Chobani Yogurt–nothing but good.
**Special thank you to Shari at Chobani for giving me the opportunity to review their outstanding products, and share Chobani with others!**
Happy Chobani Day!
Company Background: Chobani Greek Yogurt is made in Upstate New York and they are committed to producing all natural products that are full of flavor. Mustafa Dogan is Chobani’s Master Yogurt Maker. He is responsible for developing the yogurt and incorporating the perfect balance of flavors. Mustafa’s yogurt cultures are added to milk from local dairy farms, and is then strained to make the texture creamy and packed with protein. The benefits of this process are: no preservatives (all natural product), no synthetic hormones, 5 live and active cultures including 3 probiotics, made with real fruit, twice the protein of regular yogurt, a good source of calcium, and gluten-free and kosher certified.
Review: Chobani’s slogan, “Nothing But Good” is a simple statement, but encompasses every sentiment that I have about their products; I was continuously impressed by the variety of delicate and thoughtful flavors they produce, each one left me feeling “nothing but good”. I have been a long time fan of Greek Yogurt, and after trying many brands, Chobani had me at first bite. I was impressed by the flavor, consistency, protein content and price. One thing I cherish about plain Greek yogurt is the semi-sour flavor. I love the contrast it provides to fresh fruit, granola and jams. In many brands I have found that this important flavor can be understated or non-existent, but Chobani was true to form. I am a devout Chobani 0% Plain Greek Yogurt consumer, and was curious how the other flavors, and their 2% varieties would compare.
The Non-Fat Flavors: Chobani carries 8 non-fat flavors: Plain, Blueberry, Honey, Raspberry, Peach, Pomegranate, Strawberry and Vanilla. I tend to be a skeptic of all yogurts that have “fruit on the bottom”. I find that they can be gritty and water down the yogurt. Chobani, proved my skepticism wrong. Each cup maintained their standard for creamy and flavorful yogurt. I can honestly say that each flavor was an experience in its own. I have reviewed each of these flavors individually in my blog, but wanted to highlight a few in my overall review: Pomegranate, Raspberry and Honey.
I was immediately intrigued by the unique pomegranate variety. The flavor was sweet and subtle with arils running through out the yogurt. It was one of the few varieties that I didn’t even attempt to add anything to because it was perfect on its own. I was very impressed with the use of flavor and texture. The raspberry flavor was such a treat. It reminded me of raspberry chantilly. The flavor was so elegant and the texture was smooth. Whole raspberry pieces were not incorporated into this mix, which I preferred because raspberry seeds are often impatient and difficult to eat. I have tried whole-milk Greek yogurt for dessert at restaurants, and it often is served with honey and nuts. I cannot believe that something like yogurt, honey and walnuts is so satisfying at the end of a meal. I tried the honey variety with the standard of my dining experiences and mind, and was stunned by the taste. It was sweet but not syrupy; a perfect complement to fruit and nut granola.
The Low-Fat Flavors: I find 2% yogurts are even richer and satisfying, but I had never been able locate Chobani’s version at my local grocery store. Chobani has three low-fat varieties: Plain, Pineapple and Strawberry-Banana. All I have to say is YUM. These were so thick, and clung to my spoon as I savored each mouthful. I thought these were phenomenal, however; plain is my favorite. I think that it would provide the perfect base for frozen berries in the summer, creating a frozen yogurt feel that you simply would not be able to generate from the non-fat version.
Chobani yogurt is the epitome of “Living Life and Eating Right”. It is food that is good for you, tastes good, and contributes to healthy and active lifestyles. As a company, Chobani is dedicated to this premise and their products reflect their philosophy. Could you ask for anything more? GO CHO!!
