Clarifying Butter

Butter: A Rich History

Butter has been a dietary staple in cultures around the world since the domestication of animals, since then it has evolved in terms of social meaning and its production practices. From its initial use as a means of milk preservation and flavor enhancement, to its medicinal purposes, butter has become a fundamental ingredient in cooking and baking, as well as a cultural symbol of identity, pastural romanticism, and for some, a staple in everyday life—from “bread and butter” to “butter up” someone.

Throughout much of history, butter production and consumption has been primarily associated with women, who were responsible for milking cows and churning milk into butter. This association with women and domesticity led to butter becoming a symbol of femininity and domesticity (as well as the early modern European association among witches, the devil and butter-making), a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. During 19th century, butter production shifted with industrialization and became a large-scale product, although its image has remained tied to American pastoralism.

Butter has also become a subject of debate and tension in the culinary world, particularly in relation to health and nutrition. While butter was once seen as a necessary component of a healthy diet, in the 20th century it became associated with negative health effects such as high cholesterol and heart disease.

Butter Shaped by Culture

Butter has played a significant role in cultural practices and traditions around the world, and the cultural importance of butter can be traced back to the Neolithic period. The Tuareg nomads of the Algerian Sahara, who rely on camel milk as a staple food, view milk as an essential part of life. They have a saying: “Water is the soul; milk is life.” Camel milk is the primary source of milk for nomadic desert tribes, and the production of camel butter is a crucial aspect of their culture. This was their main source of fat which plays a critical role in the diet of developing civilizations. Although the exact origins of butter remain a mystery, researchers suggest that the first appearance of butter would have been when nomadic tribes kept camel milk in water-proof bladders as they journeyed. This, overtime, churns the cream into butter resulting in butter that is high in probiotics but also contains many impurities. It was then clarified to extend its shelf life and used as a cooking oil.

Bog Butter

Another early example of butter would be the Irish peat-bog butter. Scientists recently discovered that underneath a sea of peat moss lies perfectly preserved butter from over 2000 years ago. While the origins and exact purpose of bog butter are not completely clear, historians and archeologists have proposed several theories. Some suggest that the butter was used as a form of food preservation in that the bog’s low oxygen levels, high acidity, and cool temperatures creates an anaerobic environment that protects the butter from spoilage. Another theory posits that butter was hide in bog to hid from thieves. A third theory is that it was placed there for religious sacrifice. Despite its remarkable preservation, bog butter is not exactly appetizing by modern standards. The butter often takes on a rancid, cheesy aroma and has a waxy texture due to the breakdown of fats over time.

Evolution of Butter Production

The modern production of butter represents a significant development in the dairy industry, driven by technological innovation, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability, from the use of potassium sorbate as a preservative to the invention of sticks of butter in the 1920’s. (Did you know that butter sticks shapes are regional? In the western US, they are shorter and fatter, and in the eastern US they are longer and slimmer). During the 19^th century, fewer families kept cows and with it, the dairy industry, including butter, centralized and industrialized, becoming a male-dominated industry. When margarine was introduced, the butter industry not only lobbied to limit margarine production and sales, but promoted their product as a wholesome, natural product as tied to American pastoralism. It was during this time when butter sculptures first appeared in agricultural fairs to advance this idea.