Authentic Indian Paneer with an A2 Twist
Just Creamery – Our Newest Cheesemaker
When Abhinav (“Abhi”) moved from northern India state of Bihar to California, one of the first things he realized was that finding authentic paneer—the fresh farmer’s cheese central to so many Indian dishes—was nearly impossible. In addition, the yogurt on the grocery shelves just wasn’t the same. Missing the flavors of home, he began making small batches of both in his kitchen. Friends who tasted it told him, “This is really good—why can’t we find this in the stores?”
That encouragement set Abhi on a journey that would eventually lead him from his background in tech into the world of cheesemaking.
Discovering the Right Milk
In order to manifest his vision, Abhi sought out the freshest milk he could find. That’s when he discovered Valley Milk Simply Bottled. The fresh, raw, A2 cow milk, available directly from the dairy, reminded him of the milk he grew up on.
“I kept thinking I couldn’t digest milk anymore. But when I tried Valley Milk, suddenly my stomach issues were gone."
For Abhi, Valley Milk made all the difference. His ability to enjoy milk returned, opening the door to creating the flavors he longed for.
From Hobby to Creamery
Encouraged, Abhi connected with his new friend, farmer Joe Bento of Valley Milk and his high school friend Hemabh Shekhar to solve it for the local community. Together, they found an available creamery and launched Just Creamery, producing paneer, ghee, gelato, and experimenting with other cheeses and yogurts.
Everything is made in tiny batches. Really tiny. While most commercially made paneer is made with citric acid (usually available as a powder), this paneer is made with freshly squeezed lemons. The yogurt is not homogenized, which means it has a thin layer of cream at the top.
“We’re experimenting with all sorts of cheeses. We want to see what people like. Once we figure that out, we’ll winnow down our products,” Abhi says.
Standouts so far include the delicate farmer’s cheese (unlike any you’ve ever tasted), super-rich fresh goat cheese, and the light, slightly melty paneer.
Who’s Buying
While Just Creamery’s core customers began as members of the Bay Area’s East Indian and immigrant Russian communities—combined at more than 250,000 people, word is spreading quickly about these unique cheeses. Once discovered, the audience is sure to grow.
About Valley Milk Simply Bottled
Joe Bento’s family immigrated from the Azores in 1975. Their dairy has cows (mostly Jerseys, known for high-butterfat milk), goats, and sheep. The cows are fed an unconventional but nutritious mix that includes honeydew melon, carrot and apple pulp, and alfalfa hay.
Rather than selling his cows when they age out, Joe moves them to an attached sanctuary to live out their days—something rarely seen at commercial dairies.
It’s also unusual to find a cow dairy open to the public, so this is a unique opportunity. While visitors are free to wander, calling ahead may secure a guided tour.
What Is A2 Milk?
Most milk you find in stores contains two proteins: A1 and A2 beta-casein. Long ago, cows only produced A2. But over time, a natural mutation introduced A1, and today most herds carry both.
Some people find that A1 protein is harder to digest. A2-only milk—like that produced by Valley Milk’s carefully bred cows—may feel gentler on the stomach while offering the same nutrition and taste as regular milk.
If milk has ever made you uncomfortable, A2 might be worth a try.
Visit & Buy
📦 Order Online: Bay Area residents can order through Lemon Hat for home delivery.
🏬 Retail Shop in Saratoga: Open daily, 5–8 p.m.
🚜 Valley Milk Simply Bottled Dairy (Wilton, near Modesto). Open sunrise to sunset, no appointment needed. Visitors can see the animals and purchase raw cow, goat, and sheep milk (cheese not available onsite). Cash only.
