History of Monterey Jack Cheese

 

 

Go to:   Main History Index Page  |  History of World Cuisines   |   Origins of Ingredients

 

 

Monterey Jack is a semi-hard cows' milk cheese and one of the few truly All-American cheeses.

 

It originated in the 18th Century and was made by the Spanish Franciscan monks in Monterey, California.    Also sometimes referred to simply as "Jack",  the name was taken from a Californian cheese-maker, David Jacks, who first began to mass market it from the  town of Monterey, having produced a mild, white cheese, which was initially known at first  "Jack's Cheese". Eventually it lost the 's' and became known as  "Monterey Jack" or just "Jack".

 

Today there are varieties available which have been flavoured with added ingredients such as Jalape�o peppers or herbs.

 

 

Click here for lots of recipes using Monterey Jack Cheese

 

If you've arrived at this page via a search engine, do take a few minutes to look around the site. We're convinced you'll find lots more excellent recipes and in depth culinary information covering a wide range of food related topics.