What is the oldest cheese you can buy?
Matthew Wilson
Published Mar 31, 2026
What is the oldest cheese you can buy?
Bitto Storico can be aged up to 18 years – and no, that is NOT a typo. I did say 18 years. Ten year aged Bitto Storico is oldest you’ll most likely find available for purchase in Valtellina.
How long can cheese age?
Fresh vs. Aged Cheese: What is the Difference?
| Cheese Type | Aging Time | Cheese Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Camembert, Brie | 2-4 weeks | Soft & Smooth |
| Muenster, Provolone | 4-8 weeks | Semi-Soft |
| Cheddar, Gouda, & Colby | 2-4 months | Semi-Hard |
| Parmesan | 4-6 months | Hard or Firm |
How old is world’s oldest cheese?
The new ‘world’s oldest cheese’ is more than 7,000 years old Back to video. In a study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers claim that the lipid residue on pottery remnants represents the earliest example of Mediterranean cheese making.
What cheese has to age?
Most experts consider a cheese to be an Aged Cheese if it is cured in a cave or cellar for over 6 months. Aged Cheeses tend to be sharp and hard or firm in texture. Cheeses that lend themselves well to the aging process are Cheddar, Gruyere, Manchego, Gouda and Parmesan-types like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano.
What’s the oldest thing on Earth?
Microscopic grains of dead stars are the oldest known material on the planet — older than the moon, Earth and the solar system itself.
How old is the longest aged cheddar cheese?
Sellers who specialize in cheese will generally have a larger variety. Some will sell cheddar that has been aged for five or six years while others will go up to seven years.
How long does it take for goat cheese to age?
Chevre/ Goat Cheese: Usually aged for two weeks or less; however, if label says “aged” or states a specific cheese variety, may be aged much longer – NO Chevre/ Goat Cheese (Aged): If label says “aged” or states a specific cheese variety – YES Emmental/ Swiss Cheese-Switzerland: 6-14 months – YES Fontina (Aged): Aging widely varies.
How old does cheese have to be before you can eat it?
It is the position of the OU’s poskim (halachic authorities) that one need only wait between eating aged cheese and meat if the cheese is of a variety that is intentionally aged in production, such as Parmesan (must be aged in production at least 10 months) and Emmental (much be aged in production at least 6 months).
How long does it take for Swiss cheese to age?
Cheese Type and Aging Period American Cheese: Made from cheddar that is aged 2-3 months or less – NO Appenzeller Classic (Swiss-made): 3-4 months – NO Appenzeller Extra (Swiss-made): Over 6 months – YES
What kind of cheese is aged the longest?
Grated as a Condiment . Parmigiano-Reggiano is the longest aged cheese in the world. It can age up to 36 months. The texture is drier and more crumbly than younger cheeses which makes this one ideal for grating over pasta and meat.
What is the oldest edible cheese?
Bitto Storico may not be an ancient cheese like the others on this list, but it is promoted as being the world’s oldest edible cheese. These cheese from the Valtellina Valley in Italy can be aged for up to 18 years, which is significantly longer than any other cheese on the market.
Does aged cheddar have less lactose than young Cheddar?
These younger, softer cheeses have more lactose, and that rule about age still holds true for hard cheeses; an aged cheddar will be friendlier to a lactose intolerant person’s digestive system than a young one because there’s been more time for the bacteria to break down the lactose.
What is the longest aged cheddar?
Aging time depends on the type of Cheddar. In general, mild Cheddar is aged for two to three months, while sharp and extra sharp Cheddar is aged 12 to 18 months. The oldest Cheddar has generally been aged about ten years.