Introduction
When you think of Austria, you may imagine delicious dairy products, especially since Austria is located close to Switzerland. After actually living in Austria, I found that supermarkets offer a surprisingly wide variety of yogurts and desserts, making it fun to browse the shelves and choose what to try.
In this article, I’ll share my honest impressions of the yogurts and puddings I have actually bought and tried at Austrian supermarkets.
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Yogurt
Private-Label Natural Yogurt
First, let’s take a look at private-label products from Austrian supermarkets. Examples include SPAR’s “S-Budget” and HOFER’s “MILSANI.”
These NATUR JOGHURT (plain yogurt) products are extremely affordable, but they actually taste quite good.
To be honest, I initially thought they might not be very good because they were so cheap. However, they turned out to be perfectly enjoyable. They have a mild flavor with little aftertaste, making them a great choice for everyday yogurt.
BERG BAUERN Flavored Yogurt — Watch Out for the PFAND!
Next is a yogurt brand called “BERG BAUERN.”
There are many different flavors, including strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon, and even chocolate chip. The lineup feels very European, and it is fun just looking at all the different options.
However, be careful: these glass jars are subject to the PFAND deposit system! It is relatively uncommon for glass yogurt jars to be part of the PFAND system, so I did not know about it and unfortunately threw one away with the glass recycling.
So far, I have tried the strawberry and vanilla flavors, and both were smooth, creamy, and delicious. They almost feel more like dessert than regular yogurt.
Vanilla, in particular, is rich and satisfying, making it perfect when you want something a little sweet.
Some supermarkets also offer promotions such as “buy one, get one free,” so it is worth stocking up when they are on sale.
I also tried the Stracciatella flavor with chocolate chips. Yogurt with chocolate chips is not a combination you commonly see in Japan.
…But honestly, this one was not really for me. The chocolate chips are quite bitter, while the yogurt itself is plain. It may be a healthier option, but I found it lacking in sweetness.
If you prefer less-sweet yogurt, I feel like you might as well just buy plain yogurt.
I wondered whether Austrians actually liked this flavor, but when I went to the supermarket later, this was the only flavor that had a huge amount left on the shelves. I thought, “Ah, maybe Austrians don’t like it that much either!” Haha.
I also tried the blueberry (Heidelbeere) flavor. Since blueberry is such a classic flavor, it was delicious, just like the strawberry version.
GREEK STYLE JOGHURT
Next is “GREEK STYLE JOGHURT,” a Greek-style yogurt.
Greek yogurt is known for its thick and creamy texture, and this product definitely has that rich, creamy mouthfeel.
The flavors available include mango and vanilla. Both are rich and delicious, with a creamy yogurt base.
However, each container contains only 150 g, so there is less yogurt inside than you might expect from the size of the container. I would say it is roughly one or two servings.
Even so, when they are on sale, you can sometimes get one for around €0.60, which I think is an excellent deal considering the taste.
AYRAN and Kefir
In Austrian supermarkets, you will also often see a yogurt-based drink called “AYRAN.”
However, it is quite different from the sweet yogurt drinks commonly found in Japan. Ayran contains no sugar, so it is not sweet at all. The taste is similar to plain yogurt that has been thinned out enough to drink, and some varieties also have a slightly salty flavor.
It may be a little surprising at first, but once you get used to it, it is refreshing and goes surprisingly well with meals. I think many people could become fans of it.
You can also find “kefir” in Austrian supermarkets. Kefir has a stronger fermented flavor and a slightly sour taste. It seems like a popular choice among people who are interested in healthy foods.
Pudding and Desserts
Zum Dorfkrug Series
One pudding and dessert brand you often see in Austrian supermarkets is the “Zum Dorfkrug” series.
There are many different flavors, including SCHOKOLADEN (chocolate), KARAMELL (caramel), ZIMT (cinnamon), and MILCHREIS (rice pudding).
So far, I have tried SCHOKOLADEN, KARAMELL, and MILCHREIS.
SCHOKOLADEN (Chocolate)
The chocolate flavor has a slightly bitter taste and is not overly sweet, making it very well balanced.
It is rich without feeling too heavy, and I think it would appeal to many Japanese people as well. Personally, this was a big hit and I would definitely buy it again.
KARAMELL (Caramel)
The caramel flavor is noticeably sweeter and feels more like a classic dessert.
There is no doubt that it is delicious, but because it is quite sweet, I personally found the chocolate flavor easier to eat. If you have a serious sweet tooth, however, you might actually prefer the caramel version.
MILCHREIS
Milchreis is, as the name suggests, a milk-based dessert containing rice. From a Japanese perspective, putting rice in a pudding-like dessert may sound a little strange. However, Milchreis is a popular dessert in German-speaking countries, and it is enjoyed as a sweet dish rather than as a regular meal.
Personally, though, I have to admit that I would rather eat my rice hot and fluffy in a rice bowl than as dessert. Haha.
Flavors I Want to Try Next
There are still some flavors I haven’t tried yet, such as ZIMT (cinnamon), so I would like to add more reviews to this article if I get a chance to try them in the future.
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Overall Thoughts
Overall, I found the quality of yogurts and puddings sold at Austrian supermarkets to be quite high. It really made me realize how strong the dairy culture is in this part of Europe.
Even inexpensive private-label products can be surprisingly good, while flavored yogurts and dessert products offer a wide variety of choices, making it fun to try something different each time.
Another fun aspect is that you can discover flavors and food cultures that are slightly different from what you are used to in Japan.
If you are visiting or living in Austria, I definitely recommend exploring the supermarket dairy section and trying a few different products for yourself.
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