But despite the popularity of Greek yogurt today, the Greeks of that time saw ‘oxygala’ (οξύγαλα) as only fit for peasants–who consumed it with honey. Yogurt was also a well-known product in Ancient Greece. And as a fermented food, yogurt was a great way to preserve milk, since its natural acidity slows the growth of harmful bacteria. Turkish texts from the 11th century (1100 BC to 1001 BC) mention yogurt being used by nomadic Turks.Įvidence from ancient pottery shows that Neolithic people were using pots to store milk. That makes yogurt well over 7,000 years old! It’s believed that, like butter, yogurt was created by accident when milk was exposed to bacteria or soured in warm temperatures. Its first known appearance was during the Neolithic period (around 5,000 BC) in Mesopotamia. Yogurt has ancient roots that go back millennia in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Read on for the rich history of yogurt! Ancient and Medieval Times If you’ve been reading along so far, you’ve probably already guessed: yogurt comes from what is now Turkey. And the root word ‘yog’ means ‘to intensify’–pretty fitting for the fermentation process! Which country invented yogurt? The name for this versatile product is believed to go way back to the Turkish word ‘yoğurmak’, which means to knead, thicken, coagulate, or curdle. In other countries you might see it spelled ‘yogourt’, ‘yoghourt’, or further variations. But in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, it’s usually ‘yoghurt’. In the case of yogurt, it’s the American version across North America it’s almost always spelled ‘yogurt’ (or ‘yogourt’ in Canadian French). yoghurt.Īt some point you’ve probably learned the hard way from a spell checker that Canadian English includes a vast melting pot of words spelled the same as U.K. After its final cooling, it can get delicious flavours added. The yogurt has been kept at specific temperatures throughout the process. This is what thickens it, and gives it the distinct tang. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles bacteria are added to convert the lactose into lactic acid. To make yogurt, milk or cream is pasteurized and homogenized, then Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.

It’s most commonly made from cow’s milk, but you can find yogurt made from the milk of other animals including goats, sheep, yaks, camels, and water buffalo. Yogurt is a dairy product created by the bacterial fermentation of milk or cream. Whether you like it as a breakfast staple, a snack, a cooking substitution, or a foundation for tasty beverages, there are many ways to enjoy yogurt.īut where did it come from? Let’s explore this history of yogurt. Yogurt has been enjoyed by cultures around the world (pun intended) for thousands of years.

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