Coles pot set natural Greek style yoghurt review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Coles pot set natural Greek style yoghurt. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of this great value yoghurt.
Coles now have a few similar own-brand natural yoghurts, so it’s important to note this review is about their natural pot set version.
This yoghurt is widely available in Coles supermarkets in Australia.
What is ‘pot set’ yoghurt?
Pot set yogurt is cultured (ie fermented) and set directly in the container it will be sold in. Other yoghurts which aren’t pot set are cultured in a larger vat and then stirred to create a more smooth texture.
In general, pot set yoghurts tend to be less homogenous and less creamy. They also have a more irregular texture and it feels like the yoghurt is made up of tiny lumps.
So you could say that pot set yoghurts are more traditional, however I think the texture is often not as good as other yoghurts.
Ingredients of Coles pot set natural yoghurt
This natural yoghurt only includes skimmed milk, cream, milk solids and live cultures.
So this is an authentic and clean product without additives like thickeners, sweeteners or flavourings.
Benefits of Coles pot set natural yoghurt
This yoghurt comes with various health benefits. For context, we’ll compare a few key factors against Jalna Greek style pot set yoghurt, Tamar Valley yoghurt and Farmers Union Greek style yoghurt - which are similar, natural yoghurts.
Probiotics
While this yoghurt certainly contains probiotics (ie live beneficial microbes), Coles doesn’t give any information about the strains included or the amount of actual bacteria present (ie colony forming units).
In contrast, Jalna has three strains of probiotics while Farmers Union has two.
Read more about the benefits of probiotic foods.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially things probiotics produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Other health measures
Fat: This yoghurt has fairly high fat levels at 8.6% - however this is slightly lower than Jalna, Farmers Union and Tamar Valley.
Protein: Its protein content is on the low side at 3.4% - which is similar to Jalna, but lower than Tamer Valley and Farmers Union. And this is far below other protein-rich brands like Procal and Chobani.
Calcium: Its calcium content is similar Jalna, but substantially lower than Farmers Union and Tamar Valley.
Sodium: It has similar sodium levels to Jalna, which are again lower than Farmers Union and Tamar Valley.
Appearance
It has a similar ice-cream-like appearance to Jalna when you serve it out. However a clear liquid does accumulate in the bottom of the bowl after a while - more so than other yoghurts which aren’t pot set.
Texture
The texture is thick and more creamy than other pot set yoghurts. It does still have the typical lumpy texture of pot set yoghurts though.
Flavour
The aroma is soured milk as you would expect but also with some savoury cheese notes.
The taste is more on the sour side than other brands (not a bad thing in my opinion) with subtle cottage cheese characteristics.
Overall, the taste is very good but with that pot set lumpy texture which I find a bit lacklustre.
Cost of Coles pot set natural yoghurt
The normal retail price for a 1kg tub from Coles is $5.50 - which is outstanding value!
Summary
4.25 stars out of 5.
An authentic, natural pot set yoghurt with a lovely taste. The texture is not as good as other brands which aren’t pot set though.
Pros
nice taste (provided you don’t mind a higher level of sourness)
simple natural ingredients with no additives
great value
Cons
fairly high in fat - but below some similar brands
texture doesn’t match other brands which aren’t pot set
low in protein and calcium compare to others
no information on probiotics given
Health benefits of yoghurt
Aside from the specific benefits listed above, especially related to probiotics and postbiotics, yoghurt has some other important health benefits.
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 by bacteria during the fermentation process. This makes it more digestible for people who have some degree of lactose intolerance.
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut enthusiast and passionate kombucha maker!
Related articles
