Cream Cheese, an American original, became popular around 1880 when factories spread from the Northeast to the rest of the country.

At that time, cheesemaking underwent a revolutionary change with the invention of the separator, which made it possible to separate the whey immediately from the hot solids, allowing cheesemakers to pack the curd hot, and the shelf life for the finished cheese doubled.

When it comes to cream cheese, there are several options - full fat, low fat and fat free (called Neufchatel).

Because cheese is essentially milk that is condensed it is important to choose cream cheese made from organic milk, free from hormones.

Choose organic cream cheese and keep refrigerated. This cheese goes well with fresh fruit, jams and jellies, fruit and nut breads. For wines pair with fruity white wines like Riesling.