smalti

Adding to this old thread to mention a product I just found, which tastes much more "cultured-milky," and more like yoghurts I've had at some European hotel breakfasts than the usual US brands do.

But this is not exactly yoghurt at all: it's Lifeway Lowfat Kefir, another "probiotic" dairy food (its label boasts 10 different lactobacilli and other cultures). The novelty is that I found it at Publix--I've bought kefir before, but only at a small local Lebanese grocery.

Another novelty is that its taste is so strong--stronger than other kefir I've had, and much stronger than most yoghurts. I hate the word "tangy," but it's precisely the right word.

I sweetened the plain kefir with some marmalade--next time I'll try one of the fruit flavors.

Just FYI!

MaureenB

And here I thought European yoghurt tasted better because I was eating it while sitting above the water at Vernazza, or on a bench in Santa Margherita Ligure!

alan64

We get the Trader Joe's Greek Style Yogurt.

fishee

Another vote for Trader Joe's for excellent yogurt. The greek yogurt (whole milk, not the non-fat one) and the Plain Organic Creamline are excellent.

The cream rises to the top in the Creamline -- a thick 1/2 inch layer that you have to mix back in, it's great.

laclaire

My mom bought me a yogurt maker and I find that if I make it, it tastes a lot like the European stuff. I make mine with skim milk if I want it to be runny and whole if I want more sustenance.

That said, Total Greek is awesome. Also, Yobaby (yogurt for babies) pear and apple is amazing and I used to always have that for dessert when I babysat.

luvtotravel

Recently I discovered Voskos Greek style yogurt at my local Ralph's supermarket in Southern California. Very rich -- exactly like the yogurt I loved in Greece. I add honey, of course, and stay away from the fruit flavored ones. Just simple ole thick and creamy plain flavor. Much, much better than the Greek yogurt at Trader Joe's. I also tried other brands that use the word Greek in the title or description, but they can't compare with Voskos.

jody

I'm off to Publix in the AM to look for the kefir!!

travelerjan

Just a note about Greek Yogurt (which i require for sustaining life, between my annual trips to Greece) - one of the things that makes it so thick and yummy, even the 0% fat versions, is that it is pre-strained... if you can't buy it, you can "improve" American yogurt by draining it in a coffee filter held in a sieve. BUT you must use a brand that has NO pectin; check label carefully. Most US brands, even at stores like Whole foods and Trader Joes, now include pectin, a jelling agent that makes it seem thick when it aint -- like cheap cherry pie with not enough cherries will use thickener.

RufusTFirefly

A note of caution: Even though raw milk and raw milk products are only a small percentage of the total milk consumption in the developed nations, thousands become ill from raw milk-borne illnesses annually--plus a varying annual number of deaths, still births, and miscarriages.

It's especially dangerous for babies, children, the elderly, and those with immune-system problems.

Hard cheeses made with raw milk are less likely to cause problems than actual raw milk or soft cheeses made with raw milk.

crefloors

I notice that the yogurt in Europe isn't as sweet as most of the yogurts in the US, and also seem a bit thinner. I looked at Trader Joes and Wild Oats, and all over and I was having "issues" with the sugar content in most of the flavored one. They all seemed to have 13 grams sugar and upwards, some as high as 30 grams. I found that Dannon has the lowest sugar content. Most of them have 7 grams of sugar so I have started to buy Dannon.

logos999

>yogurt in Europe
I doubt that such a thing exists. I always find new brands and tastes, different "thickness" ans sweetness and I don't have to leave town for it.

SeaUrchin

Hi crefloors! I think it is best to just buy it plain and add a bit of maple syrup or honey and some fruit or just fruit jam. If I remember correctly the yogurt has the worse type of sugar added.

I just finished some Mountain High all natural yoghurt which is about the best sold in my nearby supermarkets.

Also I think the sugared ones dont always have the live cultures which is the whole point.

Bon apetite!

(still have your list of floor tips!!)

crefloors

Hi "Seal": will need a remodel update at some point. You're right about getting the plain stuff...it was what I was raised on..I've just gotten so lazy..I know, how hard can it be to stir some strawberries into a cup of yogurt, ya think?

highledge

I's the corn syrup! Spend a monet in a US grocery store and read the ingredients on the yogurts. (I did it a lot this summer).
"Most" US brands have corn srup. In my book corn syrup equals candy. Don't want it in my "good food"- yogurt or apple sauce or (when I'm lazy) salad dressings.
try the natural brands. I think the yogurts I buy in the Uk are less sweet. Both the natural and the vanilla have more of a tang than the ones sold in the US.
Best option? Buy TOTAL and a a bit of honey to it. Best ever!!

Eleni

Where I live in the US, there is no Trader Joe's and no greek brands of yogurt available. To replicate Greek yogurt, I buy full-fat plain yogurt (i prefer Pavel's Original Russian full-fat yogurt but any brand of full-fat will do). I then put it in a paper-towel lined colander for an hour or two to drain off excess whey. This treatment greatly improves the taste and texture of US yogurt. One note: full-fat yogurt can be hard to find. Many of my local stores have only low-fat or no-fat yogurts, which don't have near the flavor of the full-fat.

smalti

To reiterate: I find Lifeway Kefir to be very good.

Jody--So, how's about it? Did you find kefir at Publix! What do you think?

SeaUrchin

Yes it is the high fructose corn syrup that is fattening up America! Seems like it does something to our systems that regular sugar and other beet and cane sugar products don't. I used to think that was why the soft drinks tasted so much better in Europe, because they still used real sugar. Is that still the case?

sorriso

ulies,

I feel your pain and know exactly what you mean. I have been to Europe four times and was converted after the first visit. By trips three and four I was a fanatic and was reading labels. When we got home from Rome I emailed that Italian company--name eludes me, seems to me they were involved in some kind of a scandal back awhile ago--who actually does export to the US to please, please, please bring us their yogurt. (No reply was received by the way!)

When we were in France in March 2005, I read the labels in grocery stores and all the flavored ones were deemed by me to be unacceptable--I think they had high fructose corn syrup which seems crazy from this vantage point because HFCS is such an American thing. I ended up buying the plain yogurt and adding strawberry spread. Yummy.

When in Rome prior to that, I know the yogurts were sweetened with grape something or another.

Since then I've dabbled with recreating the taste and texture on my own and here's what I've settled on: Stonyfield Farms Plain Low Fat Organic Yogurt, fruit of my choice (blueberries right now), splenda to taste. Absolute heaven! I had started out with organic yogurt from our local health food store but the brand I like best was always out of stock, Stonyfield's always in the supermarket. I've shared with doubters ("Yogurt is disgusting," etc.) and have made believers out of 100%.

Hopefully this will be close enough to get you through until your next visit.

Linda

pikia

I love yogurt and I am European. Unfortunately I haven't found a good European style yogurt in USA yet. I remember my first Yoplait, I thought that it wasn't yogurt at all, it's more like a dessert.

Some Trader Joe's brand are very similar to European yogurt (they have a brand called "spega" which is Italian). "Activia" yogurt of Dannon is a good one, too. I see that lots of American yogurts have high fructose corn syrup which I'd like to avoid in my diet!

Pilates

Jumping on the fructose and HFCS topic have you seen this study from last year? It's in everything sweet.

It's in things you wouldn't ordinarily consider too. For instance I just found out that pickles are made with HFCS. For those who use ketchup, it's in there too. (Try Trader Joes organic ketchup instead)

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/109/109250.htm

Something I learned today while trying to find a link to this study is that fructose will increase your cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels. In order to avoid HFCS you have to buy organic and read each and every label of packages and cans.