Rachel’s probiotic yogurt is a healthy choice for breakfast, lunch or snacks. It’s so elegant, you can serve it as a casual dessert. Shown above: Plum Honey Lavender. Photo by Susan Fox | IST.
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KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE.
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March 2008
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Rachel’s Wickedly Delicious Yogurt
Probiotic, Omega 3-Enriched & Fashionably Flavored
CAPSULE REPORT: Rachel’s yogurt has probiotic bacteria for digestion, vegetarian Omega-3s for cardiovascular and other benefits, calcium for good bones and teeth and a prebiotic that has been shown to help increase calcium absorption. The milk is rBGH-free. Add to that 12 lowfat, spa-chic flavors, and you know why this yogurt has been the craze in England. Now made in Wisconsin (current U.S. law prohibits the import of fresh diary products), Rachel’s yogurt offers some great tastes as well as good nutrition. The 100% natural line is certified kosher.
Someone in this company knows how to make delicious, healthy yogurt. On the other hand, someone knows nothing about marketing messages. This brand has too many of them—some conflicting and confusing—that don’t necessarily support a brand that promises a nutritious yogurt, targeted to women who know enough to care about their calcium, probiotics and Omega 3s. The more yogurt we ate (more than 24 cartons of it), the more time we had to read the cartons. What, we asked, is this company trying to say to us? The more we read, the less sense it made. So if you don’t want to read our little rant on the topic, click right down to the health benefits of Rachel’s yogurt.
Using the slang word “wicked” to describe something good, is questionable when applied to a wholesome organic yogurt with “inspirational essences” and packaging that features pretty flowers (along with a website that describes the homeopathy of each variety). Is it wicked or is it New Age? Following “Wickedly Delicious” with claims of “Blissfully blended mood-inspiring yogurt” and “The essence of scrumptious satisfaction” is a disconnect in our book (well, assuming those two sentences make a whole lot of sense in the first place). One feels as if the resident sloganeers would place a dozen more messages of varying relevance on the carton, if only there were room. This is all the American producer’s doing, by the way; these communication bungles do not appear on the U.K. product.
But, as noted, the company does make a delicious product. We first learned about Rachel’s more than a year ago, when researching a story on probiotic food. Everyone in the U.K., it seems, was ravenous for Rachel’s probiotic yogurt, a brand that was founded in 1984 by Rachel Rowland and her husband, Gareth. We learned that it would soon be coming to the U.S., albeit amid some controversy.
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Wicked and blissful? The words aren’t in sync,
but the adaptation of the chic and happy U.K. packaging was spot on. All Rachel’s photos
by Claire Freierman. |
In the U.K., Rachel’s is among the most beloved of organic brands. In the U.S., the name is produced by WhiteWave, a division of the dairy giant Dean Foods,* owner of the Horizon organic brand (the largest organic dairy brand), which has faced criticism for skirting the rules of the USDA’s National Organics Program. Some fans expressed their dissatisfaction on message boards, that the brand would not be organic in the U.S. (it is “100% natural,” a term that has no official standing, but the yogurt is free of preservatives, artificial colors and flavorings). Others expressed that, even if it was made as an organic yogurt, WhiteWave milk isn’t honestly “organic” because of their treatment of the cows (as has been reported, many are kept exclusively in barns, and not allowed to graze in pastures, per the requirements of the National Organics Program).
*Dean Foods is the largest processor and distributor of fresh milk and other dairy products in the U.S., with products sold under more than 50 local and regional brands, as well as private labels. Its WhiteWave Foods subsidiary is the largest U.S. organic foods company, with brands such as Horizon Organic and Silk soymilk, as well as Land O’Lakes, International Delight coffee creamers.
Why isn’t American Rachel’s yogurt organic? According to the company, many of the ingredients used in the Exotics line are difficult to source organically (i.e., perhaps there’s no organic kiwi around). In fact, the flavors in the U.S. are different than those in the U.K., although WhiteWave certainly could have produced an organic line if it wished to, in keeping with the brand’s heritage (see the differences). But, it’s a business decision, and the only people who will miss out are those who will consume only organic dairy products.
Health Notes
The yogurts are lowfat, 160 calories per six-ounce container, 20 calories from fat. The style is elegant, with a silky texture and lovely flavors. But there’s even more healthy stuffed packed into Rachel’s Yogurt than the typical yogurt carton.
Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria, live and active cultures, occur naturally in the digestive tract, where they help promote a healthy balance, good digestion and overall intestinal vitality. However, they need regular replenishing, and people with digestive problems can benefit from products enhanced with probiotics (which have a much higher concentration of live and active cultures than regular yogurts with “live cultures”). Rachel’s contains five distinct strains: Bifidobacterium, L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei and S. thermophilus. You can learn more about probiotics in our dedicated article on the topic.
Prebiotics
Rachel’s also includes prebiotics. A prebiotic is a form of dietary fiber that remains undigested in the small intestine, where it acts as a food source for the naturally-occurring healthy bacteria. Rachel’s uses a prebiotic called NutraFlora, a dietary fiber found naturally in a variety of foods such as bananas, barley, garlic, honey, onion and rye. It has been shown to enhance the absorption of important minerals like calcium.
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A favorite: Plum Honey Lavender, a.k.a. “Calm.”
It might not be calming, but it is delightfully plummy. |
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
The category of Omega 3 fatty acids in the yogurt is DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid. Omega-3 DHA helps support healthy function in brain and eye tissue, helps support cardiovascular functions, and has been linked to possible relief of PMS and menopause symptoms. While Omega-3 DHA fatty acids are most commonly derived from cold-water fish such as mackerel and salmon, Rachel’s uses a 100% vegetarian, sustainable DHA obtained from aquatic plants.
Flavors Of Rachel’s Yogurt
We really like these yogurts, but first, more beef. Would that the company had just presented us simply with 12 delicious flavors of yogurt. Instead, it has chosen to divide the flavors into two “lines,” the Essence Line and the Exotics Line. Both have the same ingredients and nutrition; the only difference is so arcane as to make no sense to the consumer. But Rachel’s is telling you that kiwi, guava, mango and pomegranate are “exotic”; while the familiar berry, peach and plum are combined with herb flavors to create “inspirational” essences. Hmm. We just want to eat a great yogurt!
One of our favorite flavors. But do we call it
“Glow” or “Berry Jasmine?” The dual
nomenclature did not charm our group of
tasters.
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If that’s not enough, there’s inconsistency in the nomenclature. Pomegranate Açaí and Vanilla Chai, which sound pretty exotic to us, are in the Essence Line. And Cherry Black Currant, in the Exotic Line, hardly sounds exotic to us. Everyone tripped over the dual-nomenclature system of the Essence line, as you’ll note in the photo at the left. If we ask for them at the store, do we want “Glow” or “Berry Jasmine?” This New Age spa concept—naming yogurts Calm, Relax, Revive, etc.—does come from the U.K. It works in a situation like Airforce Nutrisoda, which is a functional food that actually has legitimate ingredients that do calm you, energize you, etc.
Questionable marketing decisions notwithstanding, at least the folks in product development have made these yogurts taste good. Let’s step away from the confusion and taste some yogurt.
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Essence Yogurt Line
This line claims these are “blissful blends custom-crafted to suit your mood,” and promises that “inspiration awaits.” What does await are some lovely flavors, off the beaten track. While the flavors add secondary notes, except for the Vanilla Chai, where the chai is the main event, the notes were not evident—but no complaints. The prevailing flavors were, for the most part, excellent, and the quality of the yogurt caresses the palate.
- Calm ~ Plum Honey Lavender. There’s no particular evidence of honey or lavender, but the delightful plumminess is its own reward. A favorite.
- Glow ~ Berry Jasmine. Those who want their classic berry yogurt will find it here, a rich, full-flavored blend of raspberry and blackberry. No jasmine flavor was detected; one would need a lot of it to overcome the strong berry favors. A lovely lavender color, and a favorite.
- Refresh ~ Pink Grapefruit Lychee. We love both grapefruit and lychee, so were disappointed by this flavor. Tasted on three different occasions, it offers a pleasant creaminess and a slightly pink-tinged yogurt. But there’s only the slightest hint of grapefruit, and lychee, a very delicate flavor to begin with, doesn’t have a chance.
- Relax ~ Vanilla Chai. This flavor is a delight, and the standout of the line. An ecru color with specks of spice, and a subtle chai flavor that leaves the vanilla behind, will truly inspire chai lovers that someone got this flavor right.
- Revive ~ Peach Green Tea. It’s peachy...it’s even orangey. Maybe there’s some green tea there. Overall, a pretty flavor.
- Vitality ~ Pomegranate Açaí. Pomegranate makes a great juice and sorbet, but in our experience, doesn’t assert itself as well in other foods. This antioxidant duo should pack more than a punch. Pleasant, but not a favorite.
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We cheer for Vanilla Chai—or should we be
rooting for Relax?
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To sum up our personal favorites from this group (in fact, from the entire line): Berry Jasmine, Plum Honey Lavender and Vanilla Chai.
Exotic Yogurt Line
The Exotics are so-called because most of the flavors incorporate “exotic” tropical fruits. Perhaps these are exotic in the U.K. where Rachel’s hails from, but you need to live somewhere pretty far afoot in the U.S. to think of a kiwi, mango, passionfruit or pomegranate as exotic—anyone living in a town with a Latino population can find guava, and Marionberry is just a breed of Oregon blackberry. The flavors include:
- Cherry Black Currant. A pale-lavender yogurt with prevailing cherry flavor, we don’t taste the currants, but perhaps they help balance the cherries.
Pineapple-flavored yogurt is certainly pleasant, if not “exotic.”
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- Kiwi Passion Fruit Lime. This is one of the more anemic flavors, although pleasant tasting and a pretty, light-lemon color. Focus very hard and you’ll find the slightest hint of kiwi and lime, but no tart passion fruit. It needs to make a statement of any kind.
- Mango Pineapple Passion Fruit. Mango has top billing in this banana-colored yogurt, and there appear to be flecks of mango throughout. But it is the pineapple that takes the flavor lead, seconded by the pleasant tartness of the passion fruit.
- Marionberry Guava. This pink-colored yogurt with a pleasant, light blackberry flavor (Marionberry is a variety of Oregon blackberry). The guava didn’t shine through. Nice as it is, we’d go for the Berry Jasmine in the Essence Line, for a stronger berry hit—unless, of course, your preference is for a lighter berry taste.
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- Orange Strawberry Mango. Mango must be a tough flavor to infuse, because it keeps getting lost in these blends. You will, however, get good orange and strawberry flavors here.
- Pomegranate Blueberry. We like this blend better than the Pomegranate Açaí of the Essence Line. The blueberry adds more punch.
Try Rachel’s. “Wickedly Delicious” or just delightfully different. We think you’ll like it.
RACHEL’s YOGURT
Twelve Flavors
Certified kosher OU (Dairy)
Available at fine retailers
nationwide.
Price and product availability are
verified at publication but are
subject
to change.
For more information, visit
RachelsDairy.com.
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© Copyright 2005-
2008
Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Images are the copyright of their respective owners.
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