Oldest Cheese Found on Chinese Mummies

Researchers have identified the world's oldest known cheese on 3,600-year-old mummies from the Xiaohe cemetery in China's Tarim Basin. The cheese, a type of kefir made from both cow and goat milk, was found smeared on the heads and necks of the mummies. Recent DNA sequencing revealed the presence of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, a bacterium used in modern kefir, and suggested distinct origins for kefir-making practices in both China and Russia. This discovery provides valuable insights into ancient human diets and the evolution of probiotic bacteria. The cheese's discovery challenges previous beliefs about the geographic origins of kefir, highlighting a long-standing dairy tradition in Northwestern China.