Armenians learned how to raise stock several thousand years ago. Cattle gave them two important products – meat and milk, that are full of essential nutrition for a healthy life. During time Armenians found ways to prepare several products out of milk, like yoghurt, cheese, curd, etc.
The yoghurt is made of fresh milk using a very simple and old method. Oddly enough you need a little bit of yoghurt to make more yoghurt. It is part of daily alimentation of many Armenians. Even though it is believed to be best consumed separately, you can mix it with sweet comfitures or jams. It is also a good topping for traditional meals like Dolma.
The Armenian cheese is not like any other in the world. There are cheese made of milks of different animals. However, cow milk is used in most cases. You can also find cheese made from goat or sheep milk. There are also different varieties of cheese like the braided string cheese or the melted cheese.
The Armenian curd is unique. It is a healthy product that is not used much around the world. So whenever you are in Armenia, make sure to have plenty. It has a very soft taste and is a good ‘friend’ of butter.
Tan is a unique drink made out of mostly yoghurt. It is a wonderful solution for hot Armenian summers. It contains salt and other substances that are useful for resisting hot Armenian sun. It also tastes great and fits perfectly with traditional Armenian food.
There is a number of producers of dairy products. The largest ones are Ani Product, Marianna, Ashtarak Kat, Arzni Kat, etc. They all use natural products, that gives them all health benefits of dairy products as well as the great taste. You can buy these products in supermarkets around Armenia as well as in several foreign countries.