The drier it gets, the more addictive: Yoghurt bowls become a symbol of health obsession

Following the success of "white people food” for white collar workers last year, this year, its sister brand "Yoghurt Bowl" has become a new focus. Unlike the liquid yoghurt Chinese consumers usually drink, the most distinctive feature of Yoghurt Bowl is filtration, resulting in a solid appearance and dense texture, even evolving into yoghurt balls or cakes.

"Cement-like" yoghurt cakes and yogurt balls. Images are from @西西 @LiuLzi on RED

Initially, similar yoghurt bowls became popular because of their low fat content and promotion of intestinal digestion. Now, some would say that Yoghurt Bowl has become a new lifestyle symbol, one with a sense of ceremony and an extreme obsession with health. Others would say it is a token gesture from the emerging wealthy middle class who vie for social identity through health-focused activities.

Chinese netizens have even come up with a new way to play with Yoghurt Bowl, by squeezing out more and more water to reveal more colours, with some even saying they enjoy it more when it becomes dryer.

Many bloggers pour yoghurt into a food-grade gauze, tie it tightly with a string, and hang it over the mouth of a container to let the whey filter out using gravity. The filtered yoghurt gets a thicker texture. Alternatively, one can purchase a specialised container for filtering yoghurt, which contains a spring that applies pressure to the gauze-wrapped yoghurt, squeezing out the whey as much as possible. This process results in a yoghurt cake. Images are from @Yuyudiet @Taobao @Yukimom cooking on RED.

By mixing matcha powder, black sesame paste, bamboo charcoal powder, mint syrup, and yogurt together, and pairing them with cereals and fruit in coordinating colorus, the visually appealing yogurt bowl resembles a magical potion crafted by an elven apothecary—healthy and eye-catching. Images are from @料理鼠后KK @阳仔的烘焙森林 @小小咖啡豆 on RED.