Monterey Jack

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This article is about Monterey Jack cheese. For other uses, see Monterey Jack (disambiguation).
Monterey Jack
Country of origin United States
Region California
Town Monterey
Source of milk Cows
Texture Semihard, creamy
Aging time 1-6 months

Monterey Jack (sometimes shortened simply to Jack cheese) is an American semihard cheese, customarily pale yellow, 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. Californian 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".[1]



Most of the softer types generally found in American markets are aged for only one month, while another variety, Dry Jack, is aged for up to six months.


An aged version of this cheese, known as Dry Jack, can be grated and used much like Parmesan cheese.[2] Dry Jack was originally created by accident in 1915 when a San Francisco cheese wholesaler stored and forgot a number of wheels of fresh Jack cheese.[3] When shipments of hard cheese from Europe were subsequently interrupted as World War I intensified, he rediscovered the stored Jack, which had become a well-aged hard cheese his customers found to be a good substitute for classic, aged hard cheeses such as Parmesan.[3]


Health impact[edit]

Because of its low content of tyramine, an organic compound thought to be associated with headaches,[4] it is frequently recommended as one of the few cheeses that is safe to eat for migraine sufferers.[citation needed]


  1. ^ Feldman, David (2006). Why do Pirates Love Parrots? An Imponderables Books. New York: Collins. pp. 53–55. ISBN 0-06-088842-3. 
  2. ^ "Dry Jack at". 
  3. ^ a b Dry Monterey Jack Cheese: What's Old Is New Again
  4. ^ Headaches from Food: The Connection

External links[edit]