4 ms·

For sure it does. People in Europe pay a premium for "high mountains cow milk" ("Alpenmilch"). I had the impression that US milk has no taste but always though

For sure it does. People in Europe pay a premium for "high mountains cow milk" ("Alpenmilch"). I had the impression that US milk has no taste but always thought it's just in my mind. But when I was in Colombia I met a guy from Switzerland who studied in Canada and said:"Oh wow, the milk here really tastes good like in Europe. Not like in Canada." So the milk in Europe and North America must indeed taste different. It is not just in my head.

zwieback 8y ago
The different milks in my US region (Pacific North West) definitely have different flavors but I have no idea if it's due to what they graze on or other stuff they are fed.
beagle3 8y ago
If you are in New York city (especially Manhattan), you can often get RonnyBrook milk at the Union Square farmer's market and various stores around Manhattan - it tastes so much better you might think it's a different class of drink. It's grass fed; if you buy it in the farmer's market, it's a couple of days fresh; and they care about their cows. I bought a bottle once, which didn't taste as good as usual, and when I told the guy at the market (he actually raises and cares for the cows), he took notes to figure out which cow was unhappy/unwell. Not affiliated, was just a satisfied customer until I moved out of NYC (and now have no good milk available :( )
notable_user 8y ago
Milk is pasteurized differently in the US vs Europe. I’d bet that has the most impact on taste.
- zwieback 8y ago
  Are you referring to UHT (shelf-stable) vs. "normal" pasteurization? Both types are available in the US and Europe but probably to different degrees. In southern Europe I definitely encountered more UHT than in my native Germany.
WiseWeasel 8y ago
To those longing for milk that tastes like something in the US, I'd suggest finding a supplier of Jersey cow milk if you can, a much richer and more flavorful alternative to the Holstein cow milk most commonly available. Jersey cows produce less milk than the Holstein, but its butterfat and protein levels are significantly higher [1]. The cows' diet is going to have the highest impact on flavor regardless of breed, so it's important that they be free-roaming and grass- (and maybe seaweed-) fed, but it's likely that any alternative to Holstein cow milk is going to have a better flavor. In Northern California, Saint Benoit [2] markets Jersey cow milk and yogurt. The flavor of their milk is incomparable to all others I've ever tried stateside. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle#Breeds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle#Breeds [2] https://www.stbenoit.com/ https://www.stbenoit.com/

zwieback 8y ago

The different milks in my US region (Pacific North West) definitely have different flavors but I have no idea if it's due to what they graze on or other stuff they are fed.

beagle3 8y ago

If you are in New York city (especially Manhattan), you can often get RonnyBrook milk at the Union Square farmer's market and various stores around Manhattan - it tastes so much better you might think it's a different class of drink. It's grass fed; if you buy it in the farmer's market, it's a couple of days fresh; and they care about their cows. I bought a bottle once, which didn't taste as good as usual, and when I told the guy at the market (he actually raises and cares for the cows), he took notes to figure out which cow was unhappy/unwell. Not affiliated, was just a satisfied customer until I moved out of NYC (and now have no good milk available :( )

notable_user 8y ago

Milk is pasteurized differently in the US vs Europe. I’d bet that has the most impact on taste.

zwieback 8y ago
Are you referring to UHT (shelf-stable) vs. "normal" pasteurization? Both types are available in the US and Europe but probably to different degrees. In southern Europe I definitely encountered more UHT than in my native Germany.

WiseWeasel 8y ago

To those longing for milk that tastes like something in the US, I'd suggest finding a supplier of Jersey cow milk if you can, a much richer and more flavorful alternative to the Holstein cow milk most commonly available. Jersey cows produce less milk than the Holstein, but its butterfat and protein levels are significantly higher [1]. The cows' diet is going to have the highest impact on flavor regardless of breed, so it's important that they be free-roaming and grass- (and maybe seaweed-) fed, but it's likely that any alternative to Holstein cow milk is going to have a better flavor. In Northern California, Saint Benoit [2] markets Jersey cow milk and yogurt. The flavor of their milk is incomparable to all others I've ever tried stateside. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle#Breeds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle#Breeds [2] https://www.stbenoit.com/ https://www.stbenoit.com/