The price of yogurt in stores has already reached two leva. Why is one of the most typical Bulgarian products becoming more expensive and how much does a bucket of this mass product actually cost?
"I don't know why the price has risen so much, considering that fresh milk is bought for about a leva per liter. Dairy cows that are raised in a barn give between 40 and 50 liters of milk per cow, which is quite rare", farmer Krasimir Kirilov explained to Nova TV.
He explained that the cows he raises give between 5 and 10 liters of yield. "That is, the amount of milk is less, but it is fattier. It is of very high quality and we do not extract the fat from it in any way. I assume that the increase in the price of milk in the store is due to the trader's higher margin, because none of the farmers have gotten rich," emphasized Kirilov.
However, it turns out that we can make yogurt at home. Hristina from the village of Vidlitsa reveals the intricacies of homemade fermented milk. To do so, she buys homemade fresh cow's milk.
“When the milk has risen just a little, it must be removed from the heat to preserve its properties, which disappear when it boils too much”, explains Hristina Todorova.
The milk is left to cool before being poured into the jar. Hristina from the village of Vidlitsa has her own secret for the exact temperature. “My grandmother taught me to dip dirt in it. And if I can stand the heat until I count to 20 - it's ready to ferment“, she shares.
While we prepare the milk in its jar, we also do the math. “I've seen the jars in the store for 1.50-1.80 leva at least. To make your own homemade milk, you will pay much less“, claims Hristina.
She buys a liter of homemade cow's milk for 2 leva. “We won't even talk about the quality. You can't compare milk from home with what's in the store“, Hristina is categorical. And homemade yogurt is ready in about three hours.