It's no surprise that trends that start in the United States take a little while to migrate to other parts of the world, but eventually they do. And like any good health food craze trend, the Greek Yogurt has come to France!
The idea that Greek Yogurt has a higher dosage of certain properties because of its triple strain method is a different and appealing one. Not only is it thicker and creamier, but it is richer in protein and has less carbohydrates and less sodium.
Anybody who has ever walked through a French supermarket can tell you that there are hundreds of yogurt varieties. Whole aisles are dedicated to yaourt and its thicker French counterpart Fromage Blanc. So why then would they need a market for Greek Yogurt if they already do this food item so well. I don't really have an answer for that, but what I can tell you is that this trend came out nowhere. The first few weeks I was here Greek Yogurt was nowhere to be found. Then one day I thought to change my yogurt selection from the Activia Fromage Blanc to something a little more... well yogurty and less Activia-y. There I saw it, sandwiched between two other yogurt types: Nestle's very own Greek Yogurt complete with images of the idyllic Greek isles famous for their white architecture. Imagine my further surprise when two weeks later, U Express debuted their own more generic brand of Greek Yogurt. By now, there are at least four varieties all priced differently, but all trying to offer the same exotic and creamy taste that only this yogurt (as made by the Greeks) can offer.
I know this is not the first nor will it be the last time that consumer driven societies borrow marketing ideas from each other and try to copy other advertising models. It was just that it was so interesting to see this phenomenon in action. People clearly bought the yogurt-the shelves would be almost empty days after a fresh re-stock. I mean, I bought it. I saw the neat little packaging and thought... wow! Exotic, delicious, and good for me (according to what people say and write)... "this must be the yogurt for me!" Did I take into account that it was manufactured by Nestle before grabbing the pack of four and hurrying to the cash register? I most certainly did not.
But that's it folks. The French have succumbed to the foreign mystique of the creamiest yogurt around. But is it really all it is hyped up to be?
Until I figure that out, excuse me I need to go eat my daily dose of Yaourt Greque with honey.
