Imperfectly Natural Woman

H · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 105

I just found a farm only 15 minutes drive away that sells raw (green-top) milk for only 30p a pint. Proper glass bottles to take back too. They also do cream and free-range eggs. So I'm feeling pretty pleased with this find.

Now I think it would be a good time to finally try my hand at yogurt making. I have read some instructions, and I gather if you use raw milk you only need to heat it to 110 degrees (need to buy a thermometer) mix it with some oragnic live yoghurt and keep it at 110 for about a day. Does this sound right and where is a good place to keep it at this temp? Anyone got any tips please?

Also I notice the milk has a faint smell and taste of silage. Now we saw the cows munching on some in the barn, as they are in from pasture for the winter. The hens were running around happily and I got quite positve vibes from the place. I can ignore the slight taste so am I right in thinking this is no problem?

Alexandra · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 2548 Location: North Yorkshire

I personally would not want to drink milk that tasted of silage, no matter how slight the taste. This would indicate to me that there had been a contamination at some point during the bottling process, which can happen, especially if they re-use glass bottles. Sorry to be a bit negative about this, although I do like the thought of you making your own yoghurt, which is something I have not done in about 15 years. Why not have a look on the Good Food channel's website or the Waitrose one, as both have a lot of recipes. Very Happy

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Toothsmith · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 347 Location: Nth Yorks

My grandad used to make fantastic yougurt in his airing cupboard!

Raw milk does have it's downside. Bovine T.B. is a big problem and it can be passed to humans through milk. Make sure the herd you're getting it from is regularly tested.

Pasturization was invented because there was a problem after all, not just for the sake of it.

H · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 105

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering about the airing cupboard - might be worth a try if I can find a way of reorganising it as I keep the towels in there atm. If that doesn't work guess I can always buy a yoghurt making machine.

Did a bit more research on the raw milk and found that the slight feed taste is when the cows are milked within a short time of eating rather than because anything went wrong. Oddly enough not had any problems since the first bottle - the rest tastes lovely. I did do some research about the risks and stuff before I tried it though. When pasteurisation was invented there was no test for bovine tb so all herds had to be treated as suspect and the milk treated on that basis.

I'm pretty confident about hygiene and testing on the herd as although it's a relatively small farm and dairy they are one of the major suppliers of Longley Farm who make yoghurts which are widely supplied in this area and they also supply milk rounds in their local area so they will have to be tested regualarly.

I know there is always a theoretical risk of something slipping though but I feel the potential health benefits outweigh it for me.

I do appreciate you pointing the risks out though, particualrly as it is a public forum and I wouldn't advise anyone to try raw milk without being informed.

I do buy some pasteurised milk from the same place - wouldn't want to force any visiors to risk sharing my choice if they are not happy with it. I avoid the homogenised stuff though as I have come across quite a bit of research saying that stuff is not good. It's amazing to me how many people have never seen milk with some cream at the top - which is how I remember it when we got it from the milkmen as kids.

I will check out those websites Alexandra.

Thanks again.

indiebird · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 2483 Location: Piedmont Italy

I've never heard that about homogenisation!! Where did you read that info as I'd like to look?.... I just thought that they spun the milk round really fast so that the fat globules mixed in with the rest of the milk and stayed that way permanently.... must admit that we do prefer unhomogenised milk if we can get it but it's getting harder. Here I can go to a little shed with a reusable bottle and get unpasturised/ unhomogenised milk but with the kids and little info on where this milk comes from I'm not so sure that I want to give it to my kids. Confused

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H · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 105

Sorry having a busy spell and a bit computer illiterate - actually a lot computer illiterate! However, here's a few to be going on with. I will have a try at finding more of the stuff I read when time permits. There are some other potential problems with homogenization but I can't find the articles atm. Also one of the 'benefits' of homogenization is that any sediment (pus, dead skin cells and other yucky bits) get mixed in too! Can't find where I read that but I personally would rather be able to see anything lurking at the bottom of the milk and avoid consuming it. Having said that farmers who sell it unhomogenized know it is unsightly so tend to avoid it getting in the milk supply anyway. Grass-fed cows produce much better milk than those on other diets but I will have to have a ferret for the info on that later too.

I buy pasteurised milk from the dairy which I also get the raw milk from since there are some people I would be wary of giving it to but the fact that farmers who supply raw milk have to have higher hygeine standards and testing regimes means that milk should be better too.

I didn't know about this place till I googled raw milk and my area so it may be that you can find better milk if you hunt it out even without buying the actual raw stuff.

Sorry got to rush, hope I made sense - typed this in a big hurry. Get back to you later if I can help at all. Good luck in finding what you want.

http://www.keepwell.com/homogenization.htm
http://milk.procon.org/viewanswers.asp?
http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=16&id=18866
http://fithealthy.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/avoid-pasteurized-and-homogenized-foods/
http://www.communicationagents.com/sepp/2003/06/29/milk_and_vascular_disease.htm

gobaith · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject:

Ah! Goat's milk is the way forward. I can tell that my body really likes it- shame that it's so expensive.......Hubby wants to get a goat, and son (age 5) wants to call her Denis Embarassed

I don't see how I could find the time to milk her, though.....
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H · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 105

My hubby has always wanted a goat - not so much for the milk but just because he is potty about them. Sadly the garden is only big enough to accomodate some guinea pigs and a rabbit - and they munch their way through enough of the few veggies I plant so a goat would demolish the whole garden. Our dream if we won the lottery would be a house in a more rural spot with room for a goat.

As for goats milk and goats cheese - I really want to like them - but I find them incredibly yukky. I'm sure they are a healthier option than most cows milk but I have thus far been totally unable to train my palate to accept them. Is it only me that finds they smell and taste exactly like the warm hairy smell you get if you sniff a goat close up?

indiebird · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 2483 Location: Piedmont Italy

Thanks for that info H.... well I never knew that...must admit that after reading some of those things I was feeling a big 'ewwwwww' on the milk front anyway now.

We once went down the 'goaty' route when dd was riddled with eczema and I found a local supplier with goats. Her milk didn't have that 'goaty' taste at all and it was unpasteurised. The taste comes from the pasteurisation process apparelty. The kids and I went to visit the small-holding and we were very impressed with the health and hygiene of the goats and so went down that route. She also made the most amazing goats yoghurt drinks that my kids couldn't get enough of!! Shame we're not nearby now!!
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H · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 105

I have been looking a bit more at the goat's milk thing and apparently it shouldn't taste goaty if it is handled properly but the stuff I got hold of was horrid. I'm glad you did confirm it can taste nice IBird lol.
I noticed some in tesco's recently and nearly bought some to try it again but reading the small print discovered not only was it pasteurized but also homogenised. I live in hope of finding a good supplier to try it properly but will stick with my local dairy for now and hope I'm doing the best I can..