From school lunches to afternoon snacks, yoghurt has long been a popular household staple, but have you ever wondered what exactly yoghurt is? How it’s made, or how it differs from milk? Learn the ins-and-outs of yoghurt so you can fully appreciate this humble but oh-so-good sweet, versatile, tasty and nutritious product.
Here’s what makes yoghurt udderly delicious:
The basics
The journey of yoghurt begins with live cultures being added to milk – these kickstart the fermentation process, by fermenting the sugar (lactose) found in milk. The lactic acid produced from this process then curdles the proteins, resulting in the creamy flavour and silky texture of yoghurt. While yoghurt is typically white, thick and tangy in taste (plain yoghurt), it can be coloured and sweetened to give flavour sensations such as strawberry, granadilla, blueberry, chocolate ~ simply scrumptious!
🎵 I gut a feeling… 🎵
The live cultures found in yoghurt have probiotic effects which help restore and maintain balance in your digestive system, assisting with optimal digestive health. Yoghurt is also linked to bone and muscle health, as well as healthy blood pressure. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer and, if mindfully incorporated into a healthy diet, can contribute to weight loss (minus the flavoured versions of course!).
Yo-ghurt to love it! ❤️
There are many healthy and delicious ways to enjoy yoghurt. You can cook with it, snack on it or make it a meal on its own. Enjoy it simply with fresh fruit and muesli, or blended into a thick and delicious smoothie. It also works well as an ingredient in sauces, dressings and dips. Tzatziki is an excellent yoghurt-based Greek sauce that can be used as a spread or dip – try this delicious recipe.
Remember that not all meals have to be complex and time consuming…. simple meals can be just as delicious and nutritious like this roasted sweet potato and yoghurt.
With all these nutritional benefits and tasty options, it doesn’t matter which yoghurt you keep in the fridge, it’s sure to be gobbled up very quickly! Always remember to check the label to ensure it’s produced in South Africa; that way you know you are supporting the proud South Africans that work hard to keep this superfood on the shelves, on your table and in your belly.
Tip-Top Milk is passionate about dairy and is proud to transport raw milk from dairy farmers to processing plants across South Africa, who then turn milk into the dairy-licious products you see on the shelves today.
Needing milk for your processing plant? Click here to learn more about our processes.