Most of us have our favorite SABI yogurt that we come to the store for and then enjoy at home, work, or anywhere else. Large or small packaging, chocolate or blueberry, everyone chooses. Yogurt has become a staple, but how did it actually originate? Read on to discover its surprising origin and its journey from ancient civilizations to our stores.
The word yogurt has Turkish origins and comes from the word "yogurmak" (to thicken). It is believed that yogurt was made in Turkey as early as the 6th century BC. Yogurt was accidentally discovered by Central Asian shepherds who stored their goat milk in bags made from animal stomachs to protect it during travel. The milk stored this way turned into a thick mixture during the long journey, which was surprisingly edible even after spending a long time in the hot sun. The reason was bacteria present in the milk and their excellent interaction with the animal stomach bags.
There is evidence that in many ancient Asian civilizations, yogurt was part of their diet. Supporters of Genghis Khan supplied his Mongol army, which often consumed yogurts of the time to gain strength and endurance in battle. It is even said that the Indian emperor Akbar favored his yogurt with cinnamon and mustard seeds. It is also remarkable that the ancient Greeks consumed oxygala, a distant ancestor of yogurt made from sour milk and sweetened with honey. That sounds a bit more appealing.
For centuries, yogurt was made only at home, not in mass production. This changed when, in 1905, Bulgarian microbiologist Stamen Grigorov discovered Lactobacillus bulgaricus, a bacterial strain that ferments milk into yogurt. Soon after Grigorov's breakthrough discovery, the company Danone (known as Dannon in the USA) began producing commercial yogurt in 1919 in Barcelona, Spain. Fruit yogurt with fruit at the bottom was introduced in the post-war period, in 1947, again by Danone.
Thanks to shepherds, Stamen Grigorov, and Danone, we know yogurt that brightens our moments and is among health-beneficial foods. By the way, have you tried our plum cinnamon novelty yet?
