Bonnie: We’ve found another Greek yogurt company to rave about.

Yes, yes, we’re still fans of FAGE, but we also like Chobani — a “baby” by food company standards. Chobani is a couple of years old, but AgroFarma (the parent company) has been making yogurt much longer. AgroFarma’s Turkish-born Hamdi Ulukaya produced Stonyfield Farm’s Oikos (another Greek yogurt)… that is until their relationship soured (pun intended).

Now Hamdi makes yogurt under the Chobani label. I’m told the name derives from the Greek word for shepherd (spelled chopani), a symbol of safety and goodness.

Like other Greek yogurts, Chobani is thick and creamy. You might recall, Greek yogurt is made thicker by straining off the liquid whey from conventional yogurt. Chobani’s plain version is also fat free, with more than twice the protein of non-Greek yogurts. It’s the straining that concentrates the protein content.

I’m a fan of Chobani’s Plain 0% Yogurt, liking to eat it as is, or adding it to cereal. I also like mixing it with cucumbers, garlic and a smidgen of salt to make tzaziki (or tzatziki) a refreshing dip as part of a mezé, or sauce for grilled meat in a pita. (And, I’m also a fan of a new, not-too-sweet lemon one that’s in their plans for months from now. Keep an eye out for that.)

Bryan: Over one third of your daily protein requirement in a single serving of yogurt; simply amazing, I say!

No fat and only 100 calories… What more can you ask for? How about you throw in some fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey? What’s that, you say? Some granola and some chocolate chips would be preferred? Or maybe some crushed graham crackers and almonds? Well, that’s the beauty of plain yogurt; it’s really just the “lettuce” of a breakfast salad, the healthy backdrop to the main event.

Problem is, Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt is so good, it almost outshines the accoutrements. It’s not the romaine, it’s the Caesar dressing that matters. But this “breakfast lettuce” (I’ve trademarked that, by the way) provides more than just a fantastic base for a morning starter, snack or even dinner (I’m eating two as I write this). This PLAIN yogurt is good on its own; it’s just that it’s fantastic with other things.

Chobani Plain 0% or 2% Greek Yogurt is great for diets or any healthy eating plan. Heck, even feel free to mix your Cheetos and Doritos in there for all you non-healthy folk, or maybe the Honey Yogurt and some Reese’s Pieces. Well, that’s the beauty of yogurt, as I said. Enjoy Chobani with your favorite mix-ins. It’s like a guilt-free Cold Stone Creamery in your refrigerator. Enjoy!

Eric: It’s fairly difficult to compare apples to apples or, in this case, FAGE yogurt to Chobani yogurt. Both are very similar in texture, flavor and consistency, but let me digress. Simply stated, all yogurt is not created equal. Greek-style yogurt is a “healthier” alternative to many other yogurt options. With twice the protein, none of the fat (at least in the fat-free versions) and a smidgen of the calories, it’s a building block for a great snack (or even a meal). Greek-style plain yogurt is also incredibly versatile. Mix it with fresh fruit and honey, use it as a base for dips, fold it into your favorite baking recipes in place of buttermilk or simply use it as part of a marinade.

There are a variety of companies that produce Greek-style yogurt; however, there are only a handful that I’ll eat. In the past, we’ve featured FAGE yogurt, and now the spotlight shines on Chobani. Both are great options to consider yet difficult to tell apart. Taste test, perhaps?

Chobani also offers a variety of flavors targeted to both adults and children. Aside from the plain (which we’ve featured here), there are also fruit-on-the-bottom options (mango, pineapple, lemon, etc) and child-friendly options (honey and banana, strawberry and banana, and a raspberry-blueberry-strawberry combination) that are sold in smaller sizes. Καλή όρεξη
(bon appetite).