Culture Club

A Cultural Experience

These days, a trip to the Sprouts yogurt shelves practically requires a passport, giving you a taste of the cultures of Australia, Greece and Iceland. Even vegans and those with lactose intolerance can get in on the fun with yogurts derived from coconut, soy and almond milks. But how do they all compare to the varieties we all grew up with? We hosted a sampling soiree to answer that very question, selecting strawberry as the flavor of choice for its popularity and availability in most varieties and brands.

Amande Cultured Almond Milk - Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 160
• Total Fat: 6 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Taste: Very sweet with a subtle nutty finish; not tart as you would expect from a yogurt.
• Texture: Very thick and soft, almost gelatinous in texture.
• Color: Vibrant medium pink color, almost a cotton candy pink.
• Additional Information: This product is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free and sweetened with fruit juice. 
• Taster's Comment: "The subtle nutty taste added a unique flavor element, but the texture was a little lumpy."

WholeSoy & Co. Soy Yogurt - Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 160 
• Total Fat: 3.5 grams
• Protein: 6 grams
• Taste: Sweet, with a hint of tart yogurt flavor.
• Texture: Very thick and soft.
• Color: Unusual pinkish brown.
• Additional Information: Made with organic soybeans. Dairy-free, casein-free, whey-free, gluten-free and non-GMO.
• Taster's Comment: "Kind of gelatinous, but the strawberry taste really came through."

So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk - Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 140
• Total Fat: 6 grams
• Taste: Sweet and a little tangy but not very yogurt-y. The coconut taste seemed more prominent than the strawberry.
• Texture: Very fluid; the thinnest, most liquid in texture of all the varieties sampled.
• Color: Light to medium purplish pink.
• Additional Information: Dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Contains six active and live cultures.
• Taster's Comment: "The coconut gave this a nice tropical flair; I'd add a little fresh pineapple for some piña colada fun!"

Wallaby Organic Creamy Australian Style Yogurt - Lowfat Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 140
• Total Fat: 2.5 grams
• Protein: 7 grams
• Taste: Sweet strawberry taste with good yogurt tang. Good balance of sweet with tart.
• Texture: Smooth with small strawberry pieces.
• Color: Light, pale pink.
• Additional Information: Made with premium organic milk from pasture-based family farms in Northern California.
• Taster's Comment: "If you like the texture and taste of mainstream Yoplait, but without all the strange artificial ingredients, Wallaby Aussie yogurt is the bomb!"

Chobani Greek Yogurt - Nonfat Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 140
• Total Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 14 grams
• Taste: Very tart with only a hint of sweetness. Fruit is at bottom so you have to blend well for best flavor. This one is the favorite among tasters.
• Texture: Very thick, rich and creamy.
• Color: Before blending it's a soft, natural white and turns swirly pink when mixed well with the fruit.
• Taster's Comment: "Greek yogurt turned me off of regular yogurt for good. I am obsessed with the thick, rich taste and the subtle sweetness."

Siggi's Icelandic Skyr Strained Non-fat Yogurt - Acai & Mixed Berries

• Serving: 5.3 ounces
• Calories: 100
• Protein: 14 grams
• Taste: Super tart, borderline sour with just a mild hint of berry taste.
• Texture: Extremely thick, rich and hearty, by far the thickest of the bunch.
• Color: Medium pink flecked with fruit.
• Additional Information: All natural. Made with milk from grass-fed cows. No rBGH. Gluten-free.
• Taster's Comment: "This yogurt is so thick and rich you'd think it was super high in fat! The tartness is begging to be balanced with a little honey, then it would be perfect."

Redwood Hill Farm Goat Milk Yogurt - Strawberry

• Serving: 6 ounces
• Calories: 150
• Total Fat: 3.5 grams
• Protein: 6 grams
• Taste: Very pronounced flavor; reminiscent of goat cheese. The strong goat milk flavor overpowers the strawberry.
• Texture: Thick and smooth with small bits of fruit.
• Color: Natural pink color.
• Additional Information: Gluten-free and Kosher certified. No GMOs.
• Taster's Comment: "This tastes like it belongs on a cheese plate – very reminiscent of goat cheese."