Icelandic yogurt gives Greek yogurt a run for its money (and protein)

While Greek yogurt has been the rage for the past few years, there's another high-protein, foreign-based yogurt that'll give it some serious competition.

Skyr (pronounced "skeer") hails from the land that gave us arthouse shrieker Björk, and this Icelandic dairy item has been making its way on to Vancouver store shelves.  

It has an extremely thick consistency, is very high in protein, and has low or zero fat content.

President's Choice offers both Greek and Icelandic yogurt version, which offers an opportunity for comparison. 

PC's skyr is lactose-free (it's made with skim milk and lactase enzyme, which breaks down lactose).

A ¾ cup (175 grams) of PC Plain Skyr Icelandic Style Yogurt contains zero fat, 21 grams of protein, 2 grams of sugar, and 15 percent (of daily value) calcium. The vanilla version contains 18 grams of protein and 10 grams of sugar. Strawberry contains 18 grams of protein and 12 grams of sugar. (Like most yogurts, the more flavoured it is, the less protein and the more sugar content there is.) A 500-gram container costs $4.49 at No Frills.

In comparison, the same amount of PC Plain Greek Yogurt contains zero fat, 18 grams of protein, 2 grams of sugar, and 50 percent (of daily value) calcium. The vanilla version has 18 grams of protein and 13 grams of sugar. Strawberry contains 14 grams of protein and 18 grams of sugar. A 500-gram container costs $3.99 at No Frills.

To compare them both to regular yogurt, the same amount of PC Blue Menu Finesse Vanilla has zero fat, 7 grams of protein, and 12 grams of sugar, with 20 percent (of daily value) calcium.

Skyr's competitive protein value and zero or low fat will certainly appeal to those watching their diets or seeking to build muscle. However, the deciding factor may lie in whether a consumer is seeking less sugar, more protein, or more calcium.

Needless to say, it's only a matter of time before more brands of skyr start hitting the shelves (as they already have stateside) and offering even more options.