Yogurt is celebrated for its health benefits, aiding digestion and enhancing overall wellness. Yet, its history is equally captivating. Originating from an ancient mistake, yogurt’s journey from milk to a staple
in Indian households is intriguing.
Yogurt, now a staple in Indian households, traces its origins back to an unexpected accident. Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, Neolithic shepherds stored milk in animal stomach bags, such as those from sheep or goats. The natural rennet enzyme and lactic acid bacteria in the bags transformed the milk into yogurt. The shepherds found the sour-sweet flavour appealing, leading to yogurt becoming a lasting dietary tradition.
How Did It Become A Household Staple?
Historians suggest this discovery occurred in the Middle East, Turkey, or Mesopotamia, where warm climates caused milk to spoil rapidly. However, it was in Bulgaria that yogurt became an identity. This innovation was not merely fortuitous but a survival strategy, preserving milk for extended periods. The bacteria converted lactose into lactic acid, making the milk acidic and developing antibacterial properties. Archaeologists have uncovered 5,000-year-old yogurt remnants in Iran’s Shushma caves. The Bible also references yogurt, noting that Abraham served it to guests. Modern science has further validated its benefits.
Did Yogurt Start Out In Pharmacies?
In 1905, Bulgarian medical student Stamen Grigorov, studying at Geneva University, examined Bulgarian yogurt’s microflora. He identified the rod-shaped bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus (now L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) as the agent turning milk into yogurt. Grigorov’s findings brought yogurt to global attention.
Russian scientist Ilya Mechnikov, at the Pasteur Institute, promoted these discoveries. In his 1904 lecture ‘Old Age,’ Mechnikov claimed Bulgarian farmers who consumed large amounts of yogurt lived past 100 years. Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1908 for Immunology, Mechnikov dubbed yogurt the ‘secret to longevity.’ He began consuming yogurt himself and introduced it as a probiotic, sparking a European craze. Initially, yogurt wasn’t seen as a superfood but rather a medicinal remedy. In early 20th-century America and Europe, yogurt was sold in pharmacies to treat digestive issues, constipation, and intestinal infections, known then as the ‘yogurt cure.’
What’s The History Of Yogurt In India?
In India, yogurt’s history is even older, mentioned in the Vedas as ‘dadhi.’ In Ayurveda, yogurt is believed to balance the three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. The Western world’s scientific validation emerged from Bulgarian discoveries.
Today, probiotics in yogurt, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Studies indicate that daily yogurt consumption boosts immunity, controls weight, and reduces heart disease risk.
