Cheese is made in a wide variety of styles, tastes, smells, looks, and consistencies; from soft to hard, sharp to mild, and wet to dry. Traditionally, cheese is made by culturing milk either by encouraging natural enzymes and bacterial action (in raw milk), or by using the culture of your choice (in pasteurized milk). A coagulant, such as rennet, lemon juice, or vinegar is then added, causing the milk protein casein to curdle and separate as a white, firm curd from the clear, watery whey. The curd is then cut, using a specialized curd cutter, or a really long kitchen knife, into smaller cubes (now curds), to be mashed and formed to your specific style. Next you either lightly drain the curds and crumble them to use as a soft cheese, or spread (press) the curds, using a round cheese press. Curds are compressed in a cheese press for as long as the specific style requires, then wrapped in some type of bandage or cloth, sometimes brined or rubbed in butter or lard, and put into a dark, cool environment to age naturally for as long as needed.