Culina, The Non-Dairy Yogurt Everyone Is Talking About
With the new year here, now is the best time to make productive changes across the board and transition into a healthier lifestyle. Of course, what we eat has a lot to do with how we look, feel, and interact with the world.
When thinking about nutritious snack options, yogurt is one of the top alternatives that come to mind. However, if you’re lactose-intolerant or are switching to a plant-based diet, it can stop you from enjoying dairy yogurt which can be a healthy and probiotic-rich snack.
Our editors took a trip to our local Whole Foods supermarket to see if we could find some dairy-free alternatives. We discovered three brands of plant-based, dairy-free yogurt: Culina, Forager Project, and So Delicious.
Here’s everything we uncovered when we compared these brands:
Key Similarities
- All 3 brands are dairy-free
- All 3 are rich in probiotics
- All 3 can be found at Whole Foods
Key Differences
- Culina is proudly woman-owned
- Forager Project yogurt is made from cashew milk
- Both Culina and So Delicious are coconut-based
- Culina has developed a unique process that uses coconut, agar, and probiotics
- So Delicious offers various dairy-free products
Culina
One of the first dairy-free yogurts we came across at Whole Foods was Culina. Erin Asaad, CEO, created Culina for those who can’t include dairy, sugar, or gluten in their diets.
Culina’s plant-based yogurts are made with organic, and non-GMO ingredients. Plus, the company utilizes a one-of-a-kind process to ensure its product has a dense, velvety, and smooth texture similar to dairy yogurt.
One of the things we love most about Culina are the unique flavors they offer. From Vanilla Bourbon and Mango Orange Blossom to their Blueberry Lavender and Strawberry Rose flavors, there’s something to please even the pickiest snackers.
We weren’t disappointed with any of the Culina flavors we tried. Hands-down, these yogurts were delicious, refreshing, and didn’t taste bland or overly sweetened. We couldn’t tell that this wasn’t regular yogurt!
Culina’s yogurt is the ideal snack for those looking for something both satisfying and light. It’s clear Culina is obsessed with making the most flavorful plant-based yogurt on the market.
Forager Project
Unlike Culina, Forager Project’s yogurt alternative is made with cashew milk rather than coconut. So right away we knew this wasn’t a great option for those who need to avoid nuts.
We have to be honest, we were all a bit disappointed that the Forager Project only offers, what our Tech Editor called ‘the usual suspects’ AKA flavors such as Vanilla and Plain.
Each serving has 11 grams of added sugar, which doesn’t make this the healthiest of the three. Add to that, that we were upset to find out even the plain option is quite sweet and almost has a candy-like aftertaste.
So Delicious
So Delicious is a company on a mission to create affordable dairy-free products. Like most of their line-up, So Delicious yogurt is made from a coconut base and is certified vegan.
We appreciate the variety of flavors offered, though almost everything we tried was lacking in texture and taste. Plus, we noticed that we weren’t as satisfied and found ourselves needing a second snack because the yogurt wasn’t as filling as the other brands.
Verdict
The good news is that all three brands are available at grocery stores like Whole Foods. So you won’t have to throw a search party or take to the internet to find a tasty, dairy-free yogurt.
Although there was something we liked about all three options, our editors agree that Culina is the clear winner. We love the texture, the exciting flavors, and the fact that it tastes just as good as traditional yogurt with an equally strong gut-health boost.
Don’t let your ‘no dairy’ diet turn into no yogurt forever! If you’re looking to make better-snacking choices this year, buy Culina and enjoy the taste of extraordinary plant-based yogurt.