Butter is a dairy product made from the milk of cows, sheep, goats, or yaks. It is a versatile ingredient used in cooking, baking, and as a spread.
Its origin is closely tied to Western civilization; however, some claim that butter was first made in Central Asia or Europe as early as 8,000 BC.
Butter production spread to other parts of the world through trading and colonization. It started in China in the 2nd century BC, to India in the 4th century AD, and to the Americas by European colonists in the 16th century.
Additionally, the earliest method of making butter was simple. People simply churned cream by hand until the fat separated.
The invention of the cream separator in the 19th century brought changes in butter production. This machine allowed people to separate cream from milk much more easily.
Thus, this made butter production more efficient and widespread.
Nowadays, this savory delight is part of our guilty pleasures from our favorite pastries, cakes, and cookies. Furthermore, we have these top butter-producing countries to thank for: India, EU-27, the United States, New Zealand, and Russia.