St. Benoît Milk

In keeping with our vision of products that both protect and showcase Sonoma’s rich natural foodshed, Saint Benoît Creamery now bottles organic, low-pasteurized, pasture-raised Jersey cows’ milk in glass.

Taste the difference!
Exceptional flavor from pasture-raised Jerseys on a single source farm.

See the difference!
Rich cream-top whole milk.

Make a difference!
Sold in re-usable glass containers and bottled right on the Organic Farm.

ORGANIC

We are certified Organic by CCOF, and pride ourselves on being locally sourced and sustainable. We believe in supporting local organic farmers, the key to a sustainable foodshed. The cows for St. Benoît Milk naturally lead a life free of any antibiotics and pesticides. This is great for the cows, fantastic for the milk, and of course much better for the environment. You should see the wildlife, including the sheer number of healthy insects such as ladybugs that make the farm their home.

WHOLE JERSEY MILK

Jerseys produce richer creamier milk thanks to their high protein and good fat content. Compared to Holsteins, Jerseys produce 30% less per milking, but the milk is of an exceptional quality. Jerseys produce A2 milk, unlike Holsteins who have A1 milk. Some people believe A2 milk has additional health benefits and is easier to digest because the amino acid chain is smaller. We keep the full fat content to protect the vitamin A and D intact, and to provide a superior quality taste.

PASTURE-RAISED JERSEY COWS IN LOCAL SONOMA COUNTY

We believe pasturing is the best choice: the best for animal welfare, the best for a superior consumer product. Cows are happiest out in the fresh air, eating lush green grasses, getting plenty of daily sunshine and exercise. Their pasturing also gives their milk a unique natural flavor. Pasture raised cows’ milk has a much higher level of linoleic acid and vitamin E compared to grain-fed confinement herds.

Although many milk brands carry an organic label, most of the herds do not live the majority of their lives outside, and often have a large percentage of their diet from organic grains. The cows for St. Benoît Milk are always outside year round and have a large portion of their feed from the pastures they graze on. In Northern California, it is not possible to have a 100% grass-fed diet because of the wetter and drier months of the year. However, it is possible to let the cows roam and graze outside all year thanks to California’s temperate climate.

These Jerseys, have a consistent diet of grass year round with plenty of room for fresh air and exercise. Often we have seen one acre per cow of pasture land, but these lucky ladies have an average of two acres per cow. No more than 1/4 of these cows’ diet comes from organic grains. In addition, the farmer grows most of the supplemental grass necessary for during those extremely dry or wet months himself, to ensure maximum quality nutrition for the ladies.

NON HOMOGENIZED

We chose not to homogenize our milk because we wanted it to remain as close to its natural state as possible. Homogenizing forces the fat globules to break down which means the cream does not rise to the top as it normally would. We chose an artisanal approach and leave the molecules intact because it maintains the integrity of the product providing creamier, fresher and richer tasting milk.

VAT PASTEURIZED

Our milk is vat (or low heat) pasteurized which is very different compared to the other milks on the market. Most nutritionists agree that heating up to 160ºF preserves the health benefits. We pasteurize at 145ºF (the lowest legal limit) whereas most other dairies pasteurize between 180ºF and 215ºF. This means that we keep the milk as close to its original state as possible, avoiding extensive processing and a “cooked” taste. We think that minimally processed foods are not only better for you, they simply taste better. Because it is pasteurized, it is of course safe for infants and pregnant women.

FRESHNESS

We get our milk from the first milking of the day and bottle it right on the farm within hours in small batches. There are no delays in transport or storage, which means it is at its peak of perfection.

A SINGLE SOURCE FARM

In an era of mass agribusiness, we are proud to partner with a small fourth generation dairy farm as the sole source of our milk. This is the freshest, tastiest, milk you will find. Because of our partnership, we can provide outstanding quality and traceability, and guarantee a farmer who takes immense pride in his craft.

IN REUSABLE GLASS BOTTLES

$1.50 deposit
Nothing better for the environment than reusing bottles instead of recycling or clogging up landfills! To date, our re-usuable container program has kept over two million plastic jars out of the environment. We stand by our motto: Great taste, no waste! And of course, nothing tastes better than milk in glass either. There is no plastic to leach into your milk, or your body. Glass helps us preserve the excellent flavor of this exceptional product.