Cheesecake is a dessert that many people adore. It comes in many recipes and variations, so you can choose whichever you like best: burnt cheesecake, cheesecake with fruit, or cheesecake with a soft, silky crumb.
An Ancient History
Cheesecake is hugely popular, but few people know that it has a very long history. It began with the ancient Greeks, who lived on a frugal diet of wheat, olive oil and wine. They were mad about cheese, and gave cheese to their children as a special treat.
"Little cheese" was a term of endearment. The earliest Greek cheese was a simple sheep's milk cheese kept in brine to stop it spoiling in the intense summer heat. One such cheese, feta, has been made for hundreds of years and is still a staple of the Greek diet today, although the name feta comes from the Italian word fetta, meaning "slice", and was not used until the 17th century. Feta's mild flavour makes it extremely versatile, delicious in both savoury and sweet dishes, and it can be used to make cheesecake too. The Greeks made cheesecake for special occasions.
New York Cheesecake
The world-famous New York cheesecake that everyone raves about was born in 1950 at Junior's Cheesecake in Brooklyn, New York. It is a baked cheesecake that wins people over everywhere with its smooth, dense and ultra-creamy texture. It was originally served without decoration, but today many shops top their New York cheesecake with fruit or jam to make it more attractive.
Basque Burnt Cheesecake
There are also two modern styles of cheesecake. The first is Basque burnt cheesecake, which originated in the Basque Country of Spain, where it is called tarta de queso or San Sebastián cheesecake. The name Basque burnt cheesecake stuck because it refers to its place of origin. The cheesecake is left semi-set inside, making it soft, smooth and silky, though less dense than New York cheesecake, with a caramelised top burnt to a deep brown and a distinctive sweet aroma.
Japanese Cheesecake
The other is Japanese cheesecake, also called soufflé cheesecake, cotton cheesecake or light cheesecake, referring to its soft, airy crumb. It is softer, less sweet and lower in calories than New York cheesecake because the recipe uses less cheese and sugar. It was created by Tomotaro Kuzuno in 1960, inspired by the German cheesecake Käsekuchen. Japanese cheesecake became famous worldwide in the 1990s thanks to the bakery Tio Tetsu's Cheesecake, which features it as its signature item and opened more than 70 branches in various countries, including Thailand.
Hard to believe that such a modern-looking dessert has such a long history! Now we are craving cheesecake, so we are off to buy some.
