Organic dairy products are those produced from the milk of organically raised mammals. It is probably the most popular food series in most countries of the world. Due to their origin, they contain, among others, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, protein and fat.
Organic milk
Organic milk (animal milk) is the liquid food produced in the breast of mammals to feed their newborns. In infancy, mammals consume only milk, until they can digest other foods. In the wild, some mammals continue to consume milk for a short time even when the young mammal has begun to feed on other foods.
Cow’s milk comes first in consumption, followed by goat’s and sheep’s. In addition to cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk, in the market we will find other types of milk, more sophisticated. We are talking about buffalo milk and donkey milk, which is widely used in the manufacture of cosmetics.
At the same time, in the general category of milk, various beverages of plant origin are now registered, mainly due to their similarity with milk but also their use in food, sweets and meals against milk. These are coconut, soy, oat, rice, almond and hazelnut milk. These drinks serve people of all ages who are intolerant to milk but also those who follow a strict vegan diet.
Organic cow’s milk
Organic cow’s milk comes first in consumption (and production), not only in Greece but all over the world. There are two main reasons for this, its low fat content and its lower price compared to other types of milk. We usually find it in most supermarkets but also in organic stores, in a quantity sufficient to meet the demand so far.
Organic goat’s milk
Organic goat’s milk is marketed as fresh, chocolate-free and lactose-free, although in its natural form it has reduced lactose compared to cow’s milk.
Organic sheep’s milk
It is difficult to find in the market organic sheep milk or conventional. The reason is that its production is reduced and that much of it is used in the manufacture of cheese. It is the most beneficial of the milks, especially for those who do not have to worry about their weight or high cholesterol.
Organic yogurt
Healthy, velvety and absolutely delicious, this is organic yogurt! Whatever type you choose, the good taste is guaranteed. You can enjoy it in countless ways, for every taste and every whim.
The preparation of organic yogurt is based on organic milk. Whether we are talking about cow, sheep or goat yogurt, the mere fact that it comes from free-range and organically bred animals is enough to guarantee its quality and great nutritional value. Organic yogurt contains certified organic milk and yogurt culture. It is controlled at all stages of its production and must be consumed relatively quickly due to the absence of preservatives.
Organic yogurt is rich in flavor and does not contain any of the known chemical additives of conventional breeding and cultivation. The animals have grazed in meadows free of herbicides and chemical fertilizers. During their lifetime they have not received antibiotics, growth hormones or anything else that conventional and intensive animal husbandry gives to animals. In other words, it is completely safe for consumption by people without lactose allergies.
The history of yogurt
From the fermentation of milk lactose with the use of yogurt culture, ie with the use of special bacteria, we get the yogurt. No one knows for sure when and how the Yogurt Friday started, but it is speculated that its history goes back 7000 years, in Mesopotamia.
From the beginning of the 20th century, yogurt was considered responsible for longevity and this helped to spread its consumption throughout the world. Towards the end of the 20th century came the huge growth in the yogurt industry. Common yogurt acquired new flavors and colors with the addition of fruit, cereals, sugar, honey and became a favorite dessert.
Uses of yogurt in cooking
Nowadays yogurt is in its glory. The days when it was used only as a simple dessert with honey and nuts are gone forever. The younger chefs have taken care of that. There are now dozens, maybe hundreds of recipes that place yogurt in salads, soups, sauces, small meals, spaghetti and rice, mainly meat dishes, smoothies and confectionery. For yogurt lovers it is obvious that it goes with everything!
Organic cheese
Organic cheese is perhaps the least common product of the organic family and was developed relatively recently. Organic cheese is produced only on organic farms of the respective animals and their production is controlled in all its stages, from the birth of the animal until the maturation of the cheese. Organic cheese contains only pure ingredients and nothing chemical has been used either for its production or for animal husbandry. Its taste is rich and very different from that of conventional cheese.
Organic cheeses can be found in selected stores and supermarkets. Before buying the cheese, we can check the place of origin and the producer as well as see its certification stamp.
Quality organic cheese
Organic cheese comes exclusively from organically bred and free range animals. This is the secret that gives them the intense and full flavor that will remind us (for the older ones) that we turned our calendar many years back, discovering lost flavors.
Are they more beneficial to our health?
Clearly yes. Suffice it to say that nowhere in their production line have been added pesticides, chemical fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. The grass that the animals eat is exactly as nature made it and the animal grows freely and in a completely natural way.
The nutritional value of organic cheese depends entirely on the nutritional value of the milk from which it comes, which in turn depends on the variety of animals and the food they consume. In other words, it is affected by the whole production process.