Xinjiang yogurt served at Spice Bazaar Photo: Liao Fangzhou/GT

For those with a craving for refreshingly tart fermented dairy, the ubiquitous yogurts found in Shanghai supermarkets and convenience stores just might not do - not only are they often too watery, but they are packed with sweeteners and additives.

Fortunately, the city does have a range of more natural yogurts on offer. Restaurants specializing in cuisines from around the world present homemade yogurts that speak of local characteristics but are universally delicious. Here are three zingers.

Xinjiang ketik

A newcomer to the charming Dongping Road, Spice Bazaar is one of the few Xinjiang restaurants in town with a classy, hip ambiance. Hanging tapestries and reclaimed wood add a rustic vibe, while an inlaid bar looks decisively modernist. From rarely seen starters like mint salad to Xinjiang standards like lamb skewers, the menu offers simple but well-executed fare.

While almost every Xinjiang restaurant serves the local yogurt (ketik), Spice Bazaar's rendition is definitely worth two thumbs up. The snow-white ketik comes in a medium-sized glass garnished with two freshly picked mint leaves and a few raisins, and has a distinctly rich texture that makes the ketik appear more like a frozen sundae.

Have a spoonful of this ketik and experience the incredibly creamy flavor - while the pureness almost suggests goat's milk, the friendly staff told the Global Times the yogurt is made of cow's milk from Xinjiang based on a homemade recipe. The sourness is far from subtle, but tastes too natural to be unpleasant and is addictively piquant. Mix it with the quality raisins to get an occasional spoonful of sweetness.

Xinjiang ketik is good at making you feel full, but for this glass you will happily announce you have stomach left for one more. One portion costs 30 yuan ($4.86).

Address: 29 Dongping Road

东平路29号

Tel: 6475-7735

Opening hours: 11 am to 11 pm

Indian mango lassi Photo: IC

Indian lassi

By the quiet South Bund lies the Indian spot G Water Front with a downstairs bar and a spacious dining hall upstairs. The lighting might be too dim for photos, but it feels just right for the river view. Polite and attentive Indian servers deliver top-notch service in both English and Chinese.

While the restaurant's curry and grilled dishes, unlike their delicious naan breads, are disappointingly over-mild and underwhelming (especially given their above-average prices and small portions), the lassi is lovely. Instead of plain lassi, you pick one flavor from a wide choice of fruits as well as saffron.

The most popular choice is the mango lassi (40 yuan) - a blend of yogurt, milk and fresh mango, and presented in a tall glass. While it is absolutely sweet, the mango balances it with a nice kick. A sprinkle of cardamom hits the perfect note, too.

Thick is not the word for G Water Front's lassi when it is more like a smooth beverage. Instead of dessert, it is a nice cooler to go with the main dishes. 

Address: 601 Waima Road

外马路601号

Tel: 3302-0007

Opening hours: 11:30 am to 11 pm

Greek yogurt Photo: nipic.com

Greek yogurt

In a beautiful Mediterranean-style mansion in white and blue at the intersection of Dongping Road and Yueyang Road sits Greek Taverna. A table on the outdoor terrace overlooking the boutiques and trees below simply makes one's day, yet equally enjoyable is a dining experience in the chicly decorated interior.

Greek yogurt has become one of the trendiest health foods around and a popular breakfast option in the West thanks to being naturally lower in sugar and higher in protein than conventional yogurt. In Greek cuisine, it is frequently used as a dip in addition to being a common dessert. Traditionally made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep and goat's milk in Greece, cow's milk is generally used in commercial versions.

Greek yogurt (15 yuan) at this restaurant has been a long-time favorite among Taverna's regular patrons. Served in a cute, small square container, the extra-thick delight comes with a generous portion of blueberry jam on top.

Rich and creamy, the yogurt has a pleasingly sour tang that almost reverberates. While mixing it with blueberry jam is a nice way to make it sweeter, do not hesitate to ask the servers for free Greek honey to drizzle over the yogurt for a more authentic experience.

Address: 1 Yueyang Road 岳阳路1号

Tel: 6431-7751

Opening hours: 10 am to 1 am