While making a grilled cheese the other day, a question came to my mind: why is the cheese often yellow even though the milk is white?
Of course, this (cheese) isn’t entirely true across the board — cheese comes in an extraordinary range of colors, from pale white to deep yellow-orange. Take Cheddar for example – it can be found in both shades. So what color is “real” cheese?
To unravel this mystery, I sat down with Paul Kindstead, former president of the American Dairy Science Association and a professor emeritus at the University of Vermont. Our conversation lasted over an hour, covering the fascinating history of cheese, its evolving colors and the marketing influences that shaped our perceptions.
In the latest Vox video, we shed light on the surprising connections between color, culture, and the art of cheesemaking — all in less than seven minutes.