Yogurt being a very healthy type of food is a fact that is acknowledged in all the 11 countries that consume the most yogurt. If you want to take a step back along the process, you can take a peek at the 10 countries that consume the most milk. While being exceptionally nutritious, yogurt is also rich in many vitamins and certain minerals that are a core part of maintaining good health. It is usually produced by using bacteria to ferment milk. The bacteria used in making yogurt is of two types – lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus. Those two strains of bacteria are usually collected in “cultures” or from previous batches of yogurt so when mixed with milk, they engage the fermentation process and thicken the milk, giving it its distinct taste.
As a matter of fact, the word yogurt comes from a Turkish verb which literally translates to thicken. Of course, the words aren’t the same since after the popularization of the term, it changed to a certain degree. However, the way of preparing and consuming yogurt have certainly remained close to what they were hundreds of years ago because it is a fairly simple process to make it. In fact, a lot of people make it at home all the time. You only need some fresh cow’s milk and a tablespoon of yogurt for every liter of milk or so. Boil the milk, mix up in jars, wrap in a warm blanket overnight and you’ll have some magically transformed homemade yogurt in the morning.
However simple, though, yogurt has a plethora of health benefits. Lots of people use it as a home remedy for certain dermatological problems as well as mild infections. Eating yogurt is also said to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and you could certainly use the calcium and plethora of vitamins in it too. If you are lactose-intolerant you might think that yogurt is something way out of bounds for you. However, studies have shown that lactose-intolerant people can tolerate yogurt a lot better than other milk products because of the enzymes in the milk transform to create the final product. Enough trivia, though – let’s look at the 11 countries where the people definitely love yogurt in all possible ways.
11. Indonesia
Indonesia takes the 11th place in our list. There they have an interesting type of yogurt called Dadiah, made from water buffalo milk and fermented in bamboo tubes.
10. India
You’d expect a country which worships cows and their milk as sacred to be on this list. India has a variety of yogurt (called dahi there) dishes and ways of preparation, including sweet yogurt
9. China
While China was not a big consumer of yogurt (mainly due to the natural lactose intolerance of the majority of Chinese people), the market there is currently booming with new, easily digestible products.
8. Russia
Yogurt has always been a staple food in Russia. In the Caucasian region where Russia meet Georgia, they have a special sort of yogurt they call Matsoni which is thought to contribute to longevity.
7. United States
Yogurt is quite different in the US. Often consumed as a sweetened, strongly flavored dessert, frozen yogurt (fro-yo) is probably the most popular type of it.
6. Brazil
Brazil is another recently emerged market for Yogurt. There they prefer to have the strained type which is often called “Greek yogurt” in a variety of flavors and arrangements.
5. Australia
Australia, just like the US and the UK, consumes a variety of yogurt, such as frozen yogurt, Greek and normal yogurt in a variety of flavors. There are several popular Australian yogurt producers.
4. United Kingdom
The UK is seeing an increase in the consumption of this particular dairy product. Sweetened or flavored yogurt is very popular there. However, there are rising concerns about the sugar levels in some products.
3. Canada
Canada is another non-specialized consumer and producer of a big variety of yogurts. With a branch of the globally popular yogurt and dairy products company Danone there, you can be sure there is always a demand for it.
2. Ireland
Ireland consumes all types of yogurts alike, making the second place in our list of the 11 countries that consume the most yogurt. There they also like to have the creamier, churn-made yogurt type.
1. France
The country that gave the world Danone and their desserts and snacks tops the list of the 11 countries that consume the most yogurt. Accounts of yogurt consumption there date back to Francis I of France who was miraculously healed by eating it.
