A Taste of Greece in CT: Beltane Farm Goats Milk Yogurt

A few years ago, I tasted yogurt on the Greek island of Paros and it changed my life. Well, maybe not my life, but definitely my mornings. I now start every morning with a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with fruit and granola. It’s routine, but never boring and it satisfies my subconscious craving to be back in Greece. I’ve enjoyed Fage, which is also made in Greece, is thick, creamy and has a slight sweetness to its tang. Trader Joe’s makes a Greek-style yogurt, and I give him points for trying, but his is farther removed from the real deal. I thought I was happy alternating between these two brands until I recently tasted Beltane Farm Goat Milk Yogurt, which is delicious and with just a little imagination nearly transported me back to Paros.

Beltane Goat Milk Yogurt is made in the Greek style, strained through cheesecloth, so it is rich and creamy. The tang is subtle and the texture is reminiscent of a dessert rather than a breakfast dairy product. In fact, it's so good, I found myself spoon sparring with my daughter over a container of their maple syrup flavored variety last week.

Beltane Farm Goat Milk Yogurt is sold at the Westport (Thursday) and Greenwich (Saturday) Farmer’s Markets. It costs $5.00 for a 10 oz. container, which yields 2 servings (160 calories and 9 grams of fat per serving), if you can show any restraint after the first mouthful. Although the yogurt comes in 3 flavors: plain, maple syrup and honey, our tasters think you should stick with the maple syrup variety. But get there early…it sells out quickly!

Paul Trubey, makes award-winning goat cheeses and yogurt from a herd of 90 goats comprised of Swiss Oberhasli and Saanen and Spanish La Mancha breeds, known for their high quality milk and pleasant disposition. Paul ensures their quality of life takes precedence over the quantity of milk they produce. All the goats have names, they feast on local grass from fields in Lebanon, CT., and they are not treated with hormones or prophylactic antibiotics. It must all be working, because unhappy goats could never produce a product this good.

For more information about the farm, the goats and other CT. retailers selling Beltane Goat Milk products, go to: www.beltanefarm.com.