Best Non-Dairy Milk?
- Thread starter Maggot
- Start date
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
So the Alpro almond milk is so far the best straight up replacement for cow. Shame it's the least eco friendly which rules it out really as what's the point then?
Still need to try rice. Am settling on hazelnut I think but still need something for savoury cooking.
Still need to try rice. Am settling on hazelnut I think but still need something for savoury cooking.
Baronage-Phase
Well-Known Member
I had a look at the back of the hemp milk carton after I bought it. It listed product information and allergy information as follows. ...
•Free from dairy, lactose, soya and GMO
•Allergy Information
Dairy
Lactose
Soya
Confused.
•Free from dairy, lactose, soya and GMO
•Allergy Information
Dairy
Lactose
Soya
Confused.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
I think for savoury cooking, I will try soya - even though I really do not like the taste of soya, it is less detectable in a sauce with herbs for example than it is in a cup of tea or as a meat replacement product. I am generally under the impression that of all the non-dairy options, almond has the biggest negative environmental impact due to it being grown in desert areas and requiring a shit load of water, so I'm personally avoiding that one - if I'm cutting back on dairy I want it to benefit both health and the planet.
I like the rice milk by itself or in coffee - the Alpro works really well in coffee, I think it has thickeners in it so it behaves more like dairy - although taste wise it would make a good alternative in savoury cooking, it contains no protein and therefore behaves differently when heated to dairy or higher protein alternatives.
(Rice requires a lot of water, but I am under the impression that rice milk represents a tiny proportion of worldwide rice production, it's more of a side-product and the impact of demand for non-dairy substitutes is a tiny amount compared to existing global rice production - am happy to be corrected if I am wrong about that!)
Baronage-Phase
Well-Known Member
Oat milk today. Bought it in the local shop. It comes all the way from Sweden. No Irish made Oat milk here. Says on the carton that it'll last 5 days once opened if kept in the fridge .
Having it with some caramel granola with nuts, blueberries, raspberries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Will report back...
Having it with some caramel granola with nuts, blueberries, raspberries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Will report back...
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I've tried Alpro unsweetened roasted almond milk this week and I don't like it at all. It seems to have no texture and I don't like the flavour either. I made a 'milky' coffee with it and had to add sugar because it tasted bitter and even then, it just tasted like I was drinking black coffe so there's no point to that for me.
Caveat: I do currently have a hideous cold so my tastebuds are shot.
Caveat: I do currently have a hideous cold so my tastebuds are shot.
Baronage-Phase
Well-Known Member
This is the oat milk I'm using.
It was ok in granola but I did have fruit and maple syrup added so I'll have to try it on its own to get a true taste.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
I tried the hazelnut milk:
By itself, chilled, was really nice! In coffee though, there was a bitter note that seemed to creep in and get added to the bitterness of the coffee, it was not the coffee/nutty delight that I expected it to be (unfortunately). It was ok and definitely drinkable, just a little bitter - that may appeal to some.
I think I'd probably have this as a drink in its own right (like you'd have a chocolate or strawberry milk!) rather than in a hot beverage.
By itself, chilled, was really nice! In coffee though, there was a bitter note that seemed to creep in and get added to the bitterness of the coffee, it was not the coffee/nutty delight that I expected it to be (unfortunately). It was ok and definitely drinkable, just a little bitter - that may appeal to some.
I think I'd probably have this as a drink in its own right (like you'd have a chocolate or strawberry milk!) rather than in a hot beverage.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Odd - I don't find the almond or hazelnut remotely bitter and I'm quite sensitive to bitterness, can't eat grapefruit or drink tonic water for instance. I do agree that the hazelnut is similar to something like a chocolate milk in being quite flavoured and sweet and a drink in itself.
Meanwhile I've moved onto rice which is fine. Very unremarkable. Wouldn't actively choose it.
Meanwhile I've moved onto rice which is fine. Very unremarkable. Wouldn't actively choose it.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Yeah the bitterness in coffee wasn't something I was expecting at all, and I love it as a standalone chilled drink, and I adore hazelnuts (and hazel praline and other things involving hazelnuts) so I have no idea why I disliked it in coffee.
Will be trying the oat milk next!
Will be trying the oat milk next!
Koko is the only coconut milk worth buying imo
Coconut's my favourite but didn't like koko, forgotten why.
For those who want a thicker vegan milk, try the tinned coconut ones. Less healthy than the cartonned ones due to the other shitty ingredients, but a much higher coconut content (varies from about 20% to about 90% - check the ingredients list). Warning though the solids can completely separate from the water whilst in the tin thus potentially needing blending to be usuable as milk. Supermarket ones are usually MUCH dearer than in little shops, oddly.
Just had some rice (dream i think, but not sure now), then some oatly and right enjoyed them.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
OK well Nate is being pissy about trying any of these with cereals (he doesn't drink milk at all because it upsets his stomach, and gave up breakfast cereals because of that - he is just the fussiest git in the world though when it comes to trying new things) - so although I don't usually do cereals I had some coco crispies with hazelnut milk, and it was quite lovely (at least as lovely as a bowl of cereal can get, not really my thing, but I can taste and judge it and it was pretty nice as these things go, nothing offputting about the milk-substitute). I think the hazelnut milk possibly goes best with chocolatey breakfast cereals!
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I've got used to the almond milk in coffee but I do prefer it with sugar. I'll try the hazelnut next.
I think I'll end up settling in having these milks as alternatives alongside cows milk when I fancy them. I can't see myself giving up dairy anyway as I love cheese too much
I think I'll end up settling in having these milks as alternatives alongside cows milk when I fancy them. I can't see myself giving up dairy anyway as I love cheese too much
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Yeah I am a long way off giving up cheese and butter, but by far my biggest consumption is milk - so I am looking to cut down, which is better than nothing. That may end up meaning that I just learn to love black coffee
We'll see A lot of people see it as being all or nothing, but it doesn't have to be. I was vegan except milk chocolate and honey for somewhere between half a year and two years years ago
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Learning to love black coffee and tea is a good alternative in my mind as really the almond milk adds little more than a bit of colour. It would be cheaper and no doubt environmentally better to just cut it out completely!Yeah I am a long way off giving up cheese and butter, but by far my biggest consumption is milk - so I am looking to cut down, which is better than nothing. That may end up meaning that I just learn to love black coffee
My dairy consumption is pretty low. I don't drink much milk as I don't have cereal so it's literally just tea and coffee for me. I don't often have yogurt or anything like that. A pat of butter lasts me anything up to a month but cheese is pretty much a staple food.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I'm not even considering going vegan or even vegetarian but I am thinking about meat and dairy consumption and cutting down on both.A lot of people see it as being all or nothing, but it doesn't have to be. I was vegan except milk chocolate and honey for somewhere between half a year and two years years ago
I even bought some fucking tofu the other day
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
I was vegetarian for around 20 years, but ate MORE dairy during that period as it became a more important source of protein in my diet. That has animal welfare and environmental concerns just as much as eating meat. Obviously it is possible to be vegetarian with less emphasis on dairy, or go vegan of course.
I am no longer strictly vegetarian, but I try now to do meat and dairy as a treat rather than a daily thing.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I did 10 years vegetarian. It was along time ago so I'm not sure what I ate but cheese and beanfeast were definitely part of it
ETA I'm not at the "treat" stage with meat yet as it still forms a significant part of my diet but I am making sure at least 50% of my evening meals are meat free. That's a start and I'm enjoying it.
ETA I'm not at the "treat" stage with meat yet as it still forms a significant part of my diet but I am making sure at least 50% of my evening meals are meat free. That's a start and I'm enjoying it.
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Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Actually I take it back....my coffee and almond milk experiment is at an end. I don't like it at all. Would rather drink it black.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
That is sort of how I am feeling right now - the drinks I have tried so far are really nice chilled on their own, or with cereal, but I ended up having my coffee black yesterday, because I just didn't fancy the hazelnut milk in it. Don't get me wrong, the hazelnut milk is delicious and is a lovely drink in its own right, but it doesn't (IMO) go with either coffee or tea. (It did go really nicely in a big steaming mug that was half coffee, half cadburys hot chocolate, and a double of brandy - but that was more a dessert than a beverage
)I still have oat milk to try, I will be cracking that one open in a couple of days.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I just made cocoa with the last of the almond milk and it is bloody nice. I am conflicted now
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
It's BLOODY BLOODY nice! I'll buy more just for this. It tastes rich and creamy and not too sweet which is great.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Oh christ I'll have to try the hazelnut milk now. I'm back on this horse
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
The paleo lot are quite mad though with their activated nut bullshit
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
No - they favour something they call "activated" nuts which seems to mean soaking nuts in water overnight before you eat them. It makes them magic or something. I imagine it also makes them horrible and soggy and so far less pleasurable to eat.
