Monterey Jack
Encyclopedia
Monterey Jack is an American semihard cheese
made using cow's milk. It is commonly sold by itself, or mixed with Colby to make a marbled cheese known as Colby-Jack (or Co-Jack). Cheddar
-Jack varieties are also available.
In its earliest form, Monterey Jack was made by the Mexican Franciscan
friars of Monterey, California
, during the 19th century. California
businessman David Jack
sold the cheese commercially. He produced a mild, white cheese, which came to be known as "Jack's Cheese", and eventually "Monterey Jack".
A common misspelling is "Monterrey" Jack, presumably in confusion with the Mexican city of Monterrey
.
for only one month, while another variety of Monterey Jack is aged for up to six months. A type found in Spain is aged for about one year.
as Italian aged cheeses became increasingly difficult to obtain.
Another version called pepper jack mixes hot peppers with Monterey Jack. Pepper jack is often used as an alternative cheese in dishes such as quesadilla
s, but can be eaten with bread or crackers as a snack. Other versions are flavored with garlic or pesto, though they are less common than pepper jack.
, an organic compound thought to be associated with headaches, it is frequently recommended as one of the few cheeses that is safe to eat for migraine
sufferers.
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
made using cow's milk. It is commonly sold by itself, or mixed with Colby to make a marbled cheese known as Colby-Jack (or Co-Jack). Cheddar
Cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard, yellow to off-white, and sometimes sharp-tasting cheese, produced in several countries around the world. It has its origins in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset....
-Jack varieties are also available.
In its earliest form, Monterey Jack was made by the Mexican Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friars of Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, during the 19th century. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
businessman David Jack
David Jack (businessman)
David Jack , also known as David Jacks, was a powerful Californian landowner, developer, and businessman. Born in Scotland, he emigrated to California during the 1849 Gold Rush, and soon acquired several thousand acres in and around Monterey, shaping the history of Monterey County in the first...
sold the cheese commercially. He produced a mild, white cheese, which came to be known as "Jack's Cheese", and eventually "Monterey Jack".
A common misspelling is "Monterrey" Jack, presumably in confusion with the Mexican city of Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
.
Aging
Most of the softer types generally found in American markets are agedCheese ripening
Cheese ripening or alternatively cheese maturation is a process in cheesemaking. It is responsible for the distinct flavour of cheese, and through the modification of "ripening agents", determines the features that define many different varieties of cheeses, such as taste, texture, and body...
for only one month, while another variety of Monterey Jack is aged for up to six months. A type found in Spain is aged for about one year.
Variants
An aged version of this cheese, known as Dry Jack, can be churned or grated and used much like Parmesan cheese. Dry Jack was originally created by mistake in San Francisco during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as Italian aged cheeses became increasingly difficult to obtain.
Another version called pepper jack mixes hot peppers with Monterey Jack. Pepper jack is often used as an alternative cheese in dishes such as quesadilla
Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a flour or corn tortilla filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese and other ingredients, then folded in half to form a half-moon shape. This dish originated in Mexico, and the name is derived from the Spanish word queso ....
s, but can be eaten with bread or crackers as a snack. Other versions are flavored with garlic or pesto, though they are less common than pepper jack.
Health impact
Because of its low content of tyramineTyramine
Tyramine is a naturally occurring monoamine compound and trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine acts as a catecholamine releasing agent...
, an organic compound thought to be associated with headaches, it is frequently recommended as one of the few cheeses that is safe to eat for migraine
Migraine
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea...
sufferers.
External links
- Monterey County Historical Society: Monterey Jack Cheese
- Brown, Robert Carlton (1955). Jack, California Jack and Monterey Jack, Chapter 4: "American Cheddars". In The Complete Book of Cheese. Gramercy Publishing Company: New York, 1955.