Milk in Spain

It's not usually cow's milk, it's always cow's milk or milk substitue. You'd have to go to a lot of trouble to even find goat's milk, it's not even in the grocery stores. Same for Italy.

What you mighht have had was milk substitute. Comes in a waterproof box usually. Doesn't have to be chilled. Tastes like.... The usuall two percent, nonfat stuff is also around, but that would not have thrown you off.

"Leche" is milk and is understood to be cow milk. "Leche de vaca" is cow milk, but people will look at you funny if you say it.

Really wondering why you thought it was goats milk? Have you had goats milk before? It actually is quite good and you probably would not know the difference, except that it is very rich. It is also expensive, so finding it on a buffet would be very unlikely.

What was probably on the buffet was H-milk. This is milk that can be kept for a very long time, as it has been flash heated. You can keep it on the shelf for several months. It does taste a bit different. It comes in low-fat versions as well as full-fat versions. It is very popular over here as you do not have to refrigerate it until you open it. Big plus in hot countries, and a big savings on transport and storage.

(H-milk is not to be confused with irradiated milk, which some folks think)

As the others have indicated,the milk I found in Madrid was similar to 2% here in taste....difference was that it was not in a refigerated cooler, but in a box on the shelf! I had to ask the store owner where to find the milk and he smiled and put a carton in my hand....very good by the way

Thanks everyone. I now realize we probably did not have goats milk but the boxed kind all referred to. I think we had it in mind that it was goats milk because someone said something to that effect- probably just messing with us! Again, thanks!