Greek yogurt sales continue to soar

[HillJ]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01...

Interesting article on the two major suppliers of Greek yogurt sales.

[YVR flyboy]

I never liked yoghurt until I went to Australia and had their fresh yoghurt with various fresh fruit toppings. Since almost anything grows in Australia, my favourite is the mango , passion fruit. In Australia, there are refrigerated pans as in a gelato shop with the various choices & everything goes by weight. In order to attempt to duplicate this, I get the yoghurt at Sun Valley Fine Foods at Danforth & Gough(Pape), then slice fresh fruits with a drizzle of amber maple syrup.

[danna]

Have you tried this stuff? http://wallabyyogurt.com/ they have a passion fruit flavor, i'm pretty sure.

[fame da lupo]

Not a sexy Greek brand, but Cabot makes a delicious Greek yogurt (I only get the whole milk version). Mildly tangy, rich and thick, and roughly $5 for the 32 oz tub.

[beachmouse]

For a while, Cabot also had a Greek-style chocolate raspberry yogurt that was just perfect as a dessert. Wish they hadn't discontinued it because it was awesome.

[pdxgastro]

It's a healthy trend. Is it cyclical do you think? Remember in the 70s when Dannon was the brand to eat? Remember Dannon's great ads with the cute 100 yr old Georgians? (Am I rambling?)

[HillJ]

Not at all, Bob W and I discuss Dannon upthread. Times change, packaging changes, marketing changes....but Greek yogurt is also delicious, lower in fat and makes me happy!

[rochfood]

Just what the dairy and yogurt companies want... smaller product size for a premium price. Must be heaven sent for them.

[PairingsSeries]

We've found that Trader Joe's European Style Yogurt is our favorite affordable yougurt. Fage may be the best, but it is too pricey for our budget.

[goodhealthgourmet]

the European Style yogurt falls somewhere in between standard yogurt and Greek-style in terms of consistency/thickness and protein content.

have you tried Trader Joe's house label Greek Style Yogurt? it's really good, and far more budget-friendly than Fage or Chobani.

[EM23]

GHG - is TJ's similar in taste to the Fage? And is it 0%, 2% or full-fat?

[goodhealthgourmet]

it's a little smoother/less chalky than Fage - i find the texture to be similar to Chobani. the flavor isn't *quite* as tart & sour as Fage, which is actually the one drawback in my opinion - i like the sourness. i swear i always detect the faintest hint of a lemony note in the TJ's too, even though it's plain yogurt. it's really tasty stuff, and it comes in the same 3 fat ranges as the others - 0%, 2% and full fat.

[EM23]

Thanks!

[HillJ]

ghg, didn't you once tell me that the TJ's label is actually Oikos Greek yogurt?

[goodhealthgourmet]

just the organic in the single-serving (5.3 oz) containers...though i think they may have changed suppliers because i tried one recently and it doesn't taste the same, and the nutrition info is different now as well. i've never been able to figure out who makes their conventional Greek yogurt because the numbers don't match up with any of the big brands. i guess it's possible that they contracted one of the dairies they use for their milk to make it for them, but it's always driven me nuts that i can't figure it out :)

[Caitlin McGrath]

Which TJ's European Style are you talking about? I know the organic European Style, available in nonfat and whole milk in quarts, at least what's sold in California, is from Straus Creamery and is pretty loose and thin (identical in flavor and consistency to what Straus sells under its own label).

[goodhealthgourmet]

that's the one i'm talking about - it's runnier and lower in protein/higher in carbs than Greek-style, but not as watery as some of the standard plain yogurts like Dannon et al.

Straus actually doesn't make/supply it for them nationwide - in some regions it's Wallaby.

[Caitlin McGrath]

The Straus is much runnier than most standard plain yogurts, including the others sold at TJ's, like the French Village, in my experience (someone in my household buys Straus or the TJ's-labeled Straus every week), but YMMV. I'm not a big fan of the style.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i don't like it either. and to be honest, it's been years since i had any, so my memory may be playing trick on me - it's quite possible that it's actually runnier than i remember. anyway, the primary point i wanted to make to PairingsSeries was that European and Greek styles aren't the same thing. my message probably got convoluted, but his/her statement that Fage may be better but the Euro is more affordable wasn't an equivalent comparison since the products are so different...not that i have to tell you that ;)

[rteplow]

I'm a big fan of the Liberte brand. The flavors are interesting (I like plum & fig, pineapple, orange & passionfruit, and now they have black cherry). They used to sell mocha but haven't for a number of years.

[mrsjoujou]

I used to eat Fage 2% a few years ago, but when Chobani came to the mkt in CA, I switched to that. I like the taste of Chobani better, because it is more tangy and it reminds me of the yogurt from Greece and Turkey. To me, Fage taste more like a sour cream. I had a hard time finding Chobani 2% in our whole foods in OC for the past few months and finally in the past two weeks I have been able to buy some.

[iluvtennis]

I just tried Greek yogurt for the first time last week and it happened to be the Chobani...i abosultely love it. I'm 18 weeks pregnant now and it is a great way for me to get some extra protein and satisfy my sweet tooth. So far i've tried the honey, strawberry banana, pomegranate, and passion fruit flavors...any particular flavors that you recommend?

[Bob W]

Black cherry, peach, and mango are great too!

[HillJ]

I saw blood orange and pineapple Chobani for the first time this week and the stocker said they can't keep Chobani on the shelves! I hear chocolate is in the works!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Sis loves the new apple cinnamon, though just be warned that it's probably pretty sweet because that's what she tends to go for. Mom's three favorites are the ones Bob W listed. i only eat plain - i like to doctor it up myself :)

[mrsjoujou]

I eat the plain 2% and add my own fruit and nuts.

[YVR flyboy]

I usually try to find the highest fat content as it's usually tastier(& especially when my doctor says my cholesterol level is fine)

[fame da lupo]

Agreed. Cabot Greek is 23g fat per 1 cup. Since I've learned that eating fat doesn't make you fat, I've whole-heatedly embraced whole milk.

[Janskitchen]

I am also a big fan of the Fage 2%. I buy it plain and often top it with honey. Any suggestions on how to incorporate it into my cooking? Are there any issues with heating it too high, etc.?

[HillJ]

Jansk, if you visit the Home Cooking board you see lots of suggestions!

[Janskitchen]

Thanks

[EM23]

Jan - A recent discussion on how to cook with yogurt here
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/818574

[FoodPopulist]

Has anyone been to a restaurant touting a menu item as being made with Greek yogurt, such as a "Greek yogurt chicken salad sandwich"?

[HillJ]

Smoothie bars definately. Many bakers I know and work with now use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in muffins, pancakes, poundcakes, etc. But other than a Greek restaurant, no.

[foodyDudey]

There is a desert on the menu at Splendido in Toronto, where Greek Yogurt is mentioned.
You can find it here:
http://splendido.ca/menus/dinner/

[Bob W]

I think it's pretty amazing how the past few years have seen the introduction of radically new products in both the dairy-case yogurt market (Greek yogurt) and the frozen yogurt market (Korean-style).

We've come a long way (away from really sweet stuff, which is a good trend).

[HillJ]

I agree Bob W and price wise these newer products are the same as the older, really sweet stuff of a decade ago. I don't miss the old Dannon brand and I was a believer in yogurt (remember the 99 year olds eating Dannon commercials) from day one. But Greek styled yogurt just has a more satisfying taste and feel to me now. Some of the recent brands coming out of Iceland-style or Australia style have also been interesting but I remain a fan of Fage, Chobani and appreciate Costco's new offering.

[Bob W]

The yogurts I used to eat regularly back in the 70s were the old Dannon with a thick layer of sweet glop on the bottom (and I loved those commercials, like the one with the 100 year old guy and his mom, or something like that), Hood Firm N Fruity, and New Country. I think they all had about 260 calories per container.

My kids love Chobani, and while I like it too, I prefer Fage. But both are far superior to the old stuff.

One other historical note: In a departure from the general trend toward bigger portions, single-serve yogurts used to be 8 oz. Now they are 6 oz or even smaller -- yet in the case of greek yogurt, more filling due to the upgrade in protein content.

[HillJ]

One other historical note: In a departure from the general trend toward bigger portions, single-serve yogurts used to be 8 oz. Now they are 6 oz or even smaller -- yet in the case of greek yogurt, more filling due to the upgrade in protein content.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excellent point.

[HillJ]

Kirkland brand thru Costco has been selling plain Greek yogurt, Chobani & Fage for some time now and in my area has the best prices, unless a grocer is offering a discount that week. I like all three. There are close to a dozen Greek yogurts I don't like. I haven't enjoyed "regular" or "custard" yogurt for years but my dh still enjoys Yoplait. Beyond including it in smoothies, baking and dips I find Greek yogurt comforting and soothing on the stomach.

I posted the article but it's good news for the milk trade and with so many companies struggling, it was nice to see some doing very well.

[Saluti]

I have come to really like Greek yogurt. It's a good substitute for sour cream and it has twice the protein as regular yogurt. I don't always eat a lot of meat so it's a good way to get in some extra protein.

[Monica]

is this for health reason or for taste?
I am not a fan of Greek yogurt so I tend to eat regular yogurts from Trader Joe's, etc.
To me, Greek yogurt is too thick and heavy.

[mels]

For me, regular yogurt is too runny and I can't go back! I like the texture of it, and am particularly in love with Fage 2%. Chobani has a weird taste to it, although I eat it plain most of the time and may be more aware of subtle differences.

[jkling17]

Just an fyi - you can strain yogurt in cheese cloth and thus may make it nice and thick, as you like.

[viperlush]

I've accidentially bought the Chobani vanilla. I thought that tasted a lot better than their plain. Not a heavy vanilla flavor, just enough to take some of the sourness out. We eat it w/fruit and granola. I prefer Fage plain over Chobani plain. And I prefer the Fage individuals w/fruit on the side over the Chobani w/fruit on the bottom.

[davis_sq_pro]

Health and taste for me. I like the texture more than most non-Greek yogurts, and it's a great and easy way to get plenty of protein in the morning without cooking anything.

[danna]

yes to all that! Tastes great and healthy in the same package! How often does THAT happen?

I didn't read the article, so this may have been addressed, but the price is coming down , at least around here. WF had gotten up to $1.89 for full price a while back, but is now at $1.49. (although often they have sales) A local grocery had it at $1 recently.

[CanadaGirl]

Interesting. I for one have been eating a lot more yogurt since making the switch to Greek (although not the brands in the article as I'm in Canada). I adore the Greek stuff.