Shopping List: Woodstock Water Buffalo Milk Yogurt

Star Hill Dairy, located in Woodstock, Vermont, is one of only a handful of cheese-makers to produce buffalo milk mozzarella on American soil (another is Southern California-based Bubalus Bubalis). While Star Hill Dairy has received acclaim for its stateside bufala, it also makes a fantastic line of water buffalo milk yogurts.

Though the idea of eating cheese made from water buffalo milk will be a natural to anyone who has savored the perfection of an insalata caprese, buffalo milk yogurt might sound strange at first. But, after tasting Star Hill Dairy's product, you may never go back the moo milk variety. The biggest difference from cow's milk yogurt is not so much its flavor than its texture. The rich, dense, exceedingly creamy yogurt is so thick you could probably cut it with a knife (or even hold it upside down, if you are so inclined). The consistency is closest to Total, the great Greek strained yogurt.

According to Star Hill Dairy's Web site, Buffalo milk's health benefits include higher protein and calcium levels than cow's milk, not to mention lower cholesterol. The yogurt is not low in fat, however. A six ounce container contains a whopping 10 grams of fat, accounting for 93 of the yogurt's 206 total calories.

Woodstock Water Buffalo Milk Yogurt is $2.49 for a six ounce container at Agata & Valentina, 1505 First Avenue, and other retailers.

Photo: Star Hill Dairy.