Zoi Greek Style Yogurt Strawberry
The Rise of The Greek Yogurt Empire
Today we’re reviewing Zoi Greek Yogurt.
Zoi Yogurt is made by Auburn Dairy Products. It’s a regional brand found in the Pacific Northwest(USA). The packing is simplistic but charming. It advertises itself as having a “Great Taste – Fit For The Gods”. You can get Zoi in the following flavors: Plain, Vanilla, Honey, Strawberry & Blueberry. One of the best things about the fruit flavors is that they have “Fruit on the Bottom”, which I feel lends to the use of higher quality ingredients and allows one to mix the fruit in or slowly make their way to the fruity explosion awaiting at the bottom. I initially didn’t even know that there was fruit on the bottom(failed to read the label), there was the essence of fruit flavor throughout the yogurt even before I hit the bottom, so the fruit on the bottom was an extra bonus.
Greek style yogurt is a yogurt that has been strained to reduce moisture content. It also has a higher fat content. Those two properties causes it to have consistency similar to a high moisture cheese. I would say it’s half-way between a firm sour cream & a soft cream-cheese. Even that doesn’t quite describe it properly, as the texture is pretty unique. Basically, it’s thick. If you stick a spoon straight in, it’ll hold the spoon up. The texture is much more satisfying than a lot of the goopey mass marketed yogurt you’ll find on store shelves.
Zoi Yogurt has Vitamin A & D3, as well as live cultures(S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, B. lactis, L. rhamnosus & L. casei). This is a cow’s milk yogurt. As far as I can see it looks as though the ingredients are all natural. One thing that might be concerning is the fat & calorie content. For example the Strawberry flavor contains 5g of fat(3.5 of which are saturated fats) & 200 calories per 6oz cup. I actually don’t think that is a big deal as the cups are very satisfying & can easily take the place of your breakfast or lunch. At least you’re getting 7g of protein out of that as well. Also because the texture and flavor is so good, I could easily see someone using it to substitute for something much worse like cheesecake or ice cream without feeling disappointed.
Overall, I really like the product. You can find it at QFC, Haggens, Winco or Top Foods. There is a $1.00 off coupon on their website.
I do not care for sweets such as candy, icecream,cake pie or popsicles. This yogurt is my dessert! I purchase the honey flavor. It is awesome! My daughter and I no longer purchase the runny, no fat, TOO MUCH SUGAR yogurts. Zoi Greek Yogurt Traditional Style Honey is our favorite and a refreshing delight to all those preserved, cancer causing, boxed, msg, high fructose sugar filled containers sold in stores this day and age. I huge thank you and a bigger God Bless You to Auburn Dairy!
Yes, the yogurt is a good substitute for some deserts that might be worse than the fat content in the yogurt. I will definitely agree that the mainstream yogurts like Yoplait barely classify as yogurt, more like goo. If you look on the ingredients they even put thickeners and stabilizers in Yoplait. Yuck. Zoi is definitely the best yogurt that you can get at your supermarket.
Just wanted to say that I have never really been a big fan of yogurt….especially plain yogurt :( ….until trying Zoi brand. Absolutely great consistency and flavor. I love the honey flavor…the only problem is that we have to drive an hour to the nearest store that carries Zoi yogurt….or we try to bribe some of our dear friends to bring a few containers when they are coming to visit. Absolutely worth the wait. Thanks so much for a great product.
I’m like Rochelle: not a fan of Yogurt in general. I usually like the first 3 or 4 bites but by the end really hate it. But I tried Zoi on a whim and I’m addicted. I just ate some for dessert and have another 5 in the fridge, which will last me maybe 2 days.
The honey Zoi is LOADED with fats from cream. Look at the label.
I’d like to try their vanilla but only buy the 32 oz size yogurts. Guess I’m sticking with Mountain High Vanilla.
You should talk to your supermarket because where i am we always get the 32 oz can of vanilla no problem. I’m sure they can order it. its worth a try!
@Bill, their fruit flavors do appear to have less fat, perhaps that’s because there is less yogurt in there to make room for the fruit though.
ZOI does offer a fat free plain variety which is good. You could try mixing some sugar & vanilla into it.
We all love the yogurt, have stopped buying sour cream just use the plain one. The honey flavor is wonderful, we use it in place of whipped cream as a dessert topping. Keep up the good work.
Just finished a 3-month project to make yogurt as good as Zoi. Couldn’t match Zoi, and it was a lotta work. Would have continued if I could have matched Zoi.
Two other great yogurts are The Greek Gods, which is practically the same as Zoi but in smaller containers; and Nancy’s Honey and Nancy’s Organic Whole Milk. Nancy’s ain’t Greek, but it’s still thick and not full of sugar and thickeners.
Keep it up, El Greco!
Simply put the honey yogurt is decidant. Yes it does have a lot of fat, but by god I prefer it to my old and trusty Ben and Jerrys. I thought I would never say such seditious words, but there I said it.
Zoi’s honey yogurt is so creamy and fulfilling, that I started using it in my ice cream maker instead of cream, and its actually better!
Most slogans are just that, hot air and a bunch of bunk. “Fit for the gods”, is one of the exceptions.
Thank you Auburn Dairy Products, Inc., you have a lifelong customer in me. I haven’t purchased a single other brand since trying Zoi.
I agree Zoi tastes WONERFUL, it is priced right and it is made right here in the Northwest. My question… is it authentic Greek yogurt? Is it filtered to make it thick (like Fage) or do they add thickeners? Compare the labels with Fage and you notice a significant difference in the protien contents. Is Zoi a fake? Curious minds want to know….
I picked up two large containers of Zoi last week at Top Foods because it was on sale for 2.99. I hadn’t tried this brand before but because I eat nonfat plain Greek yogurt every morning for breakfast, I bought because it was a bargain, and we go through a lot of it. The next morning I tried it and was very disappointed. The texture is not the usual thick, smooth consistency I’m used to and the flavor was off. Enough so that I dumped it down the sink. It’s disappointing since it’s from a local producer and I was hoping to become a new fan. Not buying again – not even with a coupon.
Zoi is probably the best tasting greek yogurt I’ve tried, but nowhere near the best nutritionally. Safeay’s Lucerne brand has much less fat and more protein, and the Chobani brand is also loaded with protein, although it typically costs more.
ZOI is the absolutely the most disgusting yogurt I’ve had in my life. Try Fage, its worlds better. I litterally could not swollow the ZOI.
I’ve been eating the plain full fat Zoi for years. I really enjoy the tangy flavor – I mix in some fruit: cut apples, dried or fresh blueberries and very often craisins. I’ve never had an issue with product quality and I almost always buy the big 32oz tub. It actually lasts quite a few weeks past the due date on the container without off-flavors or smells. I’m a local in the Northwest and I like to support the local economy. This one is such an easy win because it’s just what the doctor ordered, it is easy to find and cheap!
I love Zoi yogurt and eat it straight from the carton. Texture is great and the taste is good enough to eat plain. I’ll probably make a cheese cake with this brand. Delicious
Have you guys looked at the sugar content in this yogurt?! A strawberry cream 6oz has 30 grams! That’s 7.5 teaspoons or 2.5 tablespoons! Way too much sugar. I try to stay at 6 teaspoons a day. This is a sugar bomb.
Hi Matt,
That is good information for people to know about. I am really not a fan of yogurt, unless you are making it yourself. However it does require quite a bit of effort, and many people do not like the sour flavor of plain yogurt.
I buy the plain yogurt and add in my own fresh fruit and a little Splenda. This is by far the best yogurt that I have ever had, and I have eaten a lot of yogurt. I usually make my own yogurt from scratch and bought the ZOI because I was moving and my slow cooker was packed. I think I am going to forget about making it and just buy the plain ZOI from now on. It’s that good!