On this list of dairy products I have included those that have been made from the base of cow or buffalo milk. However, in human history and still today milk from quite a few other animals have been readily used for the same purposes, examples are goats and sheep. I will focus on the more common milk products and try to explain where they have their origins.
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Goats have provided us with milk for thousands of years.
List Of Milk Based Dairy Products
Milk is generally referring to pasteurized cow´s milk. It is known that 5000BC cows were already kept to retain it. With time it spread all over the world, however milk consumtion is a lot higher in the Western world than anywhere else. It is the base for many other products, of which some I have listed below: Crème fraiche As the name suggest it has its origins in France, more exactly in Normandy. It is made by letting unpasteurized milk ferment during 12-24h, with pasteurized milk you have to add bacteria (normally from yoghurt) to achieve the same result. Sour cream I similar to Crème fraiche but has a lower fat level. The bacteria used to create fermentation is from buttermilk, different thickening agents can be added. Sourcream has European origin but is most common in the US. Smetana is sour cream with its origin in Eastern Europe. The fat content can vary between 10% until 70%. Clotted cream from South England. Made by heating milk unpasteurized milk and leaving it until the cream rises to the surface. Traditionally eaten with scones. Cultured buttermilk you get from adding a lactic bacteria to milk and styart a fermentation process. This can be used in bread or icecream making. A related products is the Swedish "filmjölk". Kefir is a fermented product that has its origin in the Caucasus. By adding a yeast like product to the milk the process commences. Kumis/Airag is a Central Asian slightly fermented drink. Traditionally a yeast/bacteria liquid is added to naturally sweet mare´s milk in a churning like process, today using sweetened cow´s milk is common today. Milk Powder i dehydrated milk. The first real powdered milk was invented by a Russian chemist in 1832. Long shelf time and easy transportation are advantages. Is used in the process of making various other products like icecream, infant formula and milk chocolate. Condensed milk exist in various formulas, normally it is a high fat product that is obtained by removing water and adding sugar. Often used in desserts. Although similar products were used over a thousand years ago in Central Asia the modern form was invented in Europe in the early 19th century. Evaporated milk is milk where water has been removed. Sweet tasting but no sugar has been added. Baked milk has its roots in Russia where it is still popular. By simmering milk on low temperature for many hours a brownish sweet liquid with a crust is obtained, industrial methods differ. Is used for desserts and baking sweet breads.
List Of Butter Based Dairy Products
Butter is produced in a process where you churn the cream from milk. It is believed that butter was used in the Middle East as early 10000 BC, then not made from cow´s milk but goat´s or sheep´s. Buttermilk is the liquid that is left over when you have churned the cream into butter. It is thicker than milk but not necessarily fatter. Ghee (also clarified butter) invented by the Indians, it is called clarified butter in English. By melting butter you separate the milk substances from the butter, the result can store for longer periods in closed containers.
List Of Cheese Based Dairy Products
Cheese is manufactured by various methods of coagulating milk and thus removing liquid called whey, rennet is normally added to this "curd" to make it stabilize. The cheese can then sit to let ripen creating taste with thge help of bacteria and sometimes mold fungus. There are hundreds of methods where cheese can be cooked, dried or flavoured before consumed. The orgin of cheese is uncertain, but to say several thousands of years ago somewhere in the Middle East, Europe or Northern Africa you won´t be wrong. Curd is the solified form of milk when it has coagulated with the help of acid or rennet. Whey is the liquid that gets separated from the curd in cheese making. It can be used in baking or for other foods. Cottage cheese is a loose "curd" that still holds quite a lot of whey. Often mild in flavour. Can be made with or withour rennet with different results. Origin and age is quite unknown, it can probably be connected with general cheese making. Qvark is a low fat fresh cheese with its origin in Eastern Europe. Cream cheese is derived through a quite complicated process. Bacterias are added to a milk and cream mixture and then carefully balanced through different temperatures to achieve the creamyness. Origin is 17th century Western Europe.
List Of Yogurt Based Dairy Products
Yogurt is created by fermenting milk with the help of certain bacteria. The process creates lactic acid. It holds much longer than ordinary milk. It is used in many other foods as breads and icecream. it has been consumed for at laest 5000 years, the origin is the Middle East or Central Asia. Ayran is a drink mix of yogurt, water and salt. It is from the Middle East. Lassi is an Indian yogurt drink. It is a mix with yogurt, milk, spices and sometimes fruit.
Other Dairy Products
Ice Cream exists in a number of varieties and has a long history. The ancient Chinese is believed to have been the first to eat one made from milk. A traditional way to make it is to slowly freeze flavoured cream, eggs is sometimes used to emulsify. Italy is famous for its "gelato" which is lower in fat and sugar than say what is sold in Western Europe. In the 1970´s in the US "frozen yoghurt" was invented. Clabber could be translated as curdled sour milk. Origin is the British Isles. Dulce de leche is caramelized milk used in desserts. It has its origin in South America.
