Best yoghurt in the UK reviewed
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of some of the UK’s best and most popular yoghurts, including Yeo Valley, Tesco’s Finest, Tesco high protein yoghurt, Milbona by Lidl and Brooklea by Aldi.
We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of these popular yoghurts and see where each yoghurt stands above the competition.
You might also be interested in reading our popular article on the best probiotics in the UK if you want to add more healthy microbes to your diet.
Lidl Milbona Authentic Greek yoghurt
Lidl Milbona Authentic Greek yoghurt provides great value for a yoghurt made in Greece.
It is a traditional, strained yoghurt which only includes milk and live cultures.
Unfortunately there is no indication of the strains of live cultures present in this yoghurt, so we don’t know whether the live cultures can be considered probiotic or not. (A probiotic is a type of live culture which gives us health benefits.)
In terms of the amount of actual live cultures present (ie colony forming units), again no information is provided.
It has high levels of fat (10%), good levels of protein (6%) and moderate levels of sugar (4%). Unfortunately they don’t state its calcium content.
Flavour
The texture is almost like cream. It is very decadent and beautifully creamy and thick. For comparison it is more creamy than Lidl’s Greek style yogurt (see below), even though they have the same fat levels.
The aroma is mainly of savoury cheese.
The taste is very creamy and rich. And there’s a decent acidity to balance out this richness.
Overall, the taste is fantastic and quite decadent. You can really tell how the straining process has created a richer, more concentrated flavour. Being so rich it isn’t as moreish as some other yoghurts though.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 500g tub from Lidl for £1.89.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Lidl Milbona Authentic Greek yoghurt is a strained yoghurt with a fantastic, rich flavour. It offers great value for a traditional yoghurt actually made in Greece.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients
rich, decadent taste
very creamy and thick texture
great value for a strained yoghurt made in Greece
good protein levels
Cons
high in fat
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
no information on its calcium content
Read our full review of Lidl Milbona Authentic Greek yoghurt.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Tesco high protein yoghurt
Tesco high protein yoghurt is a great choice if want to focus on getting good macros - very high protein, very low fat - while still getting a decent taste.
This yoghurt is very natural containing only milk (likely skim milk) and live cultures.
Unfortunately it doesn’t give any information on the live cultures it contains or the amount of them.
It has excellent protein levels (11.3%), very low fat (0.4%), fairly low sugar (3.9%) and moderate levels of calcium (120mg per 100g).
Flavour
The texture is very thick but given the near absence of fat, it doesn’t have a very creamy texture.
The aroma is weak with just a slight milkiness present.
The taste is very clean and again just milky with nothing else really coming through. It has a moderate acidity.
Overall, the taste is very good for a high protein yoghurt (which often don’t taste great).
Cost and availability
You can buy a 500g tub from Tesco for £1.85.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Tesco high protein yoghurt does better than most high protein yoghurts in combining very high protein levels, very low fat levels and an enjoyable taste.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients
thick texture
very high protein levels
very low fat levels
great tasting for this type of yoghurt
Cons
lacks the creaminess of other yoghurts with higher fat
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
Read our full review of Tesco high protein yoghurt.
Aldi Brooklea Authentic Greek yoghurt
Aldi Brooklea Authentic Greek yoghurt is another good value yoghurt made in Greece.
It contains milk, cream and live cultures. Strictly speaking, cream is not a traditional ingredient in strained Greek yoghurts though.
This yoghurt includes two types of live cultures, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. However these are starter cultures which ferment milk into yoghurt and are not generally regarded as probiotic (which means they give us health benefits).
In terms of the amount of actual live cultures present (ie colony forming units), no information is provided.
It has high levels of fat (10%), good levels of protein (5.9%) and low to moderate levels of sugar (3.1%). Unfortunately they don’t state its calcium content.
Flavour
It has a great texture which is very thick and very creamy.
The aroma is quite cheesy, almost like a mild cheddar cheese.
The taste is more on the savoury end, but not as much like savoury cheese as I was expecting from the aroma. It is very rich with a fairly strong acidity to provide balance.
Overall, the taste is nice, rich and luxurious - as you would expect from a strained authentic Greek yoghurt.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 500g tub from Aldi for £2.19.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Aldi Brooklea Authentic Greek yoghurt is a strained yoghurt which is rich, decadent and has a nice savoury taste.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients (even if cream isn’t entirely traditional)
rich, savoury taste
thick and creamy texture
good value for a strained yoghurt made in Greece
good protein levels
fairly low in sugar
Cons
high in fat
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
no information on its calcium content
Read our full review of Aldi Brooklea Authentic Greek yoghurt.
Lidl Milbona Greek style yoghurt
Lidl Milbona Greek style yoghurt is an excellent choice if you are looking for a good value yoghurt.
It only includes milk and live cultures.
Unfortunately it doesn’t give any information on the live cultures it contains or the amount of them.
It has high levels of fat (10%), moderate levels of protein (4.1%) and moderate levels of sugar (4.4%). Unfortunately they don’t state its calcium content.
Flavour
It has a nice thick and creamy texture.
Its aroma is clean and milky as you would expect.
The taste is again is clean and natural, with a moderate acidity. I find it refreshing and very moreish.
Overall, the taste is very good - much better than I was expecting from a yoghurt of this price.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 1kg tub from Lidl for £1.69.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Lidl Milbona Greek style yoghurt is a simple, clean, lovely tasting, natural yoghurt for a great price. It presents incredible value.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients
lovely taste
thick and creamy texture
very cheap
versatile
Cons
high in fat
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
no information on its calcium content
Read our full review of Lidl Milbona Greek style yoghurt.
Yeo Valley natural yoghurt
Yeo Valley is a decent choice if you want to prioritise buying an organic yoghurt.
It only includes milk and live cultures.
In terms of lives cultures, Yeo Valley state they include Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Of these:
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic which supports digestion and helps maintain vaginal and intestinal health
Bifidobacterium is a genus of bacteria, not a specific strain like the above. While it’s likely this/these strains are probiotic, we don’t know for sure
Streptococcus thermophilus is a common starter culture for yogurt whose main role is to ferment milk sugars. It is not generally regarded as a probiotic
In terms of the amount of actual live cultures present (ie colony forming units), no information is provided.
Yeo Valley has low to moderate levels of fat (3.8%), moderate protein levels (4.2%), fairly high sugar levels for a natural yoghurt with no additives (4.9%) and good levels of calcium with 166mg per 100g.
Flavour
The texture is quite lacking and a bit runny. It doesn’t have a nice thickness which you find in Greek yoghurt.
The aroma is very clean - just of soured milk.
The taste is again is very clean and simply milky - there’s not much to speak about apart from it having a fairly high acidity. It has a decent creaminess for its fairly low fat levels, but it is not as creamy as a Greek yoghurt (which has a lot more fat).
Overall, the taste is fine and very natural but it won’t knock your socks off.
Cost and availability
We bought a 450g tub from Co-op for £2.35.
Summary
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Yeo Valley natural yoghurt is an organic yoghurt with a simple taste and a high price tag.
Pros
simple, organic ingredients
fairly low in fat
good calcium levels
Cons
texture and creaminess are lacking compared to Greek yoghurt
fairly high in sugar for a yoghurt of this type (but still much lower than flavoured yoghurt)
more information on the strains of live cultures included would be helpful
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
value is questionable
Read our full review of Yeo Valley natural yoghurt.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Tesco Finest Greek yoghurt
Tesco Finest Greek yoghurt is a traditional, strained yoghurt made in Greece.
It only includes milk and live cultures.
Unfortunately it doesn’t give any information on the live cultures it contains or the amount of them.
This yoghurt has high levels of fat (10.3%), good levels of protein (6.1%) and the sugar content is fairly low (3.3%). Unfortunately they don’t state its calcium content.
Flavour
The texture is very thick as you would expect from strained yoghurt. It is creamy, but not as creamy as I was expecting.
The aroma is mainly of savoury cheese, verging on cottage cheese.
The taste is interesting. It starts a bit chalky and then a rich savoury cheese taste takes over. The low sugar content seems to amplify the savoury characteristics and give it a dryness which is not common in yoghurt. And there’s a high acidity which seems out of balance to the dry, savoury taste. The aftertaste is a bit strange - chalky and too acidic.
Overall, the taste is quite unique but a bit out of balance.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 1kg tub from Tesco for £4.
Summary
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Tesco Finest Greek yoghurt is an authentic, strained Greek yoghurt. It has an interesting savoury taste which won’t suit everyone and is not quite in balance.
Pros
simple, natural ingredients
authentically made in Greece
thick texture
good protein levels
Cons
the taste, while not bad, is out of balance
lacks the creaminess of other similar yoghurt
high in fat
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
no information on its calcium content
Read our full review of Tesco Finest Greek yoghurt.
Health benefits of dairy yoghurt
Live cultures
These are the live microbes you are ingesting when you eat yoghurt. And some are considered probiotic which means they bring health benefits.
Probiotics offer many health benefits including:
better digestive health
better immune function
reduced inflammation
reduced allergies
better nutrient absorption
Postbiotics
In simple terms, postbiotics are essentially beneficial things probiotics produce. These include short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Prebiotics
Not traditionally in yoghurt but some brands add prebiotics for extra health benefits.
Prebiotics are essentially fibres which feed the good bacteria in your gut and help them multiply.
Vitamins and minerals
Yoghurt is a source of various vitamins and minerals including::
calcium - which helps digestion and supports bone and teeth health
magnesium - which supports bone health, muscle function and energy production
phosphorus - which is important for bone and teeth health and energy metabolism
potassium - which supports heart, muscle, nerve and kidney health
vitamins B2 and B12 - which support immunity, energy production and cell and nerve function
vitamin A - supports vision, immune function, cell growth and healthy skin
Satiety and weight management
The high protein and low carbohydrate content in yogurt, especially Greek-style yogurt, helps you feel fuller for longer which can help control your appetite. Greek yoghurt is often recommended by dietitians for this reason.
Reduced lactose
Compared to unfermented dairy products such as milk, yoghurt has lower levels of lactose as this is partially consumed during the fermentation process by the bacteria. This makes it more digestible for people who have some degree of lactose intolerance.
Factors we consider in our ratings
The factors we consider when doing a review (and the weightings of each of these) may vary depending on the product we are testing, but here are the key general factors we consider when we settle on a rating for a product.
Health benefits
We find out how the product will be good for your health and outline the benefits for you in simple language. This often involves doing research so you don’t have to. We often link to scientific studies or articles summarising scientific findings so you can dig deeper if you want to.
Things detrimental to health
We want to highlight where a product might include something bad for your health - even if it might be good for you in another way. This could include such things as pointing out certain additives it contains or high sugar levels.
How it’s made
This will vary depending on the product, but we want to see a quality process for making it and quality ingredients. For example, we want to see a kombucha traditionally fermented with lots of different microbial strains and we want to see a yoghurt made with fresh milk and not milk powders.
Price
While we expect quality products to be more expensive, they still have to be priced within reason. On the other side of things, a product which is priced very competitively will get a ratings boost based on the value it provides.
Flavour
For some products flavour won’t be a factor (eg probiotic tablets), but for others, like yoghurt or kimchi, flavour is a key aspect because these products are made to be enjoyed as well as being healthy! We will try to be as subjective as possible and describe the flavour in detail so you can get an idea of whether you would like it or not.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Your reviewer
This article was written by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut-health enthusiast, science nerd and passionate kombucha maker of over 10 years!
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