It’s Greek to me

MANILA, Philippines - It’s a new concept that nobody has tried before in the Philippines, and most probably not in the greater Asian region,” said Gregory Galanakis of Greek Yogurt at the newly opened Century City Mall in Makati City. At the yogurt factory inside the store, they produce Greek yogurt by hand “before your own eyes from start to finish.” The factory, with all the machines down-sized and shipped in directly from Greece, occupies one third of the 91-square-meter store that can comfortably sit 30 people inside plus an al fresco area.

From Salonica in the mountain region in northern Greece, Giannis Laskaris, a mechanical engineer, and Pavlos Karypidis, a food technologist and chemist, were flown in to set up the machinery and train the store personnel who are HRA graduates from the Lyceum of the Philippines. At the taste testing held before the store opening, Galanakis explained the step-by-step process of making yogurt and the different machines used, which can process a maximum of 300 liters, or the equivalent of 1,000 to 1,500 cups at a time. The whole process takes from seven to eight hours, with two hours to clean in between.

 â€œIt’s the authentic way of making Greek yogurt, without using any additives but only the finest local fresh milk,” Galanakis said. They use only pure cow’s milk sourced from Karlen’s Milk from Angeles in Pampanga, which is the same supplier as Santi’s Deli. “It’s a high-end product,” Galanakis remarked. “We do not compromise on quality.”

“It’s fresh and natural,” Galanakis added. “It’s a healthy product.”  Yogurt enjoys a long history in Greek farming tradition. Made of fresh milk, curdled and fermented, it is low in calories, high in protein and packed with calcium and bacterial cultures, which is imported from Greece, Galanakis said. It contains probiotics, good for your health. It has to be live bacteria to be effective, unlike those sitting on the shelves in supermarkets, which have little chance of supporting live cultures and therefore cannot truthfully claim to be a health food. 

Probiotics are believed to “promote digestive health, boost immunity, combat allergies, and even prevent yeast infections,” Galanakis noted. Yogurt is also good for those who may be lactose intolerant. It may help prevent osteoporosis and reduce risk of high blood pressure.

It promotes healthy skin and teeth. “It can make you feel fuller since it’s a complete meal,” Galanakis said.

What makes Greek yogurt different from regular yogurt is it’s creamier due to the extra step taken in the process of straining and removing the liquid whey, lactose and sugar, which gives it its thick consistency and creamy texture. Greek yogurt is also tangier and less sweet.

“It is one of the best things you can eat,” Galanakis said. You can have your Greek yogurt with freshly cut Philippine fruits such as pineapple, mango, or strawberry from Baguio. At Greek Yogurt, it is also served with honey and walnuts.

It’s a tradition in Greek homes to offer visitors “spoon sweets,” a teaspoon of fruit preserve served on a small plate, Galanakis explained. At Greek Yogurt, you can have your plain yogurt topped with strawberry sweet, blueberry sweet, cherry or sour cherry sweet, rose petals sweet, and quince, a yellow fruit that looks like an apple and tastes like a pear.

They will also be offering Greek-style donuts called “loukoumades” with honey, walnuts and cinnamon, or chocolate praline as well as Greek coffee. 

In Greece, it is common practice to have yogurt with honey after lunch, as a dessert. “It is good for digestion,” Galanakis said. It can also be taken in the evening or in the morning as well. In Greek hospitals, patients eat yogurt, as suggested by their doctors.

Lately, it has also become some kind of a food trend in the US where it has gained popularity, earning for itself a reputation as a “super food.” It’s good to eat five to six ounces every day to get its full benefit. It will keep in the refrigerator for 45 days.

“We are what we eat,” Galanakis said. “Greek yogurt is a unique product. We want to make it popular in the Philippines.”

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Greek Yogurt is located on the ground floor, al fresco area, of Century City Mall on Kalayaan Avenue corner Salamanca St., Makati City.