From sugar free to home-made – we test milk alternatives for Veganuary
FROM lattes to mac and cheese, milk is everywhere.
But now we are in Veganuary, there are people turning to milk alternatives.
The vegan milk market is brimming with choice.
It is so popular that a third of us now opt for the vegan white stuff.
It’s more sustainable, produces only a third of the greenhouse emissions that dairy does – and it uses ten times less land.
But which to try?
Today JANE ATKINSON puts some vegan milk alternatives to the test.
COFFEE
M!LK is a new barista-style milk produced by The Coconut Collab.
What’s great is that it’s made with coconuts, which are naturally low in sugar, and is full of minerals, electrolytes and healthy fats, giving you lots of health benefits.
Plus it’s only 47 calories and contains just 1.9g of fat per 100ml.
The company has previously made yoghurts and desserts, and its double cream was such a hit it has been served as a dairy-free option at Wimbledon for the past two years.
It tasted great in tea, didn’t alter the flavour at all and it frothed up brilliantly in coffee.
It gives a beautiful sweetness without overpowering the coffee and has a lovely, creamy texture. It’s now my go-to.
£1.85 per litre, ocado.com
SUGAR-FREE
THIS milk ticks a lot of boxes.
It is gluten and dairy-free, organic, plant-based and – unlike other oat milks – it is sugar free, making it a healthier choice.
It only contains 48 calories and 1.4g of fat per 100ml and the ingredients are simple.
It is just water, organic gluten free oats, sea salt plus sunflower oil, which is a bit annoying . . . because, let’s be honest, who needs added oil in a milk?
You can add it to smoothies, pour it on your cereal or pop a splash in your tea and coffee.
It is a bit watery and not as creamy as other plant milks.
But if you are used to skimmed cows’ milk, it is quite similar in texture.
£1.50 per litre, waitrose.com
HOME-MADE
THIS new appliance makes plant-based milk at home using nuts, seeds, cereals and water.
You simply add your chosen ingredients to the blender, fill the water tank – and a litre of milk is produced in three minutes.
What’s great about this is that it’s even healthier than shop-bought milks that often contain saturated fat, preservatives, emulsifiers, seed oils and gums.
It is a big outlay, costing £275, and it takes around 180 uses to recoup the cost of buying it.
But buying plant milks from the shop isn’t cheap either, with many almond and oat milks costing over £2 a litre.
It was easy to use, creating little mess, and there are lots of recipes to try on the Milky Plant website, including oat banana milk and almond matcha milk. I love it.
£275, milkyplant.com