Make thick, creamy, filler-free probiotic yoghurt at home — with two clinically validated probiotic strains, 10 billion CFU per g, and one small sachet that yields up to 100 L.
- Halal
- Kosher
- Non-GMO
- No fillers
- 100% recyclable packaging
Why this culture is different
- Zero cheap fillers
- No maltodextrin, dextrose, milk powders or thickeners. Pure freeze-dried bacteria — nothing else.
- 10 billion CFU/g
- Clinically relevant potency in every batch of finished yoghurt.
- Up to 100 L per pack
- Re-use 4 tbsp of each batch as your next starter — at least 6 times per sachet.
- Ready in 6–24 hours
- Thick, creamy, mildly tart yoghurt. Works with cow's milk, and goat's milk. Perfect starter culture for Greek Yoghurt.
Probiotic strains*
Check out our Complete Yoghurt Making Kit
How to make your yoghurt
Clinical Studies
A large number of clinical studies and scientific publications indicate that the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic strains used in this yoghurt starter culture – may have beneficial effects regarding the gastrointestinal and immune areas*.
Frequently asked questions
Only suitable for use in a yoghurt maker
Refrigerate on arrival
HOMEMADE YOGHURT — TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Runny, lumpy, or too sour? Here's how to read your batch.
Standard yoghurt is one of the most forgiving home ferments, but milk type, temperature, and timing still shape everything about the final result. This guide walks through the nine places things most often go sideways, what's usually causing it, and what to do about it.
Starter & culture
A good starter is the foundation everything else builds on — get this right and most other steps become far more forgiving.
How much starter should I use?
Too little starter is a common cause of thin, runny yoghurt, since there isn't enough active culture to properly ferment the batch.
A common ratio is around ¼ cup of live yoghurt starter per litre of milk, or follow the packet instructions for a powdered starter. Mix it thoroughly through the milk rather than just dolloping it on top.
Can I use store-bought yoghurt as my starter?
Not all shop-bought yoghurt works — some brands are pasteurised again after culturing, which kills the live bacteria needed to start a new batch, even if the label mentions live cultures at some point in production.
Look specifically for "contains live active cultures" on the label, and choose a plain, unflavoured variety. If a batch made from it doesn't ferment at all, try a different brand as your next test.
My reused starter seems weaker or tastes different than it used to
Homemade yoghurt reused as starter across many generations can gradually weaken or drift in flavour as the balance of bacteria in the culture shifts.
Refresh with a new packet starter or fresh store-bought live yoghurt every several generations rather than reusing indefinitely.
Milk prep
Most texture problems trace back to this stage, even though they don't show up until much later.
Does the type of milk matter, and can I use UHT?
Ultra-pasteurised (UHT/long-life) milk has been heated so intensely that it can struggle to thicken properly, even with an active starter, giving a runnier result regardless of technique. How ever using UHT is less time consuming than heating fresh milk.
Use fresh pasteurised milk where possible or use UHT milk to save time. Full-fat milk sets thicker and milder than low-fat or skim, which ferment thinner and tangier.
Do I really need to pre-heat the milk before adding starter?
Bringing milk to just below boiling before cooling helps denature the proteins, giving a firmer set. Skipping this step is one of the most common causes of thinner-than-expected yoghurt.
Heat milk to just below boiling (around 82–85°C), hold briefly, then cool to lukewarm (around 43–46°C) before adding starter. Don't skip this step even with fresh milk. However you can avoid this step if using UHT milk.
Does milk temperature when I add the starter actually matter that much?
Milk that's too hot when the starter goes in can kill the culture outright; milk that's too cold leaves the culture sluggish and slow to establish.
Use a thermometer to confirm milk is in the lukewarm range recommended by your recipe before adding starter, rather than judging by touch.
Incubation temperature & time
This is where thickness, tang, and overall consistency are really decided.
What temperature should I be incubating at?
Standard yoghurt cultures generally do best in a range of roughly 38–46°C. Too cold and culture activity stalls; too hot and it can damage the bacteria or set the proteins unevenly.
Use a yoghurt maker, oven with the light on, or insulated cooler, and verify the actual temperature with a thermometer rather than trusting a dial or setting name.
How long should I incubate for?
Incubation time directly shapes both thickness and tartness — too short under-develops both, too long makes it very sour and can lead to separation.
Start checking around 6 hours and go up to 12 hours depending on your preferred tartness, tasting as you go. Refrigerate as soon as it reaches the texture and tang you like — cooling slows fermentation right down.
Should I cover the yoghurt while it incubates?
Leaving yoghurt uncovered during incubation risks contamination from the air and can dry out the surface.
Keep the container covered with a lid or clean cloth throughout incubation.
Texture problems
Texture is the single most common thing people write in about — usually traceable to one of a few root causes.
My yoghurt is thin or runny
The most commonly reported yoghurt issue. Usually traced to an inactive or weak culture, incorrect incubation temperature, too little starter, or milk that wasn't pre-heated.
Work through the basics in order: fresh starter, milk pre-heated and cooled properly, correct incubation temperature confirmed with a thermometer, and enough incubation time. Adding a tablespoon or two of milk powder per litre also helps boost thickness.
My yoghurt is curdled or lumpy
Often from culturing too long, at too high a temperature, or with a compromised starter.
If it's already lumpy, strain to remove excess whey, then beat the yoghurt solids smooth with a whisk. Next time, shorten incubation slightly and double-check temperature.
My yoghurt has a grainy or "cottage cheese" texture
Incubating too hot, or acid developing too quickly, can cause the proteins to coagulate unevenly into larger curds rather than a smooth gel.
Lower your incubation temperature slightly and monitor more closely during fermentation, checking it doesn't run warmer than intended.
My yoghurt has a chalky or powdery mouthfeel
Usually from too much added milk powder, or an overall mineral imbalance in the milk.
Reduce added milk powder if you're using it, and use a milk with a fat content you know produces a smooth result for you.
Separation & whey
Watery separation is one of the most common things mistaken for a failed batch, when it usually isn't.
There's watery liquid pooling on top of or around my yoghurt
This is whey separating from the curd — very common, and usually just a sign of a fully set or slightly over-fermented batch rather than spoilage.
Stir the whey back in for a normal-style yoghurt, or drain it off if you'd prefer a thicker, Greek-style result. If it happens consistently earlier than you'd like, shorten your incubation time slightly next time.
My yoghurt separates more than usual — is my milk to blame?
Some milk types, particularly goat's milk and low-fat milk, tend to separate more readily than full-fat cow's milk due to differences in protein and fat structure.
If separation bothers you, try full-fat cow's milk as a baseline, or add a small amount of milk powder to help bind the structure when using goat's or low-fat milk.
Taste & flavour
Flavour issues are almost always traceable to timing, temperature, or ingredient freshness.
My yoghurt is too sour
Usually from fermenting too long, or at too high a temperature, giving the culture more time and speed to produce acid.
Shorten incubation time and check your actual temperature with a thermometer. Refrigerate as soon as it reaches your preferred tang.
My yoghurt has an off-flavour
Off-flavours usually trace back to milk that wasn't fresh, equipment that wasn't properly cleaned, or a contaminated or compromised starter.
Use fresh milk and a fresh starter, and thoroughly wash and rinse all equipment (residual detergent can also cause off-flavours) before each batch.
My yoghurt tastes flat or underdeveloped
Usually from too little incubation time or a weak starter not producing enough of the flavour compounds that give yoghurt its characteristic taste.
Extend incubation time and confirm your starter is fresh and active.
Is it safe? Reading the signs
Standard yoghurt is a forgiving ferment, but it's still worth knowing what normal looks like versus what isn't.
How do I tell normal tang and separation from an actually spoiled batch?
Watery separation and a sour tang are both normal. True spoilage looks different: visible fuzzy or coloured mould, a frothy or gassy texture (a sign of yeast or gas-producing contamination), or a smell that's genuinely rotten rather than just sour.
Watery separation, sour smell, normal tang: no action needed. Fuzzy or coloured mould, frothiness/gassiness, or a rotten smell: discard the batch, sanitise your equipment, and start again with a fresh starter.
How long does homemade yoghurt keep in the fridge?
Refrigerated yoghurt continues to slowly ferment and sour over time.
Use within about 1–2 weeks for best quality, checking for any off smell or visible growth before eating an older batch.
When in doubt, don't eat it. If a batch shows fuzzy or coloured mould, a frothy or gassy texture, or smells rotten rather than sour, the safest move is to discard it and start again with sanitised equipment and a fresh starter. This guide covers general fermentation troubleshooting and isn't a substitute for food safety advice specific to your situation.
Straining & Greek-style
Straining is simple in theory, but a few small choices make a big difference to the result.
My strained yoghurt isn't thickening as much as I hoped
Standard cheesecloth is often woven too loosely, letting fine solids through along with the whey rather than holding them back.
Use a double layer of cheesecloth, or switch to fine muslin or unbleached cotton, and strain for longer (a few hours at room temperature, or overnight in the fridge for a thicker result).
I'm losing a lot of volume to whey — is that normal, and what do I do with it?
A significant volume loss is expected with straining — Greek-style yoghurt is naturally a smaller yield than the yoghurt you started with, since a lot of liquid whey is removed.
Save the whey rather than discarding it — it can be used in baking, smoothies, or as a starter boost for your next batch of yoghurt.
My strained yoghurt turned out gritty rather than smooth
Uneven straining, or straining a batch that was already slightly curdled or lumpy, can carry that texture through into the strained result.
Whisk the yoghurt smooth before straining, and address any curdling in the base batch (see "Texture problems" above) before straining it.
Equipment & logistics
A few practical habits make yoghurt-making noticeably more consistent over time.
Do I need a dedicated yoghurt maker?
A dedicated yoghurt maker holds temperature more consistently, but improvised methods (oven with the light on, sous vide setup, insulated cooler with warm water) can also work, just with more variability.
If improvising, check the actual temperature partway through incubation with a thermometer, since these methods can drift more than a dedicated appliance.
How do I keep a steady supply going without buying starter every time?
It's easy to eat through a whole batch and forget to set aside starter before the next one, breaking the cycle.
Set aside your starter portion for the next batch as soon as a new batch finishes, before serving or storing the rest, so you're never caught without it.
I scaled up my batch size and the set got weaker
Scaling milk volume up without proportionally increasing the starter leaves the culture too dilute to ferment as effectively.
Keep the starter-to-milk ratio consistent when scaling up, rather than using the same fixed amount of starter for a larger batch.

