Cheddar cheese originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England. The caves in the Cheddar Gorge provided the ideal constant temperature and humidity for aging. The unique texture of Cheddar comes from the 'cheddaring' process, where blocks of curd are stacked on top of one another to squeeze out moisture. While many everyday cheddars are orange, the cheese is naturally white or pale yellow. The orange color comes from annatto, a seed from the achiote tree. Traditionally, this was added to mimic the high-quality color of milk from cows grazing on beta-carotene-rich summer grass, even during the winter months when their milk turned white.