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The translation for buttermilk is given as babeurre, but this doesn't correspond to anything I can find in grocery stores or cheese shops here. I suspect that the word means something in Quebec but it doesn't ring any bells here.

Does anyone know what I should be asking for and where I can find it?

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If you can't find it, there are plenty of substitutions. You can either spike milk with an acid (about 1TB lemon juice or vinegar to 1c. milk (15mL acid to 250mL milk) for use in most baking recipes, or use a mix of yoghurt and milk (between 3:1 to 1:1 depending on the consistency you want, but if you're going to bake with it in something that calls for baking soda, you might need to spike it with a little acid) –  Joe Mar 23 '11 at 3:00

3 Answers 3

up vote 7 down vote accepted

You'll want to look for one of two products either lait fermenté or lait ribot.

Lait fermenté is a cultured buttermilk. This is homogenized and pasteurized milk which has been cultured with lactic acid bacteria. This is the de facto standard buttermilk in modern times. If you go to an American grocery store and buy buttermilk you are buying cultured buttermilk.

Lait ribot is traditional buttermilk. It is the fermented liquid leftover from churning butter. This is not commonly found in the US and other western countries.

See also: Buttermilk

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Thanks @hobodave. Do you know what brands it is sold under? –  Zippy Mar 22 '11 at 20:03
@Zippy: I'm afraid not. I have Google to thank for this answer. I've never been to France. –  hobodave Mar 22 '11 at 22:19
@Zippy In Belgium it is sold at Carrefour (a French chain) under the "Luxlait" brand. Perhaps in France as well? –  Nels Beckman Feb 1 '13 at 10:09

I just bought some lait fermenté to use as buttermilk in a recipe for corn muffins for our Thanksgiving dinner a few days ago. I bought it at the Carrefour supermarket in Ferney-Voltaire, France. It comes in 1 liter Tetrapak "bricks" and is made by Yoplait (well-known primarily for its yoghurt). under the actual name....."Lait Fermenté.

Chuck, Geneva, Switzerland

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Sorry, my fault. I didn't see the title. –  J.A.I.L. Nov 27 '12 at 18:28

buttermilk is a french "petit lait"

AT first time, you should know what is a buttermilk. it is lower in fat than sweet milk. Old-fashioned homemade buttermilk is the slightly sour, residual liquid which remains after butter is churned, ie. milk from the butter or buttermilk.

so, you can obtain your own "petit lait" by yourself..

Buy a brik of "creme liquid entier", let it spins and spins in your kitchenaid. (or with fouet electique) to obtain your own butter and "petit lait"

2 rabbits with one stone. This is a case. lol

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"2 rabbits with one stone".... The English version of that would be "two birds with one stone." –  Carey Gregory Feb 12 '13 at 3:10

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