Records of yogurt in Greece begin in the 5th century BCE with the writings of Herodotus, but in reality, the process of straining yogurt (making it “Greek”) began somewhere in the Middle East.
Old-fashioned Greek yogurt is made with goat's milk while American yogurt, and many of the American-made “Greek-style” products, are made from cow's milk. (“Greek-style” yogurts may also contain thickening agents like condensed milk or gelatin.)
Did you know? Olympiana is the only authentic Greek Yogurt sold in America. None of the “Greek” yogurt sold by US companies is made in Greece. Most of them use additives to thicken the yogurt, and factory machines, rather than straining the yogurt in a fabric bag like we do.
Etymology and spelling
The word is derived from the Turkish word yoğurt and is usually related to the verb yoğurmak, "to knead", or "to be curdled or coagulated; to thicken".
Chobani is an American food company specializing in strained yogurt. The company was founded in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish Kurd businessman. Chobani sells thick, Greek yogurt with a higher protein content than traditional yogurt and is one of the main companies to popularize this style of yogurt in the US.
Chobani has transformed one of Greece's signature dishes into a staple of the American diet, establishing a hip, health-conscious image for the dairy product that rings true to the yogurt's ingredients. Ulukaya is a Turkish businessman who launched the company in 2005 in upstate New York.
The higher protein and lower sugar content in Greek yogurt come from the straining process. The high protein content can help you feel fuller for longer, and also makes the strained yogurt a good source of protein for vegetarians. It's also packed with probiotics, which help with digestion.
Yogurt has ancient roots that go back millennia in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Its first known appearance was during the Neolithic period (around 5,000 BC) in Mesopotamia. That makes yogurt well over 7,000 years old!
Traditional Greek yogurt is made of pure sheep's milk strained in a muslin cloth bag to remove the whey (the liquid byproduct). This process gives it a much thicker, creamier consistency compared to natural, unstrained yogurt, and a much richer, tangier taste.
Bulgarian yogurt – the best yogurt in the world!
Bulgarian yogurt is the most popular variety of yogurt in the world and is one of the things that make Bulgarians proud to call themselves Bulgarians; it is their exclusive invention and heritage that dates back many centuries.
Fage, a company that started in Athens, Greece, was the first to put “Greek” on yogurt labels as a way to describe the product. However, Chobani, a company started in the United States by a man from Turkey, popularized the practice.
Ulukaya said the name Chobani comes from the Greek word chopani, which means shepherd in multiple countries near where he grew up. “Shepherd is a very pure word,” he said. Ulukaya associates the word with the term “shepherd's gift,” which means a gift given without expecting anything in return, he said.
Chobani is a Greek-style yogurt brand. This yogurt contains live and active cultures, including L. acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Not only is this yogurt a great source of probiotics, but it is also gluten-free, kosher-certified, and contains no genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Yogurt has its origins in Turkey. The word itself comes from the old Turkish root, yog, meaning 'condense' or 'intensify', and is first seen in English when a travel writer, Samuel Purchas, notes in 1625 how the Turks did not consume milk unless it was sour, which they called 'yoghurd'.
Greek yoghurt is best
Greek yoghurt is generally considered the most nutritious option when it comes to yoghurts. Due to the way it is made, it is naturally higher in protein, which makes it a great addition to breakfast, leaving you feeling satisfied throughout the morning.
They have lain amorously as dressing on salads, chicken or beef dishes, as well as béchamel sauce. They have seasoned salty pies, while their offspring, made with garlic and cucumber, is famous worldwide as tzatziki. In some areas of Greece, yoghurt is served for fresh summer soups.
Low-fat, and fat-free dairy foods like Chobani® yogurt are part of a recommended healthy eating pattern that provides an excellent source of protein, a balance of good fats, and a host of naturally occurring essential vitamins and minerals.
If you purchase authentic Greek yogurt made with quality ingredients, you're buying a very nutritious food. It's not only typically lower in sugar than regular yogurt, it also usually contains roughly twice as much protein.
Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt. Greek yogurt is considered a superfood partly because it provides more protein than regular yogurt. A 170 gram (six-ounce) serving of Greek yogurt has just as much protein as 85 grams (three ounces) of lean meat, which makes it a great alternative source of protein.
ALDI plain non-fat Greek yogurt earns praise from Lisa Andrews, RD, and owner of Sound Bites Nutrition. “I love the full texture and tart taste of this yogurt. It pairs well with frozen fruit and a sprinkle of granola for breakfast.
Consuming one to two cups of lowfat Greek yogurt daily can be a healthy addition to your diet without making it difficult to maintain your weight.