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Land of Milk and Honey

Posted on March 7, 2007
Filed Under Food and Drink | 4 Comments

There are several things about milk that may surprise you in Uruguay. Unless you are lactose intolerant, you will be happy to know that milk costs only 10.70 pesos for a liter. In contrast to France and Portugal, milk in Uruguay is significantly less expensive than the cheapest wine or beer. That is good, I guess. But you may be surprised to learn that unlike wine, milk is only sold in one-liter containers.

If you just arrived from North America, you will probably find it strange that milk is sold in plastic bags. And that in order to open and serve it you’ll need a special plastic holder. If you never opened a milk bag before, be ready for a little adventure. The ideal tool for opening it is a pair of scissors, but who has one handy. The next best thing is a serrated knife, like a bread knife or a steak knife. It may take a few tries until you get the hang of it. If you do it right, you should be able to pour it easily without spilling. Otherwise you’ll be crying over spilled milk.

The milk that is sold for 10.70 pesos is the cheapest and is also what most people buy everyday. This milk has a shelf-life about two days, therefore it needs to be bought regularly. But you can take comfort in the fact that it can be found at most bakeries, supermarkets and grocery stores. I was told the reason milk does not last long is because it is not consistently refrigerated between production and pasteurization. Maybe that’s why it tastes considerably different than the American milk. In my opinion, it is tastier, somehow more cowy.

Milk is also sold in low fat and skimmed versions. Keep in mind that the Uruguayan whole milk contains only 2.6% fat, as opposed to 4% in the US. So leche entera is the closest thing to the American 2% milk and the semi-descremada closest to the 1% milk, as far as fat content is concerned.

At larger supermarkets, you can also find the leche ultrapasteurizada from Conaprole and Parmalat. They are also sold in plastic bags, but the bag is thicker and opaque white. It has a taste that is closer to the American milk. Unopened it lasts up to 30 days, and 4 days once opened. This product is still relatively new on the market and may eventually displace regular milk since it costs the same. Both Conaprole and Parmalat also offer milk with extra calcium, iron or with omega 3.

Also readily available is the Leche Larga Vida, sold in TetraPak 1 liter cartons. It costs almost double, 20.30 pesos, compared to regular milk, but has a very long shelf life. I should warn you though that my experience with UHT Milk in the US and in Europe was not good. I found them to have a very disagreeable taste. However, when I tried it in Brazil and once in Punta del Este, I could not tell the difference from the real thing. So I encourage you to have your own taste test. Please send me a note with your findings.

Other posts in Food and Drink

• Tipping Custom in Uruguay
• Uruguayan Mate Custom
• Types of Cheeses Made in Uruguay
• Overview of Uruguayan Dulce de Leche
• An Overview of the Uruguayan Beer Market
• Overview of the Jams and Jellies Available in Uruguay
• Comparison Between Regular Coffee and Café Glaseado
• An Overview of Inexpensive Table Wines of Uruguay
• Where to Buy the Best Uruguayan Empanadas
• Fresh Fruits Available in Uruguay

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