Soy yogurt


Soy yogurt, also referred to as Soya yogurt, Soygurt or Yofu, is yogurt prepared with soy milk.

Ingredients

Soy yogurt is made using soy milk, adding yogurt bacteria, sometimes adding sweeteners such as fructose, glucose, or sugar.

Non-dairy requirements

It is suitable for vegans, ovo-vegetarians, for people with PKU or other dangerous diseases, and for those with lactose intolerance or milk allergy, as the bacteria for shop-bought soy yogurt are usually not grown on a dairy base. Due to certain recurring doubts and controversies about the bacterial cultures used, most soy yogurt manufacturers nowadays include certified labels, usually by the Vegan Society or similar vegan organisations, clearly visible on the outer packaging.

Preparation

Soy yogurt can be prepared at home using the same method as dairy yogurt, using soy milk and a starter culture. One tablespoon of sugar per 1 liter of unsweetened soy milk may be added to promote bacterial fermentation. Soy milk on its own lacks the lactose that is the basic food for the yogurt bacteria.

Comparisons

Soy yogurt may have a slight beany soy taste when made directly from freshly prepared soy milk, but this is less pronounced in shop-bought soy yogurt and in soy yogurt made from commercial soy milk.
Soy yogurt contains less fat than yogurt made with whole milk. This amounts to about 2.7%, versus 3.5% in dairy yogurt. However, dairy yogurt can be made with 2%, 1%, or fat-free milk, and soy yogurt can also be made from reduced-fat soy milk.
In 1998, the cost of soy yogurt was similar to dairy yogurt.
Soy yogurt is similar in protein content to dairy yogurt, lower in sugar, and higher in fat. If not fortified, soy yogurt does not contain Vitamin B12 or Vitamin D.