Best high protein yoghurt in Australia reviewed
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of the best high protein yoghurt in Australia - including yoghurt from Chobani, Procal, Woolworths, YoPRO and Aldi’s own-brand Yoguri.
We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of these yoghurts and see where each yoghurt stands out.
You might also be interested in our other yoghurt articles:
The downsides of high protein yoghurt
High protein yoghurt are often, but not always, also very low in fat. This means that the yoghurt can often lack a creamy taste and be pretty unsatisfying. Also common among high-protein, low-fat yoghurt is a chalky aftertaste.
So sometimes high protein yoghurts have great macros, but a disappointing taste which means that their use is limited. For example, I wouldn’t recommend having some of the yoghurts listed here on their own as the taste is just not satisfying. But these still work very well in a smoothie.
As we’ll see, for most people the best high protein yoghurts will not be those with the absolute highest amount of protein, but rather ones with good levels of protein combined with some fat to make them palatable. But of course some people might not care at all about taste as long as the macros are good!
How much protein should you eat each day?
You’ll read varying opinion online about exactly how much protein is optimal and it varies based on certain circumstances.
As a simple guide:
a normal adult will want to consume about 0.8g of protein per day per kilogram of weight - so a 60kg person should consume around 48g of protein per day
from age 40 you will want to consume around 1.0-1.2g of protein per day per kilogram - so a 60kg person should consume around 60-72g of protein per day. This is because as we age we begin to lose muscle mass and this increase in protein can help offset that
an adult who exercises regularly or is trying to increase muscle mass should aim for around 1.5g of protein per day per kilogram - so a 60kg person should consume around 90g of protein per day. It’s worth nothing that some advice goes even further recommending 2g of protein per day per kilogram for those trying to gain muscle mass. However, it would generally not be recommended going past 2g.
Best high protein yoghurt overall in Australia
Chobani Greek yoghurt
Chobani is the high protein yoghurt to choose if you want a great all-rounder which balances protein content, fat levels and taste very well.
Chobani has only three ingredients: skim milk, cream and live cultures.
It has very high levels of protein at 8.6% and moderate levels of fat at 4%.
Chobani includes five strains of probiotics but they give no indication of actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
Flavour
It has a normal soured milk aroma.
The texture is very thick and somewhat creamy, but not as creamy as other (non-high-protein) yoghurts with higher fat levels.
In terms of taste, the sourness is quite low for a yoghurt.
Overall, the taste is good and about the best you can hope for in a very high protein yoghurt.
Cost and availability
The normal retail price for a 907g tub from Coles or Woolworths is around $8.
Summary
4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Chobani Greek yoghurt is a high-protein yoghurt with a relatively low fat level (compared to non-high-protein yoghurt) and five strains of probiotics. It’s a great compromise between taste, and good protein and fat levels.
Pros
high in protein
fairly low in fat
five probiotic strains
good taste
Cons
not as creamy (as some non-high-protein yoghurts)
price is higher than others
Best tasting high protein yoghurt
Procal Greek yoghurt
Procal Greek yoghurt is another good all-round yoghurt and the one to choose if taste is the most important factor to you.
Procal doesn’t actually market itself as a high protein yoghurt, yet it’s protein levels are fairly good at 6.8% - however this is below all other yoghurts reviewed here.
It also has high fat levels at 8% - which is above all yoghurts reviewed here.
It has simple, clean ingredients - only milk, cream, milk solids and live cultures.
It has the two common strains of live cultures but it gives no information on the actual amount of these present.
Flavour
The texture is very thick and creamy - a gift from the high fat content!
The taste is a little different to other yoghurts we have reviewed. The sourness is low to moderate and there is a slight cottage cheese taste to it which gives it a nice savoury characteristic.
Overall, the taste is very good with a lovely luxurious texture.
Cost and availability
The normal retail price for a 900g tub from Coles or Woolworths is $7.
Summary
4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Procal Greek yoghurt is an authentic, natural yoghurt with a unique taste and a good amount of protein.
Pros
delicious, unique taste
lovely creamy texture
fairly high in protein - but below others reviewed here
simple, traditional ingredients with no additives
Cons
high in fat compared to others reviewed here
more information needed on the amount of live cultures it contains
just the two strains of live cultures
Best low fat, high protein yoghurt
Woolworths high protein plain yoghurt
Woolworths high protein plain yoghurt is the yoghurt to choose if you want to prioritise good macros above other factors, especially taste.
It has very high levels of protein (9.4%) and very low levels of fat (less than 1g).
This is a very simple and clean yoghurt with only three ingredients: skim milk, skim milk solids and live cultures.
It contains at least four live cultures, but doesn’t give any information on the actual amount of bacteria present.
Flavour
The texture is indeed very thick - but not in a nice creamy way because of its low fat content.
The aroma is subtle with a bit of pongy cheese coming through.
Taste is unfortunately where this yoghurt falls down. I can best describe the taste as ‘empty’. There’s just not much going on except a subtle slightly unpleasant funky cheese characteristic.
The texture is odd. It is thick as you would want, but again without the fat it’s just underwhelming.
Overall, the taste isn’t awful by any means - just quite unsatisfying.
It’s probably best to use this yoghurt in a smoothie where the taste can disappear amid other flavours.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 900g tub from Woolworths for $6.
Summary
3.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Woolworths high protein plain yoghurt is a simple, clean yoghurt with great protein and fat levels, but the taste is a let down.
Pros
very high in protein
very low in fat
four strains of live cultures
Cons
unsatisfying taste
doesn’t have a creamy texture
needs more information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
Read our full review of Woolworths high protein plain yoghurt.
Best high protein yoghurt from Aldi
Yoguri plain high protein yoghurt
Yoguri is the Aldi yoghurt of choice if you want to focus on high protein and low fat. Like the Woolworths yoghurt above, the taste is disappointing and works best in a smoothie.
Yoguri is a very simple yoghurt with only two ingredients: skim milk and live cultures.
It has very high levels of protein (9.1%) and extremely low levels of fat (0.1%).
Unfortunately, it gives no information on what strains of live cultures are included or the amount of them.
Flavour
Similar to Woolworths, it has a thick texture, but not in a nice creamy way. This is of course due to the near absence of fat.
The aroma is subtle with some savoury cheese notes.
The taste is this yoghurt’s weakness. There’s just not much going on. The texture suggests that it’s going to be lovely and luxurious, but it is not. There’s some savoury cheese taste and a low acidity. Afterwards a bland chalky cheesy taste lingers in your mouth.
Overall, the taste is very unsatisfying - but not offensive.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 900g tub from Aldi for $6.
Summary
3.5 stars out of 5.
A very simple yoghurt with great protein and fat levels, but this comes at the expense of taste.
Pros
very high in protein
extremely low in fat
Cons
unsatisfying taste
doesn’t have a creamy texture
no information on calcium content
no information on the strains of live cultures included
needs more information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
Other high protein yoghurts in Australia
Danone YoPRO yoghurt
Danone YoPRO is a decent choice for a high protein, low fat yoghurt as long as you don’t mind that it isn’t a traditional-style yoghurt and that it contains various additives such as (natural) flavourings, sweeteners and thickeners.
The specific ingredients are skim milk, water, thickener (rice starch), natural flavours, lemon pulp, sweetener (steviol glycosides), vanilla bean, salt, lactase enzyme, live yoghurt cultures and milk minerals.
It has very high protein levels at 9.5% and very low fat at 0.3%.
Unfortunately, YoPRO gives no information on what strains of live cultures are included or the amount of them.
Flavour
The texture is thick, but given the near absence of fat it isn’t satisfyingly creamy.
It has a soured milk aroma as you would expect along with some vanilla.
The taste is fairly sweet and vanilla-y with a low acidity. Like some other very low-fat and high-protein yoghurts, it leaves a chalky taste in the mouth.
Overall, the additives make the flavour quite approachable for a very low-fat yoghurt.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 700g tub from Aldi for $7.50 - which is quite expensive per gram compared to other brands.
Summary
3.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Danone YoPRO yoghurt is high protein, low fat yoghurt with a decent taste. Just be aware that it is not a traditional yoghurt and contains various additives.
Pros
very high in protein
very low in fat
decent taste for something so low in fat
Cons
various additives to improve the taste, including a sweetener
doesn’t have a creamy texture
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
expensive
Health benefits of yoghurt
Live cultures
These are the live microbes you are ingesting when you eat yoghurt. And many 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 things probiotics produce. These include short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
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 its 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.
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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