England’s Oldest Known Cheese Guide Warns: Don’t Eat Dog Cheese

Cheeses come in many complex and unique varieties—and the English knew it as far back as the 1580s. A new transcription of the oldest known English book about cheese—titled A pamflyt compiled of Cheese, contayninge the differences, nature, qualities, and goodnes, of the same—reveals a host of insights and suggestions for the cheese lovers of the late 16th century. While the 112-page manuscript was never published and its author remains unknown, it was prized by its previous owners, including members of parliament and a royal doctor. Clearly, cheese was rightfully venerated even 445 years ago. “I’ve never seen anything like it: it’s probably the first comprehensive academic study of a single foodstuff to be written in the English language,” author and food historian Peter Brears said in a University of Leeds statement. The University of Leeds acquired the vellum-bound manuscript at auction in 2023, before its value was widely recognized. “The Pamflyt shows that cheeses of different ki ... Read full article.