My favourite Greek yoghurt travels by refrigerated lorry all the way from Greece

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Embarrassed to admit that I never thought about this before. My favourite brand was not available online this week and the substitute - also Greek’ - had travelled many miles overland through the Balkans, Europe and ferry etc - to reach me. Turns out that’s what my normal v delicious and well known branded yoghurt does every week, because it can’t be called Greek if it isn’t made, packaged etc in Greece. So I’m thinking, there must be a UK-equivalent Greek-style’ yoghurt that is just as delicious but without all the miles?

Tesco Finest Greek Yoghurt is the best.

Yes this is better than Fage! Creamy and delicious I love it so much.

You can get 850g pots from Amazon Fresh cheaply.

I'm so grateful for this thread. I've been buying a brand for years and now I know there is cream added. No wonder it's so creamy! Gross.

Will not be buying that again!

What’s “gross” about cream? It’s naturally the top of the milk.

It's totally different to real Greek yoghurt like Fage, though.
It's Greek Style, not Greek. I don't think it is strained at all. (We buy both- Yeo for DP and Fage for me.)

Strained always gets a film of watery milk on the top in the carton- Yeo valley doesn't.

Fage is very solid and tastes totally different.

@TheGrimSmile Also think about the poor sheep in Greece. I wouldn't buy it for this reason. Not exactly renowned for high animal welfare practices.

How are the sheep in Greece any worse off than sheep in the UK?

Greece is a very rural country. Have you ever been and seen the sheep?

Aldi own brand is good, much better than the Tesco greek style.

Not sure what the extra nutritional benefits are of buying yogurt from Greece rather than UK, I'd like to know.

I find live yogurt a convenient way of eating for my gut health, and eat it, even if just a little, every day. Personally I like Pakeeza brand, made in UK, I buy it from a local Asian store, but some supermarkets stock it also.

Funny enough a YouTube video pooped up on my feed yesterday. Some of the Greek-style, low-fat, flavoured ones don’t cut it. (Look at “protect our plates” 11 Greek-style yogurt brands to avoid)

Check the ingredients list (should only be 2 ingredients milk and bacterial yogurt culture). 10% protein.

As long as it tastes good what does it matter

I lived in Nafplio for 4 years. You are correct.

I heard on radio 4 the other day that only 6% of carbon emissions from food are from food miles and it’s much more important how things are grown and produced. I was surprised.

Yes it is - I was pleasantly surprised when I bought some recently.

I made my own greek style yogurt from Greek yogurt and it’s absolutely fine. I just strain it overnight and then it keeps amazing in the fridge. When I’m down to my dregs I just make more and the cycle continues. I also use my own yoghurt to ferment double cream and turn into the most delicious zingy French style butter. Saves me a fortune! I have also made labneh balls rolled in spices and herbs and stored them in oil and that’s absolutely banging on crackers.

No, Yeo valley do both "Greek style" & "Greek recipe" which is strained. See my photo up thread yesterday. It says "strained" on the front of the pot.

OMG why are people so resistant to understanding this!

Greek style just means not made in Greece. It does not mean lower protein, or not strained or added sugar or thickeners.

The label Greek or Greek Style only tells you about where it was made. You need to check the label for anything else!

one of the yogurts featured was Milbona at Lidl. The ingredients listed are just milk. The video says that cream is added. This is not apparent from looking at the ingredients list which just says "milk". I guess what's missing is the bacteria- none listed at all.

Lidl's own brand Greek yogurt (actual Greek yogurt imported) also has just "milk" listed though is higher in protein. I am not sure how that is made.

I thought this until I watched the YT video some people mentioned in this thread which revealed that many (but not all) Greek style yogurts are made quickly (to save money) meaning that the bacteria are not given the chance to do their thing... so thickeners like guar gum are added.

According to the video, the Milbona one at Lidl is worse as they literally thicken it with cream.

I know. Fage Greek strawberry yogurt for example has sugar and thickeners. Being Greek doesn't prevent that.

Because it's flavoured.....

Cream is... Natural on top of milk. It's basically fatty part of milk which rises to top...
Guar gum etc shod be declared on ngredients list.

Gpsh you all just reminded me of my two fave diary products. Yogurts with top layer of cream (naturally set) and ewe milk kefir🙈

Yeo Valley, M&S and Waitrose do authentic Greek yogurt now (last year or so), which is great. Make sure you buy the authentic/Greek recipe, not Greek style.

Greek style is different (runnier). You need the Greek recipe/Authentic Greek ones to be similar to Fage.

No. You can get greek style but made identically to Greek.

This ^ it’s definitely runnier and it tastes bitter. So it clearly is different.