- 3 min
Fermented Milk Products from All Over the World. Calpis (Japan)
If you ever visit Japan, you will see a rather awkward beverage called Calpis, in a container decorated with polka dots. Well, the beverage is made out of milk or powdered milk, according to the case, water, and lactic acid bacteria. It has a slightly sour taste and it was made entirely to quench people’s thirst. It is usually mixed with water in order to create a drink that is very refreshing, especially when the temperature outside is elevated. You can also find readily dil
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Heirloom or not? How to find the best yogurt starter.
People are frequently confused, so here we are going to explain the difference in detail. Historically yogurt has been consumed for millenniums as some believe that it was spontaneously discovered. Back in the days, people were using animal skin bags to carry liquids like water or milk. Due to the primitive technology, some good bacteria were left in the bag and spontaneously during the summer, the milk has fermented. The fermentation extended the ability to preserve the milk
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- 1 min
Fermented Milk Products from All Over the World. Leben (Middle east)
Leben is a form of thick and creamy yogurt original from the Middle East, where the practice of allowing the milk to go sour naturally has been used since ancient times. Although it may be similar to yogurt, leben is slightly different, as it is made with sour cream, for a denser texture and sweeter taste. To make leben, you will need fresh milk, with a fat content of 1 to 3%, and some sour cream. Add one tablespoon of sour cream to each cup of milk when preparing leben. You
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- 1 min
Fermented Milk Products from All Over the World. Ghara (Iran)
If you like strong flavors, then you may want to try ghara, a type of concentrated product made from yogurt. For those that are not accustomed with the taste, ghara may be extremely sour, as the yogurt is drained of its liquid and left to dry, resulting a rather compact form. Practically, only the solids remain during the drying process, so you will have a solid bar of product, with an earthy and even yeasty flavor, much sourer than any other dairy product you ever tried.
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- 2 min
Fermented Milk Products from All Over the World. Kashk (Iran)
Kashk is a very interesting thick, creamy paste made out of yogurt, which tends to have a cheesy flavor and a color that may be yellowish to greyish. The paste is used in cooking, pretty much as crème fraiche, parmesan, or sour cream would be used, for enhancing the flavor of the recipe. In Persian cuisine, from where kashk comes, it is used in soups, as a dip, in stews, with eggs, or in various other recipes. So, now you may see that this is not the typical kind of yogurt av
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- 1 min
Fermented Milk Products from All Over the World. Doogh (Iran)
Called by some the “Persian coke”, doogh is a fizzy drink made out of fermented milk. Doogh is highly appreciated due to the fact that it is light and refreshing, being ideal on a hot summer day or to help you find some comfort after a consistent meal. It is also believed that this drink has several health benefits, such as supporting digestion, preventing inflammation, and boosting the immune system. Well, no matter how you put it, most people in Iran will prefer a glass of
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