Raw cow milk is exactly what it sounds like, milk that comes straight from the cow, with no pasteurization or homogenization. For centuries, this was the way people consumed milk, directly from their own cow or from the farm down the road.
Today, in Canada, it’s a different story. It is actually illegal to sell raw cow milk for consumption. Why is this? Basically there are some concerns about harmful bacteria that could be present in unpasteurized milk. The laws are designed to protect public health, but they also mean that Canadians can’t legally purchase raw milk in a grocery store or even directly from a farmer.
So where does that leave those who would like to enjoy the many health benefits raw milk has to offer, or who want milk as close to its natural state as possible?
That’s where we come in!
We can’t sell raw milk, but we do the next best thing that’s legally possible in Canada. Our milk is minimally processed by pasteurizing at a low temperature and left non-homogenized. What exactly does that mean?
- Low temperature pasteurization: This gently heats the milk enough to meet Canadian safety standards, but keeps more of the natural flavour and nutrition compared to standard, high-temp processing.
- Non-homogenized: We don’t force the cream to blend evenly into the milk. That’s why you’ll see the cream naturally rise to the top of the bottle, just like it would on the farm generations ago. Just shake it up and enjoy!
Our minimal milk processing results in a product that’s as close to raw as you can legally buy in Canada. Milk that is fresh, full of flavour, and just the way milk was meant to be!
If you’ve ever been curious about raw milk, stop in at Mistyglen Creamery for your chance to experience something very close: safe, legal, and straight from our family farm to your table. Cheers!