Your milk likely tastes like garlic because the cow consumed garlic or a related plant, such as onions, in its diet. This flavor transfers directly into the milk. The strong odor and taste are easily detectable.
How Garlic Affects Milk Flavor
- Dietary Transfer: The primary reason for garlic-flavored milk is the cow's diet. Cows that graze on pastures containing wild garlic or are fed garlic as part of their feed will produce milk with a distinct garlic taste. This is due to the absorption of compounds from the garlic into the cow's bloodstream and subsequently into the milk.
- Allyl Methyl Sulfide (AMS): Garlic contains allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), a volatile compound responsible for its pungent smell and taste. This compound easily transfers from the plant to the cow's milk. See the Reddit ELI5 explanation regarding AMS.
Other Potential Causes (Less Likely)
While dietary transfer is the most probable cause, other factors could theoretically contribute, although they are less likely:
- Storage Proximity: Milk might absorb odors from other strongly-scented foods like garlic, onions, or fish if stored nearby. This is particularly true for open containers. See Quora discussion on milk tasting weird.
- Contamination: Although unlikely, a minor contamination of the milk processing facility with garlic or garlic products could result in a garlic-like taste.
Solutions and Prevention
- Source Identification: If you buy milk directly from a farm, inquire about their cow's diet. Large-scale dairy farms are less likely to have this problem due to controlled feeding.
- Careful Storage: Store milk separately from strongly-scented foods to prevent odor absorption. Ensure proper sealing of containers.
