Bulgarian Yogurt Facts
The Unique Bulgarian Yogurt
Bulgarian yogurt is one of the things that make Bulgarians
proud to call themselves Bulgarians; it is their exclusive invention
and heritage that dates back many centuries.
A mildly sour-tasting yogurt,
kiselo mlyako is undoubtedly the best and the healthiest of all dairy
products that are available to consumers nowadays.
The western world calls it Bulgarian yogurt but in its
homeland, Bulgaria, it’s called sour milk. Whatever the name, this
wonderful probiotic food has impeccable ancestry - it is believed to
have been known for at least 4000 years.
The Bulgarian yogurt comes under the general
category of yogurts which contain live bacteria. For yogurt to be
considered of the Bulgarian variety, it needs to be made with two
specific starter bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies
bulgaricus (often simply called Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and
Streptococcus salivarius subspecies thermophilus (often shortened to
Streptococcus thermophilus). Most yogurts contain these two as they are
such excellent starters but most "ordinary" yogurt has other good
bacteria added as well.
It is the particular combination of bacteria that characterizes
the thickness, acidity, taste and aroma of the yogurt. Kiselo mlyako's
uniqueness lies in the peculiarities in the climate of the region and
the very specific way in which it is prepared – using a combination of
the two strains: Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus
Thermophilus. The Streptococcus Thermophilus bacteria goes into action
first and prepares the perfect environment for Lactobacillus
Bulgaricus, which in turn starts multiplying and slowly turns the milk
into yogurt.
People who have tasted yogurt from a dozen countries outside
the Balkans always find that none of them tastes anything like the
Bulgarian variety. Bulgarians completely agree that their yogurt is the
best – some 400 000 tons are consumed every year in the country.
Myth or Not?
Many people ask if it is true that the famous Lactobacillus
Bulgaricus bacterium is found only in Bulgaria. The correct answer is no
- you can grow the bacteria in different parts of the world (in fact
many people do).
What is unique about the Bulgarian strain is that only in
Bulgaria it preserves its qualities in further generations of the same
strain, i.e. if you use your previous yogurt to start your new batch.
If this is how you make your yogurt outside Bulgaria, you will notice
that after a batch or two, the yogurt loses its unique taste, physical
appearance and qualities. Why this happens, scientists are not sure. It
is often contributed to the unique climate of the region but there’s
more to creating the perfect conditions for Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
than the environment.
So how can you prepare Bulgarian yogurt abroad? The answer is
simple – use a dried-freeze yogurt starter culture with live
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus that was produced in Bulgaria. Use a new
culture with every batch of yogurt you make to preserve the unique taste
and qualities of the yogurt. In this way you can achieve the
traditional taste of kiselo mlyako, similar to the one our grandmothers
used to make, guaranteed.
Buy yogurt starter culture with live Lactobacillus Bulgaricus.
History
Bulgaria's long and affectionate relationship with yogurt dates
back to the Thracians, ancient inhabitants of the Bulgarian lands, when
stock-breeders placed sheep's milk in lambskin bags around their
waists and fermented yogurt using their own body heat. The word
'yogurt' is derived from the words for 'thick' and 'milk' in ancient
Thracian. But being credited as the inventor is not Bulgaria's only
source of yogurt pride; it is also credited with producing the
healthiest yogurt in Europe, thanks to a unique bacteria native to the
country.
In the early 1900s, a Bulgarian scientist called Dr. Stamen
Grigorov, found an agent causing Bulgarian yogurt fermentation - a
specific bacillus. Grigorov went on to pinpoint two more bacteria: a
Streptobacillus and a harmful Streptoccus thermophilus which coexisted
with that Lactobacillus in what appeared to be a perfect symbiosis. He
also discovered that these two bacteria are not part of the micro-flora
that exists in the human intestinal tract; however, they turn out to
be very beneficial to it when introduced in it.
Interested in Dr. Grigorov's discoveries, another scientist,
the Russian Ilya Mechnikov, a Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology
and Medicine, went on to discover that more people lived to the age of
100 in Bulgaria than in any of the 36 other countries he studied. He
directly linked this to the country's most traditional food - yogurt.
According to Metchnikoff's research, the aging process results from the
activity of putrefactive (proteolytic) microbes producing toxic
substances in the large bowel. He knew that milk fermented with
lactic-acid bacteria inhibits the growth of proteolytic bacteria
because of the low pH produced by the fermentation of lactose. Based on
these facts, Metchnikoff proposed that consumption of fermented milk
would "seed" the intestine with harmless lactic-acid bacteria and
decrease the intestinal pH and that this would suppress the growth of
proteolytic bacteria, that he called "Bulgarian Bacillus"
Since then, yogurt has been credited with having a number of
healthy effects on the human body, including reducing cholesterol,
reducing unhealthy bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract, increasing
calcium levels and producing cancer-suppressing compounds.
Benefits
Here's a short list to outline some benefits of consuming Bulgarian yogurt:
Yogurt is identified as a reason for longevity.
Bulgaria is one of the countries with the biggest number of people aged
100 years and older.
Bulgarian yogurt is one of the best probiotics out
there. Probiotic means ''for life'' and refers to living organisms that
can result in a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.
Yogurt is an excellent source of "good" bacteria
that is needed in the digestive tract. Active live cultures are
basically good bacteria that are necessary for the body to function at
its best. These good bacteria prevent the growth of harmful bacteria
that cause bacterial infections and diseases. Healthy levels of good
bacteria also promote digestive health and boost the immune system.
Yogurt strengthens the immune system and helps prevents tumor growth.
Its high concentration of calcium also helps against osteoporosis and reduces cholesterol levels.
It reduces the risk of high blood pressure.
Active cultures help certain gastrointestinal
conditions including lactose intolerance, constipation, diarrhea, colon
cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, H. pylori infection and many
others.
Bulgarian yogurt is organic yogurt and organic yogurt
is an excellent diet food. Not only yogurt is nutritionally sound but
it also makes you feel fuller faster. It is a good source of proteins
too.
