Awhile back, I mentioned discussing the differences between German and American Milk containers. This generated comments asking what were the differences?
Well, here is your common variety, generic, American milk jug:
Most often seen in 1 Gallon sizes, although the 1/2 Gallon is also common, while the 1 Quart size is rare. The most common varient is 2%, with 1% and Skim running a close second. Whole milk is not that common, and more often seen in the rare 1 Quart size. Notice the plastic shell, the convenient handle. This milk must be refrigerated and has a typical shelf life of 3-4 days.
On the other hand, here is your common German Milk Tetra Pak container:
The only size this comes in is 1 Liter (about 1 Quart). Maybe 1.5 Liters also, but I'm not sure on that. This milk comes in the common varients of whole milk, 3.8% and 1.5%. According to this "Bio" site, H-Milch (ultra-pasturized) is good for 6-8 weeks un-opened. Once opened, the milk is good for a week, week and a half. And it doesn't need to be refrigerated, but it's better if it is. Notice the convient rectagular size, perfect for stacking in cupboards or squeezing into the half sized fridges that are common here.
While H-Milch is the most common form of milk sold, they do also have regular milk, sold is glass bottles, most commonly 1.5 Liters, although I think 0.8 Liters is also available. Sorry, no picture, I don't buy this kind.
More than you ever wanted to know about Milk & it's containers, nicht wahr?
Posted by Jinglelady at November 11, 2004 10:45 AM | German Life | TrackBackI'm back. Just needed to take a breather. ;)
Posted by: Duncan at November 11, 2004 11:18 PMThe cost to buy the European milk here is astronomical. Wish we could buy the European milk here for the price you pay. A gallon of 1% is $2.79, 2% is about a dime higher, and whole mile is over $3.00.
Posted by: Mom at November 12, 2004 04:12 AMI have to say, I love the milk in Europe (we have the ultra-pasteurized here too). The smaller size is great, you can buy in bulk and they last forever, and I even think it tastes better too.
It's too bad they dont do this in the states - I wonder what the implications would be to dairy farmers in America?
Posted by: Valerie at November 12, 2004 07:40 AMVal - I think you CAN buy the H-Milch in the US too - it's called Parmalat and sold by the baby formula/rice milk. It's just nobody in America does. Or not many.
Mom - you're quoting me the prices of gallon milk, but calling it European milk? I'm confused. As for the cost of what I pay for the H-Milch, I'm not sure, but I think it's between .95 cents - 1.05. Which, if you multiply by four (to get a gallon), is more expensive than what you're quoting me. Esp. since the Euro/Dollar exchange is so bad right now.
Posted by: Anna at November 12, 2004 08:10 AMAnna, I was quoting the American Gallon of milk. Val - the reason that people do not buy the European milk is that they do not understand the idea of not refrigeratoring it. It is beyond the comprehension of the American mind unless they have lived overseas and did the European experience verses sitting on American soil and living in Europe.
A better way to explain this is that we sent our Grandson, Johnathan, to school with a chocolate lebkuken cookie in his lunch. Well, he was denied the pleasure of eating it because they thought it was a chocolate bar!
Posted by: Mom at November 12, 2004 01:51 PMAfter getting use to the European shelf stable milk while living in Turkey, I grew to prefer it over the fresh stateside milk. But it does take getting use to and while I was in the AF it was great for throwing the small carton's in my rucksack to take the bite out of that field coffee and for small breakfast cereal boxes, no refrig needed. Beats having to eat MRE's ever morning. I'd get looks when I pulled them out of my bag, but they were looks of "ahh man! where'd you get that!" hehe ok, your partially wrong missy. A gallon of American milk last for a day or 2 days with teenagers in the house, 3 to 4 with small kids and a "good week" with adults. But Mom could probably elaborate more on this subject. :)
Posted by: Brat at November 12, 2004 05:00 PMI was wondering why Dad wanted me to take a picture of the milk jug. It has been awhile since I have seen any shelf stable milk.
Posted by: Norm at November 12, 2004 06:26 PMA day or 2?! HA! My aunt & uncle in Tallahassee go through 1-2 gallons every day! Sometimes more! (But then the have 3 teenagers that'll consume anything put in front of them anyway. lol)
Posted by: Brett at November 12, 2004 08:18 PMAs a British person who's lived in Germany for 22 years and in Europe all my life I can't leave this uncommented. I don't know anyone who uses H-Milch, because it doesn't taste very good. Well, the Mr. Bleck's coffee shop across the road does. Standard milk to me is 3.5% whole milk in the Tetrapak from the fridge section. You can also get low-fat milk the same way, 1.5% fat. Btw for a couple of months now there has been a new kind: this has a different kind of heat treatment. It's in the fridge section, unlike the H-Milch, but its sell-by date is more like 2 weeks, and it tastes better than the other.
Your mileage may vary!
Margaret, you do know someone here who uses H-Milch! Tastes as good as fresh to me. Then again it only gets used in my breakfast cereal, kid's cocoa, and cooking.
I'm always amazed at the price range on different brands of H-Milch. The lowest in our local supermarkets is 55 eurocents a litre, the highest more like 85.
Posted by: Robin at November 20, 2004 10:14 AM