Indian milk vs American milk: Which one tastes better? American woman shares surprising discovery

Time of India

24-05-2025

Comparing Milk Varieties: India vs. US
Milk as a Cultural Staple in India
A Broader Cultural Appreciation
Kristen Fischer, an American who relocated to India in 2021, has been sharing her observations about Indian life through social media. In a recent Instagram video that gained considerable attention, she delved into a staple she never thought would vary so widely between countries—milk. Fischer explained that Indian milk, with its higher cream content, tastes significantly better than what she was used to in the United States.'I love milk in India. I always thought it was better here,' she shared in the video, reflecting on her experience. Highlighting the difference in taste, she noted, 'This is where India is superior. They know how to make a good chai or dessert with high cream content to maximize the taste of their food.'Fischer explained the basic milk categories in both countries to underline the difference in fat content. In the United States, commonly available options include skimmed milk (0% fat), one percent, two percent, and whole milk, which contains approximately 3.5% fat. On the other hand, Indian milk comes in creamier forms. Double-toned milk contains around 1% fat, toned milk has 3%, standardised milk offers about 4.5%, and full cream milk can go as high as 6%.She emphasized that her comparison focused on widely available options, adding, 'Of course, there are more varieties of milk than the ones I mentioned. I just wanted to simplify the comparison with the most common ones.'Another major reason for the preference, according to Fischer, is milk's importance in Indian cuisine. 'It's used in a lot of dishes here,' she said, pointing to how integral it is in daily meals—from tea and sweets to homemade curd and paneer. She added that it was only after moving to India that she realized milk could vary so much between countries.She also shared a surprising statistic that caught her attention: 'Did you know India is the world's largest consumer of milk, accounting for more than 25 per cent of global milk production?'Fischer's video has garnered over 500,000 views and nearly 10,000 likes. Social media users reacted strongly, with many agreeing with her views on Indian milk. One user commented, 'Consuming milk is indeed a very important part of almost every Indian's daily life! Also used in many forms like dahi, paneer, etc.' Another added, 'That might explain why chai tastes so much better in India.'Others appreciated the clarity she brought to the topic. 'Nice and clear. Thanks for laying out the differences on those milk categories,' wrote one user. Another said, 'Never realised how lucky we are in India with our dairy — thank you for this perspective!'Fischer's content has often drawn praise for spotlighting everyday cultural differences. One viewer remarked, 'Love how you always highlight small but meaningful cultural differences.' Another added humorously, 'And that's why Indian sweets are unbeatable — it's all in the milk!'Kristen and her husband Tim have been chronicling their life in India, including raising their four daughters, since moving in 2021.