All a Matter of Taste – or Why Is Goat’s Milk So Popular?
If you ask goat milk fans, the first thing they usually mention is the unmistakably tangy taste of goat milk products. (If you ask those who aren’t fans, this is exactly the characteristic that makes goat milk so unique — and so polarizing. It’s definitely a very special flavor.)
Many of the moms and dads who applied last year for the big Töpfer “Goat Milk Porridge Test” told us in large numbers that they simply love eating goat cheese and other goat products.
The rumor that goat milk tastes like “buck” (male goat) persists stubbornly. But where does it come from? Milk quickly absorbs environmental odors. That’s why the way goats are kept and the methods of milk collection are so important.
Goat feed influences the flavor of the milk
Do you remember the fairy tale The Wishing Table? “I’m so full, I can’t eat another leaf: Mäh! Mäh!” … That says it all: goats are picky eaters.
Fresh grasses, herbs, and even a tasty bit of bark from fresh branches are all on the menu when goats graze. Just like with cows, sometimes the milk tastes more robust, sometimes sweeter, depending on what’s on offer!
For “organic goats” and organic farming, special attention is paid to feed quality. Feed mixtures in line with EU organic standards without genetically modified organisms are mandatory. A balanced mix of corn, beet pulp, flax, alfalfa, wheat bran, and more ensures optimal nutrients — and therefore the best milk quality.
Tastes like goat…!?
Did you know: completely fresh goat’s milk straight from the farmer hardly has any “goaty smell”?
That only develops more strongly during processing. So if you ever get the chance to buy fresh goat’s milk directly from a farm — give it a try!
Back then, Germans drank an average of 8 liters of goat’s milk per year
Goat’s milk has been consumed as food for thousands of years and has long been a solid base for infant nutrition. Looking at the bigger picture, more toddlers in Europe were probably raised on goat’s milk after breastfeeding than on cow’s milk. A few goats were common household animals and often more present than cows.
In the 1950s, Germans drank an average of 8 liters of goat’s milk per year. Over time, goat’s milk lost significance and was almost completely replaced by cow’s milk in the 1980s and 90s.
In central and southern European countries, goat’s milk is still widespread today — not only as tangy, flavorful goat cheese but also as drinking milk. In Germany, goat’s milk has also been gaining renewed attention in recent years.
The rediscovery of goat’s milk
Today, goat’s milk is slowly being rediscovered — as a delicious dairy product.
Especially in Southern European countries, goat’s milk is still more widely consumed (than in Central Europe) and remains a staple of traditional diets.
In fact, in many non-Western countries, goats are still considered the main source of milk. This is also reflected in the use of goat’s milk products in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.
In our regions, goat cheese is especially popular, and in recent years yogurt and quark products made from goat’s milk have been on the rise. And since 2014, goat’s milk has also been officially approved in the EU as a basis for infant formula.
Why was cow’s milk consumed much less in the past?
For thousands of years, goats have lived alongside humans as easy-to-keep livestock — and so goat’s milk was naturally consumed as well. Goats were considered very “practical” animals: they didn’t produce as much milk as cows, but they provided milk consistently, even without giving birth to a kid. And even with kids, goats produced enough milk for both the little ones and the household.
Milk was seen as a valuable, high-quality good — and consumed in moderation. That’s certainly a mindset we could return to today.
Goat’s milk for baby tummies?
When we talk to moms, we often hear that their families rely on goat’s milk products (milk, cheese, etc.).
But be careful: (fresh) goat’s milk and goat’s milk infant formula are not the same thing.
Since 2014, goat’s milk has been officially approved in the EU as a basis for infant nutrition.
