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?

They've just made that on that Marcus Wareing programme in Provence.

He's a copy cat, Ive been doing that for years!

I know!!
My nan taught me to make it when I was about 9 and im 61 in a few days!!
We used to leave it plain, or make it savoury or sweet. Savoury we would add eggs and spinach and make into a tart. For sweet we would drizzle a little honey on and have it with grilled peaches.
She showed me how to make cottage cheese, mozzarella and ricotta. We used to make cream and butter which I've started doing again over the last three or four years.

I buy it in Sainsbury’s south east London and it is found in refrigerated world foods section for some reason, I guess not to create competition for big brand yoghurts

This is Greek-esque
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/st-helen-s-farm-goat-s-milk-natural-yogurt-450g

I thought Greek Style don’t have as much protein as GreeK?

How could it have less protein? Milk is milk

The Lidl one comes out OK in this review.

Whats your usual brand OP?

I too make my own, about twice a week. I bought a skyr starter. I use my instant pot which boils the milk (essential to denature them proteins for thick yoghurt) & then incubates it.
I use full fat milk & strain for about an hour when done. 4 pints of milk fills 6 200g pots plus some put aside as a starter for the next batch.
Really really thick yoghurt, less than £2 a kg and better than any version I've ever bought.

I've just bought my DD the Lakeland yoghurt maker as she kept stealing my freshly made yoghurt to take back to Uni but haven't given it a go yet.

Clue is in the name

It’s lovely with harissa and pomegranate seeds!

Upthread a poster said that thickening agents are not used, unfortunately they are and they give the yogurt a powdery texture.

Lactose

i am addicted to this , imo better that fage!

Tim's dairy kefir greek yoghurt is where its at.

M&S Greek yogurt is amazing

Is it Koukakis? That one is LUSH. But the "Estate Dairy" one from Waitrose is also INCREDIBLE. Think it might be 10% instead of five though. But so so tasty and from Cheshire

I’m talking about Greek-style rather than actual Greek yogurt. But not worth arguing about. You know what you buy, I know what I’ve bought on the past. But as I no longer buy it, it may have changed.

I’ve spent 30 minutes watching that video, where it analyses various yoghurts. Thank you, @Mumzoo5070 for the link.
According to the video, there are 11 products to avoid and 13 which are good. Unfortunately when it shows each item it goes too fast for me to write down all the details, but I did my best.

In summary, the good products contain only milk and bacteria. The ones to avoid also contain thickeners (eg guar gum, modified starch, cream) and/or sugar, among other things.

Tim’s (#) flavoured Greek style range of yoghurt is on the avoid list.
(#) - I can’t read my writing on this word. Dairy? Dainty? Something like that.

In general, the products which are approved of have 10g of protein per 100g

Greek and Greek style can be equally good. Greek style = not made in Greece.

The cheapest one on the ‘good’ list is Iceland Greek Style natural yoghurt, £1 for 450g (I think).

✅
According to the video, M&S Collection Greek yoghurt is on the good list .

M&S 0% fat Greek style yoghurt with honey is on the other one.

I'm not sure of your point @Figmentofmyimagination
Is this because you object to air miles?

I agree with that to a point BUT most fruit and veg on sale in the UK at this time of year is imported.

If you tried to eat only UK grown produce yo'd be quite limited.
Out would go most fruit, most veg and things like olive oil.
Is this your point?

Even my whole leaf kale today was from Spain, and UK grown in Lincs wasn't available.

I buy UK grown whenever I can but I don't make a fuss over Greek yogurt. It's Fage for me, all the way. I like Fage as there is a choice of fat content. I like the 2% or 5%.

The UK brands of 'Greek' tend to be 10% fat which is too much for me as I eat around 200mgs a day and don't want 20gms saturated fat just from yoghurt.

Do you mind explaining labneh. I'm told you can make it from commercial yoghurt?

I’m Greek, so would that count as making Greek yogurt or Greek style?

The video liked the Estate Dairy one, too.

(Having spent all that time watching the video I want to share what it told me.)

It must depend on where you live, I've just bought my usual tub today, and not had any trouble at all over the last few weeks getting it at Sainsbury's Leeds.

Because greek recipe is strained so the protein percentage is higher. Greek style isn't strained.

100% agree.