Long before cheese graced our tables, it was in the Neolithic period that chance curdled milk, paving the way for its fabulous invention. The oldest evidence of cheese-making was found in Poland, dating back to 5,500 BC. The oldest preserved piece of cheese was discovered in Egypt in a tomb dating back to 1,300 BC.
The history of cheese in Canada begins in 1610, when Champlain introduced the first dairy cows. The settlers then produced French-inspired cheeses. After the arrival of the Loyalists in the 18th century, English cheeses, especially cheddar, became popular. The first industrial cheese factory was founded in 1864 in Oxford, Ontario. In Quebec, cheese was mainly made on farms until the mid-19th century. Gradually, cheese factories were established, allowing for a shift from artisanal production to wider distribution and the emergence of regional brands.