Culture Clash Greek Yogurt

Trevor Glauser remembers eating a lot of yogurt as a child. But not just the stuff you find on grocery store shelves — what he really enjoyed was the fresh yogurt he ate while traveling in Europe with his family. Upon returning to the United States, Glauser told his mother he liked that yogurt better, and she ended up buying him a yogurt-making kit from a garage sale so he could make it himself.

“It’s kind of been a weird hobby of mine,” he says. “As I got older, I realized there weren’t any options in Arizona for fresh yogurt like this.”

In 2019, Glauser (pictured) decided to fill that gap in the market and open Culture Clash Greek Yogurt, his Gilbert parfait bar where people can get creative with toppings while trying out the fresh yogurt he enjoys making.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Glauser tried selling his yogurt at farmers markets to sustain the business. The markets were a hit, but Glauser says the shop itself took longer to succeed, mainly because people weren’t familiar with his business model. 

“It took a while to get people in the door, because it takes a while for people to understand the concept and embrace it,” he says. “At first, everybody thinks that we’re a frozen yogurt shop, but once they’re here, they’re happy they came in to try something new.” 

Culture Clash now has about a dozen flavors of Greek yogurt made from milk sourced from Arizona dairies. Making the yogurt takes about 36 hours. Glauser and his employees pasteurize the milk, add cultures and hand-strain every batch to ensure the proper texture. The result is about 100 gallons of Greek yogurt each week.

As with any fresh dairy product, the shelf life for Culture Clash yogurt is short — about a week. Glauser says unlike mass-produced yogurt, you have to eat it pretty quickly after buying it, but what you lose in shelf life, you gain in flavor. 

“It’s got a real mild taste to it — it’s not super tart,” he says. “That’s what people really enjoy. They don’t get that tartness when they first bite into it.”

Bringing fresh, preservative-free yogurt to people is one of Glauser’s favorite parts of running his yogurt shop. “It’s been fun introducing something new to the entire city,” he says. “It’s nice not having any competition, but also teaching people about what real food is and should be.”

Shamus Terry and his wife were looking for a healthy treat for their three boys when they discovered Culture Clash in 2022. “We love that our boys can really enjoy a healthy snack that has a ton of varieties for each of their different tastes,” Terry says. “They are making fresh batches every day, and you can tell that by the taste.” The Terrys also say the customer service at Culture Clash is unmatched and the staff always makes their experience memorable. 

Glauser encourages everyone, even those who have an aversion to yogurt, to give the fresh Greek version a try. “We get a lot of feedback from people who have hated yogurt their entire lives because of the mouthfeel or lingering taste, but they’re shocked at how much better fresh yogurt is,” he says.

Yogurt flavors rotate seasonally at Culture Clash, but Glauser says two of the most popular flavors are blueberry lemon and espresso creme brûlée. Toppings include everything from traditional granola to chunks of key lime pie and white chocolate chips. Customers can mix and match flavor combinations or try out pre-mixed flavors from the menu. 

Culture Clash yogurt can be purchased in person at the yogurt bar or ordered online for pickup curbside in Gilbert or at local farmers markets.