Mozzarella is one of the most popular Italian cheeses. It’s found on pizza, in calzones, and as part of a caprese salad. The stories regarding the cheese’s origins are as diverse as the numerous ways you can eat it.
The one thing we know for sure about mozzarella’s early history is that the first cheeses were made from buffalo milk. The earliest reference to this cheese may be from the 12th Century and is documented by historian Monsignor Alicandri in “Chiesa Metropolitana di Capua.” Alicandri writes that the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo in Capua would give pilgrims bread with mozza.
Up until the 15th and 16th centuries, the cheese we call “mozzarella” was called “mozza”. Mozzarella is a diminutive form of mozza, which means “cut.” The earliest confirmed reference to the cheese using the name we currently use, is from a 1570 cookbook written by the first celebrity chef, Bartolomo Scappi.
In Italy, most of the mozza cheese sold is still made from Italian buffalo milk. Since 1996, the milk of Italian buffalo raised in designated areas of Campania, Lazio, Apulia, and Molise can be selected as Mozzarella di buffalo campana PDO. The PDO stands for protected designation of origin, which maintains a product’s history and authenticity.
While cheese made from buffalo milk is available in the United States, the mozzarella most Americans are familiar with is made with cow’s milk. Unless the package is marked otherwise, you’re most likely purchasing this type. In Italy, this mozzarella is called fior di latte.
Mozza producers in Italy also make cheese out of sheep’s milk and goat’s milk. Sheep’s milk mozza, which is called mozzarella pecorella, is produced in Sardinia, Abruzzo, and Lazio. Goat’s milk mozza is still new and produced in only a few places, but it is being developed for those who cannot digest cow’s milk.
Regardless of which type of cheese you prefer, I think we can all agree that mozzarella is an essential part of some of our favorite dishes.
FAQs
History of Mozzarella
Mozzarella was first developed in Southern Italy as far back as the 1st Century A.D., although the earliest form of the cheese was most likely made using sheep's milk. The story goes that it was first made on accident when a few cheese curds fell into a pail of hot water.
What is the history of cheese pizza? ›
Then in 1889, a Neapolitan baker named Raffaele Esposito made the first pizza with a cheese topping as we know it. To celebrate the colors of the Italian flag--red, yellow and green--he created a pizza topped with a new combination of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
What is mozzarella called in Italian? ›
It is prepared with cow's milk or buffalo milk, taking the following names: "Mozzarella fior di latte" or "mozzarella": cow's milk. "Mozzarella di bufala": Italian buffalo's milk.
What is the history of pizza pie? ›
The origins of the word pie go way back. In the early twentieth century, Italian immigrants in the United States made a dish called pomidore pizza. It was a circular, sliced food and was very popular, leading to people resembling it with pie.
Why do Italian Americans say mozzarella instead of mozzarella? ›
Sound Changes
What's often happening in these differences is that the Italian American version contains the voiced version of many unvoiced Italian consonants. A voiced consonant is a consonant in which your vocal folds (commonly referred to vocal chords) vibrate while you pronounce it.
Where was mozzarella pizza invented? ›
Legend has it that mozzarella was first made when cheese curds accidently fell into a pail of hot water in a cheese factory near Naples...and soon thereafter the first pizza was made!
Why did people in Italy first start eating pizza? ›
Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy as a fast, affordable, tasty meal for working-class Neapolitans on the go. While we all know and love these slices of today, pizza actually didn't gain mass appeal until the 1940s, when immigrating Italians brought their classic slices to the United States.
Who invented pizza Italy or America? ›
Pizza dates back thousands of years, believe it or not, tracing its roots back to the flatbreads with toppings that were popular with ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. But modern pizza, the flatbreads with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings, was born along the western coast of Italy, in the city of Naples.
Where is the birthplace of pizza in Naples Italy? ›
Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba is a pizzeria in Naples, Italy, which is widely believed to be the world's first pizzeria.
What is the difference between mozzarella and pizza mozzarella? ›
Low-moisture Mozzarella was first manufactured in dairy factories in the Midwestern United States, and was originally called "pizza cheese". Compared to standard Mozzarella, low-moisture Mozzarella has a firmer texture, is easier to grate, has better browning and melting characteristics, and is less perishable.
The word pizza comes from the Italian words cornicione and crostata, which refer to the edge of a pie. Its crumb is the soft inner part of the crust, which resembles bread's hole structure. It has a similar meaning to "cornice." The other name for pizza is pie. In Italy, the word 'pizza' refers to a tomato pie.
What does pizza mean in Italian? ›
'Pizza' means 'pie' in Italian. And it is thought that the word 'pizza' traces its roots back to Latin, specifically from the term “pinsa,” which translates to flatbread. The Romans' affinity for this type of bread was undeniable; it often contained a medley of herbs and cheese as toppings.
What do New Yorkers call pizza? ›
As for a pizza pie, it actually means a slice of pizza to New Yorkers. In the 1930s and 1940s, pizza was half a cent on train rides, which was the cheapest food you could buy. By that time, it had become a common street food in New York City, but not everybody was into the idea of a pie.
What is the oldest cheese in Italy? ›
Conciato Romano is believed to be the oldest Italian cheese and, in spite of the name, it dates back to the Samnite civilisation. In fact, the ripening and curing techniques suggest ancient practices, at the dawn of agro-pastoral civilisation (Caporaso, Armento, & Sacchi, 2015).
What is mozzarella used for in Italy? ›
Mozzarella is one of the most commonly used cheeses in cooking, either for cooked dishes or for fresh dishes like salads.
What cheese was invented in Italy? ›
Originating in ancient Roman times, Pecorino Romano is one of Italy's oldest cheeses. This crumbly Italian Cheese is saltier than other hard grating Italian Cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano. Pecorino Romano's sharpness depends on its maturity, getting bolder with age.
What cheese originated in Italy? ›
Pecorino Romano: A Taste of Ancient Rome
The roots of Pecorino Romano trace back to ancient times, making it a true treasure from the past. Made from sheep's milk, this aged cheese was even a staple in the diet of Roman soldiers due to its protein and portability.
