7 Best Milk Brands In India

Dairy products like milk, butter and curd are available in even the remotest parts of India. Dairy products are consumed at a high rate in our country and form an important part of our diets. Everywhere from rural to urban areas, from the north to the east, you can see almost everyone buying dairy products that are manufactured in India. Dairy companies in India have been a source of income for a lot of families and the dairies in India are one of the most important businesses of all time which help cater to millions of people.

Thanks to milk and milk products, we are able to enjoy our morning beverages. Be it tea, coffee, buttermilk, lassi or a milkshake, our day is incomplete without some milk based beverage. Any milk factory in India works almost 24×7 to aid the provision of milk to dairy shops and distributors. In this article, we will talk about some of best packed milk in India, how they came into being and how the dairies in India work. We will also be looking at aspects that make them different from other milk brands in India and how they help in improving the country’s economy.

According to Ayurveda, consumption of milk can help in reducing stress and anxiety. Intensity of some other diseases can also be reduced with the consumption of milk like insomnia and harmful sleeping patterns. Not only does Ayurveda confirm the benefits of milk, modern research and studies have shown positive results of milk consumption and sleeping patterns also. Doctors and naturopaths also swear by the benefits of drinking milk and consumption of its by-products every day. We also shed light on which milk is good for health in India. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture has mentioned in their dietary guidelines to include milk and its by-products as a daily consumption in diets.

Did you know that India is the largest producer of milk in the world? There was around 176.3 million tonne milk production in 2017-18 in India.

Creamiest Consistency- Amul Doodh

Freshest Taste- Mother Dairy Cow Milk

Most Economic- Nestlé Milkmaid

Here’s a look at the top milk brands in India.

The following section lists some of the best quality milk in India.

Amul is the best milk brand in India and it has shown the world one of the best examples of forming a cooperative industry with the help of local farmers. This model has been successfully replicated in all the states that started from Gujarat. Amul is the most successful cooperative venture in the world to date making it one of the best pasteurized milk brands in India.

Product Features:

• This tastes fresh
• The packaging is convenient
• It is ready to use

In addition to their dairy business, Mother Dairy was one of the first companies to come up with the fruits and vegetable business in 1988 under the branding Safal. In the current market Safal is seeing annual growth of 10% with annual turnover of Rs. 550 crore. Mother dairy also owns a brand called Dhara. Dhara is famous for their vegetable and mustard oil.

Product Features:

• Pasteurized homogenized milk
• No added sugar
• Ideal for young kids and adults

Nestle provides a wide variety of milk products like curd, raitas, milk and milk powder. Nestle in India gives particular emphasis on making milk for fitness-conscious people. They have come up with Nestle A+ Nourish and Nestle A+ Slim long-life as some of the fortified milk brands.

Furthermore, now in India, you can also buy superior quality yogurt that is made from unique probiotics from the Nestle A+ brand. Likewise, one of the most significant selling products of Nestle in the Indian market is its condensed milk. This can of milkmaid condensed milk can be found in your fridge.

Product Features:

• can be used for homemade sweets
• no added preservatives
• rich consistency

Apart from milk, Britannia has a lot of milk products that are very easily available throughout the country including cheese slices, cheese cubes, cheese blocks, curd, shakes and flavored yogurts.

Product Features:

• perfectly sized
• individually wrapped
• balanced salt

This is a 1 kg pouch of full cream milk powder. It has a one-year shelf life. The powder has been derived from the milk of Indian cows. Suitable for vegetarians, this milk powder can be consumed by children above two years of age. This is an unflavored variant. 100 grams of the powder yields 4 servings of 250 ml each. 

Product Features:

• 40 servings
• unflavored milk powder
• from full cream milk

This is a 500-gram pack of milk powder derived from cow’s whole milk. This provides complete nutrition as it is a host of protein, fats, and vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Moreover, it also has magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, and other minerals. This is produced by extracting water from fresh pasterized milk. For reconstitution, you are required to add one part milk powder to 7.25 parts of water. This yields a toned milk-like consistency. 

Product Features:

• spray-dried milk powder
• vitamins and minerals
• six-month shelf life

This tub contains two sachets of freeze-dried milk powder, each weighing 37.5 grams. This is cow colostrum milk powder that is gluten-free, maintains gut health, boosts immunity, and also helps in muscle repair. The contents must be consumed within 15 days of opening the product and stored in a cool, dry place. You also get a 2.5 gram serving/measuring spoon. In addition to mixing with water, this powder can also be added to juices, smoothies, yogurts. 

Product Features:

• no added sugar
• individual sachets
• from pre-milk fluid

In recent years we have seen a sudden growth of dairy products in India. The numbers are skyrocketing, and we are sure this trend is likely to carry on from here onwards. India is the largest producer of milk in the world. It produces more than a whopping 170 million tonnes of milk each year approximately. In 2014, as the milk production in India grew to such a point that we surpassed the entire EU’s milk production in one year. Kudos to all the dairy brands in India who have worked hard to increase the output of milk in the nation. This raises the question- which milk is good for health in India?

One of the biggest reasons for India to be producing milk at such a considerable number is because dairy companies in India are importing lots of European cows now. These cows are being cross-bred with the local cattle varieties to increase the output of milk. Another crucial reason for the success is the decade long program of sourcing milk from small farmers with the help of co-operatives. The most prominent working example of this cooperation is Amul. Amul is one of the best quality milk in India and comes at the top of the list of best milk companies in India. It is also easily the best packed milk in India.

Milk industries in India have made a cooperative system of milk collection, distribution, and processing which has proven to be a great success. The milk is collected from small villages by the closest located factories, where it gets processed and tested in terms of nutritional value and packaged according to food safety norms. Once these are checked, the factory puts the milk in packets and sends them to the shopkeepers.

From there, individuals buy milk according to their needs. This whole process of milk being collected and distributed takes place every day. The rural households are the ones who are getting more benefits from this increase in demand as they are the ones at grass root level, that provide milk to the millions of families throughout the country.

Now that we have learned about the different milk brands in India, lets have a look at the benefits of drinking milk. We have all had mothers running after us with that bug mug of milk, constantly pestering us to drink it atleast twice a day. Do you know why? Here is a list of benefits attached to drinking a glass of milk everyday.

1. Milk And Skin Benefits

Due to the fat content in milk, it proves to be a great moisturiser for the skin. Not only drinking milk, but application of milk on face through DIY face packs can be very nourishing due to the lactic acid in it. Milk can hydrate our skin and in some cases milk also helped to reduce mild pigmentation and acne.

2. Benefits Of Milk For Our Bones And Teeth

Some of the Indian milk companies make their advertisements solely on how drinking milk can help you strengthen your teeth and bones. Milk is the best source of calcium; that’s precisely what you need to have healthier teeth. Make sure you also soak in some sunlight, as vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption in the body.

3. Milk May Help To Lose Weight

Milk has a high satiety value and can help keep your stomach feel full. Milk acts as a great meal or even a mid meal if you are looking for a healthy drink that gives you plenty of nutrition. Studies have shown lower risk of childhood obesity amongst children with higher intake of milk.

Also learn about the best time to drink milk according to Ayurveda.

‘According to Ayurveda, consuming milk in the morning can make your body sluggish. The best time to drink milk is in the late evening when the body is ready for sleep and repair.’

Milk is something, we don’t consider would be available in different ‘types’ apart from their fat content. Some milk are full fat (full cream), some are double toned and some are solely meant for people on a diet. In India, we have plenty of milk brands and a lot of variety to choose from according to our taste and dietary needs. Even though cows and buffalos are considered as the prime source of milk, you’ll be interested to know about the other types and sources of milk available in India –

1. Pig Milk

Yes, pig milk is very much edible and has a high fat content in comparison to cows milk. It is not readily available or consumed due to the difficulty in milking the pigs.

2. Camel Milk 

Camel milk is saltier and high in Vitamin C. The fat content is low in comparison to pigs milk.

3. Goat Milk 

The nutrient profile of goat’s milk and cow’s milk is very similar. It is easy to digest and is the best known for reducing inflammation.

4. Sheep Milk

Sheep milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium. On the other hand, it is also rich in total fat and calories. The vitamins and nutritional ability make it an excellent choice for the athletes who train hard. In addition to this, sheep’s milk is appropriate in making cheese and yogurt.

5. Cow Milk

There is no doubt cow’s milk is the most widely consumed milk in India, it is much lighter and is less fattening than buffalo milk. Moreover, it is easy to digest, thus, doctors recommend it for little children too.

6. Buffalo Milk 

Buffalo milk holds more cream and is quite thick, as a result, it is used in making the delicious cottage cheese, which is the main ingredient of some of the most famous Indian dishes such as Kadai Paneer, Palak Paneer etc. On the other hand, buffalo have more calories due to presence of higher fat content.

Related Reading:

Your search for creamy, tasty milk powders ends here! List of the best milk powder brands in India.

There is definitely no lack of options when it comes to choosing a milk brand in India. Every nook and corner of this country is well stocked and has a regular supply of milk. There might be some brands we missed, but these are the top milk brands of India which are trusted by millions of people in the country.