Mexico Connect
Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen
 

Anonimo

Sep 26, 2006, 4:44 PM

Post #1 of 24 (3707 views)

Shortcut

Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
What is it that makes Mexican milk, sold in shelf stable boxes so strange tasting? I'm having half a glass of L--- brand semi descremesada now, with some oatmeal cookies, and it just tastes weird. Sort of a "creme flavor enrichment". I can just barely get it down.

Earlier in our life here, I also noted some very "perfumed" butter, which I soon was able to differentiate from natural tasting butter when I made my shopping selections.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Ed and Fran

Sep 26, 2006, 4:57 PM

Post #2 of 24 (3701 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I don't know. But now that I've been down here so long I'm used to the taste. I no longer drink milk, but I use it daily on my cereal. Leche entera too, althought Fran and junior use semi-descremada.

Ed

esperanza

Sep 26, 2006, 5:33 PM

Post #3 of 24 (3694 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Like Ed, I only use milk on cereal--and only whole milk, the Tetrapak (boxed) kind. I use Alpura Clásica 2000. It tastes fine to me, although like Ed, I've been down here so long I don't know from milk in the States. I can't even remember the last time I drank a glass of milk, even with cookies.

Now that I think of it, I also use that milk for making mashed potatoes.

I use Gloria brand butter, no salt. It comes in a paper wrapper; I store it in the refrigerator in a ziplock bag to keep it from picking up off tastes.




http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com









(This post was edited by esperanza on Sep 26, 2006, 8:40 PM)

arbon

Sep 26, 2006, 5:40 PM

Post #4 of 24 (3692 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post |
I recognize the "creama" as a dairy product, and the milk partially, but I don't think the butter is a dairy product.

If the butter is made from milk, the process must be very unusual.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


esperanza

Sep 26, 2006, 5:52 PM

Post #5 of 24 (3687 views)

Shortcut

Re: [arbon] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Butter not a dairy product? Of course it is!

The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
"Could we have some butter for
The Royal slice of bread?"
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, "Certainly,
I'll go and tell the cow
Now
Before she goes to bed."

The Dairymaid
She curtsied,
And went and told the Alderney:
"Don't forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread."

The Alderney said sleepily:
"You'd better tell
His Majesty
That many people nowadays
Like marmalade
Instead."

The Dairymaid
Said "Fancy!"
And went to
Her Majesty.
She curtsied to the Queen, and
She turned a little red:
"Excuse me,
Your Majesty,
For taking of
The liberty,
But marmalade is tasty, if
It's very
Thickly
Spread."

The Queen said
"Oh!"
And went to his Majesty:
"Talking of the butter for
The royal slice of bread,
Many people
Think that
Marmalade
Is nicer.
Would you like to try a little
Marmalade
Instead?"

The King said,
"Bother!"
And then he said,
"Oh, deary me!"
The King sobbed, "Oh, deary me!"
And went back to bed.
"Nobody,"
He whimpered,
"Could call me
A fussy man;
I only want
A little bit
Of butter for
My bread!"

The Queen said,
"There, there!"
And went to
The Dairymaid.
The Dairymaid
Said, "There, there!"
And went to the shed.
The cow said,
"There, there!
I didn't really
Mean it;
Here's milk for his porringer
And butter for his bread."

The queen took the butter
And brought it to
His Majesty.
The King said
"Butter, eh?"
And bounced out of bed.
"Nobody," he said,
As he kissed her
Tenderly,
"Nobody," he said,
As he slid down
The banisters,
"Nobody,
My darling,
Could call me
A fussy man -
BUT
I do like a little bit of butter to my bread!"

-- A. A. Milne




http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com








sfmacaws


Sep 26, 2006, 8:08 PM

Post #6 of 24 (3675 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I loved that Esperanza! It was a treat.


I like Lala entera and even bring it back to the US along with the boxed Lala media crema for my coffee. I drink the milk occasionally with cookies and use it on my cereal. I think it's good, I've had some that tasted different, don't remember the brand though. I think if it tastes different it's because they added powdered milk.

It irritates me that we can't buy boxed milk in the US, at least I've never seen it. You can buy all that soy liquid phoney milk stuff in boxes but not milk. I've always thought it was the dairy industry that kept it off the shelves although I don't know the reason. I much prefer knowing I have milk that is fresh and can open it as needed rather than keeping large containers too long or running out all the time.

Love my boxed milk!

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Ed and Fran

Sep 27, 2006, 5:51 AM

Post #7 of 24 (3653 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
... the boxed Lala media crema for my coffee...


We may need to try that. In the States we used half and half. Down here we're using Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Ed & Fran

mparrino

Sep 27, 2006, 9:42 AM

Post #8 of 24 (3628 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
The boxed milk readily available in the northeast is Parmalat (Italian). It comes in the whole variety of fat percentages, as well as chocolate. I'm sure you could ask a grocer to special order you a case.
Marcia
Marcia

sfmacaws


Sep 27, 2006, 2:09 PM

Post #9 of 24 (3611 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mparrino] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I am in Mexico half the year so I bring some north with me in the summer and then I get used to the fresh stuff again.

Interesting that it is available in the east though. Maybe those 'happy California cows' don't like to be boxed.

Ed, the boxed crema can be hard to find in some areas. It also seems that they sometimes put it in weird parts of the store. It is thicker than US half & half when cold so we usually dilute it a bit with milk to make it easier to pour in the coffee. Other than that, it's great and with a few back up boxes I never run out. It's a small box, like the individual chocolate milk boxes.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Gayla

Sep 28, 2006, 11:08 AM

Post #10 of 24 (3574 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Jonna

Those happy CA cows come from the 2nd largest dairy producing state and are part one of the most powerful lobby organizations. Shelf stable milk is available in CA, though it is hard to find. I've seen it more often in NorCal than SoCal. I used to see it occasionally in Ventura. Unfortunately, I can not remember the name brand.

sfmacaws


Sep 28, 2006, 1:22 PM

Post #11 of 24 (3561 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gayla] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Yes, I was being a bit sarcastic about the 'happy cows' and the huge advertising budget that they represent.

Well, if it is available in Calif then Anonimo, you must be right and it is customer aversion that keeps it from selling.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Ron Pickering W3FJW


Sep 28, 2006, 8:56 PM

Post #12 of 24 (3541 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
The milk with the looong unrefrigerated shelf life is irradiated with low level gamma rays that kills anything/everything in it which is probably what makes it unpopular.

At least I think it's gamma rays. Might be some other isotope.
Getting older and still not down here.

Anonimo

Sep 29, 2006, 6:24 AM

Post #13 of 24 (3527 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Ron Pickering W3FJW] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
We actually have REAL COWS next door, and friendly neighbors, but I'm very shy about drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk.
Come on in, Arbon!

Saludos,
Anonimo

arbon

Sep 29, 2006, 6:47 AM

Post #14 of 24 (3523 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post |
"We actually have REAL COWS next door, and friendly neighbors, but I'm very shy about drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk."

Do you need a formal introduction?

Just walk right up to the cow slowly and say " buenos días buena madre" and shake her teat.

Then ask, "Qué perfume es que estás usando?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



(This post was edited by arbon on Sep 29, 2006, 6:58 AM)

caldwelld


Sep 29, 2006, 7:06 AM

Post #15 of 24 (3517 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
The long-life milk is UHT - ultra high temperature - a pasturisation process where the milk, juice, beer, wine, beverage etc is heated to approx 145 degrees C and held there for some two seconds. The reason it tastes a bit "wierd" is that the process leaves a slightly carmelised taste in milk although this taste has been reduced in recent times thru better process control so it is less evident. It is really a matter of getting used to it and after a few days of use it will begin to taste like whatever other milk you are used to.

The notion that long life beverages have been "irradiated" is urban myth. Gama rays indeed!

The notion that the dairy lobby in the US and the dairy boards in Canada (both forms of unions) have their respective clients by the short hair is absolutely correct. While LL milk and other bevs are becoming more common this trend is definitely dragging the fresh milk boys along kicking and screaming. The amount of spoiled milk that gets poured down the drain every day NOB would add another two inches to the height of every child in Somalia.
dondon

wendy devlin

Sep 29, 2006, 8:41 AM

Post #16 of 24 (3505 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Any chivas, in your neighborhood, Anonimo?

Try asking, "¿Que onda, mamacita?"
Give her a little grain...:):)

Ron Pickering W3FJW


Sep 29, 2006, 11:47 AM

Post #17 of 24 (3482 views)

Shortcut

Re: [caldwelld] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I stand corrected Caldwell. UV radiation was used on milk, not to increase shelf life, but to increase the amount of vitamin D. As you stated, hi temp pasteurization is used to increase shelf life. That and drying the milk to powder/flake form are the USDA approved methods to increase shelf life. Gamma radiation was tried in the past on condensed milk but was found to alter the flavor too much.

Someone mentioned raw milk earlier. We've had 2 cases of ecoli in Washington the past three days with milk from a local dairy licensed to sell raw milk. Fortunately the cases were diagnosed early on so the kids are recovering.
Getting older and still not down here.

N2Futur

Oct 3, 2006, 8:29 AM

Post #18 of 24 (3421 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Jonna,

Parmalat shelf milk is available at Walmart, been using it for years. Not cheap, about $1.35, vs about $.70 in Mexico. I've asked at Sam's here in Colorado Springs several times to have them stock it in bulk, but no luck yet.

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

sfmacaws


Oct 3, 2006, 8:27 PM

Post #19 of 24 (3390 views)

Shortcut

Re: [N2Futur] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Hmmm Elke, that makes it look even more like those happy cows from the California Dairy Board are the ones blocking it here. I have never seen it in the WalMart's here, although I'll look and ask next time I'm in one.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

margojean

Oct 8, 2006, 1:31 PM

Post #20 of 24 (3338 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
We can get Parmalt in any supermarket in SW Florida. And I used to get it Canada too. (Probably made from caribou milk, though. and probably not in Quebec, where they still sell white margarine so you won''t think it is butter) Florida has lots of cows, but beef is bigger than milk , I guess.
margojean

Papirex


Oct 11, 2006, 3:29 PM

Post #21 of 24 (3301 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I have been drinking ultrapastuerized milk for over 30 years. It is widely used in the state of Alaska and has been for many years, due to the fact that most of the state is not on the road system, or the power grid. No power, no electric refrigerators. No road system, no regular delivery of propane for gas refrigerators.

The ultra-pasteurized milk used to be only available in one-quart cans until the early 1980s when they started shipping it in boxes. It is widely available up there. Every grocery store, and Costco and Sam’s Club carries it.

I have only seen one brand sold up there. It is Real Fresh brand. Guess where it is produced? California. Yep, California. Some of my kids live in an area where there are no nearby stores in Napa County there. One of my daughters complained that she had to drive all the way to town to buy fresh milk when I was visiting her a few years ago.

I told her, hey, no problem, they make Real Fresh brand preserved milk right here in California. We will go over to Costco tomorrow and buy a case of it. Fat chance. I never could find any ultra-pasteurized preserved milk anywhere in northern California. In most stores, they don’t even know what you are talking about when you ask them if they have it.

I read quite an extensive article about the ultra-pasteurization process to preserve milk 25 years or so ago. It explained that the pasteurization process was developed to kill the tuberculosis bugs (bacilli?) only. Ultra-pasteurization raises the temperature of the milk enough to sterilize it, so there are no living bugs left in it to cause spoilage.

An unopened box of ultra-pasteurized milk will never spoil and is still good to drink no matter how old it is. The date on the box is not an expiration date; it is a “best if used by” date. Like all preserved food, it begins to lose some of its nutritional value as time passes.

Do a Google search for “Pasteurization”, and you will find out things about the process that you never dreamed of. There are many different temperatures, and holding times at any given temperature to achieve pasteurization.

Here in Mexico, I can detect some differences in flavor between some brands. All of it tastes good to me; my wife won’t drink some of them though. We like to keep a few boxes on hand at home in case we run out of fresh milk, it saves a special trip to the store just to get milk.

My wife is a turbo-shopper. I can guarantee that if she goes to the store just to get milk, she will come home with 5 or 6 bags of stuff. She is smart though. She has learned that if she brings me 2 or 3 fat pills (doughnuts) I won’t complain.

Hey, this does beat talking about toilet paper.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by RexC on Oct 11, 2006, 5:52 PM)

Ron Pickering W3FJW


Oct 11, 2006, 6:55 PM

Post #22 of 24 (3288 views)

Shortcut

Re: [RexC] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
But Toilet paper will be the end result, unless you have an old Sears catalog. 8>)
Getting older and still not down here.

hopalog


Feb 1, 2007, 9:15 PM

Post #23 of 24 (3221 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Anonimo] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Reviving this thread to ask a question about milk. In the US, the kids only get Rice Dream (rice milk) or organic milk. We still have a couple cases of Rice Dream left from purchases in the US. I think it is healthier for them to do without added antiobiotics, steriods and hormones. Do Mexican dairy farmers use hormones, abx and steriods as they do in the US?

I personally, cannot do dairy, and have had no problem getting Ades soy milk for myself but soy has hormones I'd rather the kids not get either.

So far, just from the many farms we've seen, I haven't seen the husbandry and control you see in the US (unless they are organic farms). So I've been sticking my fingers in my ears singing lalala hoping the milk is cleaner down here. Anyone know for sure?

Hell's Half Acre

Flickrlicious

wendy devlin

Feb 2, 2007, 3:06 PM

Post #24 of 24 (3192 views)

Shortcut

Re: [hopalog] Leche

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Although noone likely will have proof positive on the question you ask...my opinion would be that large scale dairies in Mexico likely subject their herds to whatever drugs etc. they deem necessary for production. And what they are willing to spend and have available.

And whatever rice, soya products offered...little standardization of product or disclosure of elements in the contents. However this comment is based on experiences living in the countryside and witnessing agricultural practices...which generally involve considerable pesticide/herbicide spraying by planes or hand-held units.

There is organic agriculture in Mexico...old-time and new-time, but it is located hither and there...small and struggling.
 
 
 
Search for (advanced search) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.4