know that...

Cheese is made from milk and it takes around 10 litres of milk to make 1kg of cheese.

Cheese can be made from lots of different types of milk, such as buffaloes' milk, sheeps' milk and goats' milk; most of the cheese eaten in the UK is made from cows' milk.

We all know that "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her Curds and Whey!!" but I bet you didn't know that to make cheese, milk has to be separated into curds which are the lumpy bits and whey which is the liquid bit. We make cheese with the curds!

Some cheeses, like Mature Cheddar, are stored for one year or longer before they are ready to eat. They are kept in special rooms and sometimes even caves!

There are over 700 different cheeses produced in Britain.

Cheddar is named after the Cheddar Gorge caves in Somerset where the cheese used to be stored to ripen. Cheddar is one of the most widely made cheeses in the world. King Henry II declared Cheddar Cheese to be the best in Britain!

Shropshire Blue is not actually made in Shropshire, but Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Cheshire is one of the oldest British cheeses, and even gets a mention in the Domesday Book

Cornish Yarg came from a recipe found in a book in a farmer's attic - his name was Mr Gray (Yarg spelt backwards!)

Caerphilly was traditionally eaten by Welsh coal miners for their lunch.

Every spring sees locals in the village of Stilton, Peterborough, race along a course rolling giant, Stilton shaped wheels.

Cheese comes in many different colours, textures, tastes and appearances. They can be hard, soft and some are runny!

Cheese is packed with the protein that we all need to build and maintain our bodies. From hair to muscle, almost 20% of your body is made from protein.

A small matchbox-sized piece of Cheddar contains as much calcium as a third of a pint of milk.

Cheese is a great source of vitamin A, which you need for healthy skin and eyes and to keep your defence system working properly, helping to fight illnesses caused by nasty bugs and viruses.

Cheese is an excellent source of energy - a bite of cheese instead of a sugary drink keeps you and your teeth, on the go all day!

Each day our friends in France, Italy, Greece and Germany eat nearly twice as much cheese, per person, as we do.

Cheese is one of the most versatile foods around and can be used as a starter, a main course or as a dessert - you can't do that with many other foods!

Cheese does contain fat
But not as much as you think!! In a recent survey, 41% of consumers thought that cheese has more than 50% fat. Cheddar cheese actually contains about 34% fat and is one of the most concentrated sources key nutrients including calcium, protein and vitamins A, D and B12.
Slimline self-confessed cheese lovers include Vernon Kay, Helena Christensen and Denise Van Outen. Helena Christensen even refers to it as 'incredibly sensual.'

I am lactose intolerant and can't eat cheese
People who are lactose intolerant can eat hard cheese. Contrary to popular belief, cheeses such as cheddar do not contain any lactose.

Cheese gives you nightmares
Cheese can actually help a good night's sleep. One of the essential amino acids in cheese - tryptophan - has been shown to reduce stress and induce sleep.

(Source: British Cheese Board 2006)