I still remember when Greek yogurt hit the mainstream. It was viewed as the ultimate healthy indulgence for its thick, creamy consistency coupled with a high-protein, lower-sugar profile. Vegan producers have struggled to mimic this nutritious decadence, but newer versions are getting close! We scoured the stores to find the best dairy-free Greek yogurt brands you can buy. Below are the results of our group taste test, along with information about the full selection.
Taste Test: The Best Dairy-Free Greek Yogurt Brands
Allergen Notes: All items listed below are dairy-free by ingredients. But ingredients are subject to change at any time, and all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination, whether they have a “may contain” statement or not. Always read the label before consuming any food, and make sure you are familiar with this may contain information. Only you can decide what is safe for your needs.
Here is a quick guide to the “best in category” options, based on our tasting. After that, we have full tasting notes and information on each brand. We’ve ranked the brands in order, with our favorite first. But it was a close tie for first, since the top two are very different products.
- Best Overall: Cocojune
- Tastes Most Like Greek Yogurt: Culina
- Best Value: Forager Project
- Highest Protein: Kite Hill
Cocojune Organic Greek Style Cultured Coconut (where to buy)
Truth be told, this dairy-free Greek yogurt brand had an advantage in our taste test. Cocojune doesn’t have an unsweetened or plain version of their Greek-style yogurt (the ones with “8g protein” boldly displayed on the label). So we tried the Vanilla Cinnamon, which does contain a modest amount of sugar along with warm vanilla and cinnamon notes. That said, it was ridiculously delicious.
“It tastes like frosting,” said one taster. Cocojune Greek-style is thick, high in protein, smooth and a touch airy, and has an almost indulgent flavor. It isn’t a dupe for Greek yogurt, but everyone loved it. The comparison to other brands might be a little unfair, but this was the only brand that each of us said we would happily buy again. I could easily gobble it up as a nutritious, low-sugar dessert.
Pros:
- Delicious gently sweet flavor.
- Thick, light consistency that isn’t too rich
- Contains traditional yogurt cultures, plus another potentially beneficial probiotic.
- Made with organic ingredients.
- Good protein level.
- Produced in their own allergy-friendly facility, free of the top 9 major allergens: dairy, wheat (gluten), tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish.
Cons:
- No unsweetened option in the Greek-style line.
- Not a copycat for Greek yogurt.
- High in saturated fat (9g).
Variety Tasted: Vanilla Cinnamon (tasted), Raspberry, Blueberry Lemonade, Pineapple Yuzu
Ingredients: coconut milk (water, coconuts*), pea protein*, cane sugar*, inulin*, vanilla extract*, citrus pectin, vanilla*, cinnamon*, vegan & probiotic cultures (bifidobacterium anim. s. lactis bb-12, lactobacillus del s. bulgaricus, s. thermophilus). *organic
Nutrition (per 5-ounce cup): 160 calories, 10g fat, 3mg sodium, 11g carbs, 2g fiber, 7g sugars (includes 7g added sugar), 8g protein.*
Culina Greek-Style Dairy-Free Yogurt (where to buy)
Fortunately, we had a couple Greek yogurt fans in our tasting group (unlike myself, who has never tasted dairy Greek yogurt). And they confirmed that Culina was by far “the most like Greek yogurt.” I thought the taste, texture, and appearance were distinctly like slightly sour and lemony coconut cream. But the dairy-consuming tasters said it was a pretty darn good copycat for Greek yogurt in terms of taste and texture.
However, Culina falls short of Greek yogurt in overall nutrition. Their ingredients are the simplest, but this brand is very high in fat and low in protein – quite the opposite of most traditional Greek yogurt brands.
Pros:
- Thick texture with consistency similar to dairy Greek yogurt.
- Comparable flavor profile to dairy Greek yogurt (sourness, sweetness, etc.).
- Good option for substituting Greek yogurt in recipes.
- Very simple ingredients
- Suitable for keto, AIP, and paleo diets.
Cons:
- Very coconut-forward taste (according to some tasters).
- Low in protein.
- Very high in saturated fat (19g).
- Brand doesn’t disclose which probiotic cultures they use.
Varieties: Plain & Simple (tasted), Bourbon Vanilla, Strawberry Rose, Mango Orange Blossom, Blueberry Lavender, Sour Cherry Almond, Pumpkin Spice
Ingredients: organic coconut, agar, probiotic cultures
Nutrition (per 5-ounce cup): 200 calories, 20g fat, 26mg sodium, 2g carbs, <1g fiber, 1g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 2g protein.*
Forager Project Organic Greek-Style Yogurt (where to buy)
In terms of consistency, this brand was more like thick yogurt than Greek yogurt. In fact, I thought the taste and consistency were exactly the same as Forager’s regular unsweetened, plain, cashewmilk yogurt. The Greek-style version is just a little thicker.
I’ve bought Forager’s regular dairy-free yogurt many times, so I thought the Greek-style was pretty good for a healthy yogurt. The other tasters also had generally positive feedback about this brand. The nutrition was strong and the taste opinions ranged from palatable to good. It has a very light natural sweetness, a modest sour-tart flavor that does give it a yogurt vibe, and a thick creamy consistency with a slight powdery finish. It wasn’t our favorite solo, but dressed up with fruit or other add-ins, it could easily become a staple.
Pros:
- Relatively versatile taste and consistency for breakfast and recipes.
- No pea protein or legumes of any kind (a growing concern in the allergic community).
- Certified kosher pareve.
- Certified organic.
- High in protein.
- Saturated fat ratio is moderate (4.5g saturated).
Cons:
- The consistency is more like thick yogurt than Greek yogurt.
- Flavor only modestly appealing solo – best with fruit.
Variety Tasted: Unsweetened Plain
Ingredients: coconutmilk (filtered water, coconut cream*, coconut water*), cashews*, rice protein*, agar, live active cultures (s. thermophilus, l. plantarum, l. rhamnosus, l. acidophilus, bifidus, l. lactis) *organic. contains: tree nuts.
Nutrition (per 5.3 ounces): 210 calories, 15g fat, 10mg sodium, 11g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 10g protein.*
Kite Hill Greek-Style Yogurt (where to buy)
When we peeled back the seal, Kite Hill gave a very strong first impression. It has a milky-white hue and a thick texture that definitely beckons to Greek yogurt. And the taste does start off with ambition. But it quickly devolves into an off-putting flavor and pasty texture that elicited sudden exclaims of “ack” and “oh my!” from every single taster. Someone said, “what was that?,” which prompted a 15-minute discussion.
We agreed Kite Hill’s Greek-style was overly sour, but there was something else in the flavor that truly shocked our taste buds. One taster described it as a rancid almond taste. Whatever it was, it received a unanimous thumbs down. Even the addition of fruit couldn’t rescue it from our poor rating. Fortunately, we had an extremely hungry teenage taster in our midst who was willing to devour anything. (See more reviews here).
Pros:
- Thick consistency.
- Very high in protein.
- Relatively low in fat.
- Very low in saturated fat (.5g).
- Coconut-free option.
Cons:
- Overly sour with strong, unappealing aftertaste.
- Consistency is thick, but lacks a truly creamy mouthfeel.
- Brand no longer discloses which probiotic cultures they use.
Variety Tasted: Plain Unsweetened (tasted), Vanilla Unsweetened, Mixed Berry, Mango, Strawberry
Ingredients: almond milk (water, almonds), soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, rowanberry fruit extract (to preserve freshness), natural flavors, live active cultures. contains: soy, tree nuts.
Nutrition (per 5.3-ounce cup): 130 calories, 6g fat, 150mg sodium, 5g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugar), 15g protein.*
More Brands to Consider
- Silk Greek-Style Coconutmilk Yogurt – It’s the most mainstream brand, but we have yet to locate it in our area. This is a high-protein, high-fat, lightly fortified option that comes in four sweetened flavors.
- Maison Riviera – This brand broke into the U.S. for a little while, but they are now primarily sold in Canada. They offer an oat- and coconut-based Greek style yogurt that focuses on nutritional functionality.
- Yoggu! – This is another Canadian brand. It doesn’t state “Greek” on the package, but they do market this as a Greek-style yogurt. It’s similar to Culina in ingredients and nutrition, but they use cultures that are different from traditional yogurt cultures.
