Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nene]

Has anyone found unsweetened yogurt anywhere in this country?

How about a general health/organic food store? I remember them being everywhere in Busan a couple of years ago, but on the northern east coast now they seem absent. If we were going to stock up in Seoul, where would you suggest we go? Thanks all!

[Harpeau]

There is an organic store just north of Hyewha station. It's just above that traffic circle~ on the left. "Well, I don't want to say that they're expensive, but they give you complimentary kleenex for when you pay through the nose!!"
(Jimmy the Janitor.)

[Gollywog]

Make the yogurt yourself.

Get some sweetened yogurt with reuterii or RB135 and use that as a starter.

There are instructions for making yogurt on the web.

Here's the basics:

Get a liter of fresh milk, add four to five teaspoons of dry milk. Mix with a whisk.

Bring the milk to 120 F. Add the starter. Stir. Keep at 110 to 120F. Wait about five hours. Voila!

Save a bit of this batch separately for the starter for your next batch.

Need a thermometer? Go the pet section of your local Big Martuh and get a fish tank thermometer.

I use an electric oven that has a very low warm setting. Oh, and I use one of those earthenware crockpots with handles on the side and a lid that cost 2 kobuks. What are they called?

Organic? You are in Korea. You would have to live in a hermetically sealed bubble to go organic in Korea.

[JMO]

Isn't the denmark yoghurt at homeplus unsweetened?

[Lynns]

Denmark does sell plain, unsweetened yogurt, full fat and lowfat versions. It only comes in those tiny containers; I never see big tubs of yogurt here. You can use one of the little cups of Denmark plain yogurt as starter if you want to make your own.

Orga is the name of a health food store chain in Seoul. Huckleberry Farms is another. These stores are disappointing in terms of selection and the prices are outrageous.

There are some sources for organic produce, but I think you'd need to know someone who knows where to get it. The people I know who buy it are wealthy and they get huge boxes of it delivered to their house and divide it up with friends and family. Also, I don't think there is much oversight or regulation here, and some of the so-called "organic" produce that I've seen here looks too unblemished and perfect to really be organic.

[zpeanut]

[curlygirl]

In fact there are a number of small organic shops around my area (Pundang, Sunae). Look for the word 유기농 (organic) on the signage. These places sell fruit and vegetables as well as other produce. I do wonder if the stuff is truly organic or if it's a marketing ploy

[Harpeau]

There is a really nice Organic section in the Yongsan E-Mart. They have some really nice plain yogurt.

[oldtactics]

Emart sells yogurt makers for about 30,000 - well worth it if you're spending a lot of money a month on storebought. It only takes up a little corner of my counter.

[djsmnc]

I love how people say "I wonder if it's really organic" as if there's a strong likelihood that they are lying

[guava]

[Harpeau]

Has anyone tried using powdered milk in a yogurt maker? I noticed that there is low fat and no fat. Anybody want to share their experiences? I'm thinking about trying it. Thanks.

[climber159]

Have you tried Huckleberry Farms? There's one in Apgujeong and one in Bundang (Jeongja station).