Non-dairy Alternatives

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For years, soy milk was the go-to alternative to dairy milk. These days you can find a great diversity of milks made from sources ranging from nuts, to rice and hemp. But what do these milk alternatives really taste like? We were curious, and decided to hold a tasting party (staff meeting) and invited the most discerning of palates (the entire Sprouts marketing department). We swished, sniffed and sipped seven unique “milks,” noting what we liked best and what we would consider doing with each. Glass of milk There are many reasons that you might seek a milk alternative. Perhaps you are lactose intolerant or vegan. You might be looking to add a unique flavor to a recipe. Or maybe you are just curious about all the different options. The task of choosing the right dairy substitute can be daunting: the shelves are filled with choices, and many are made from surprising sources. So we commandeered a recent staff meeting to help you discover some “udderly” different milk choices. We kept things simple by sampling only shelf-stable products in plain or original flavors from a variety of different brands. Participants were asked to consider taste, color, consistency and versatility. We found the experience enlightening and some participants even discovered a new favorite beverage.

Almond Milk

Brand: Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Original Calories per 1 cup serving: 60 Taste: Strong almond taste, lightly sweet notes Appearance: Pale tan color, thin consistency Nutrients: Antioxidants, vitamin E, calcium We’d use it in: Smoothies, baking, cooking Other flavors: Unsweetened, Vanilla, Chocolate Most colorful reviewer comment: “You have to have really small hands to milk an almond.”

Coconut Milk

Brand: So Delicious Sugar-Free Original Calories per 1 cup serving: 45 Taste: Mild coconut flavor with a faint hint of sweetness Appearance: Thickest of all the options we tried; white in color; looks like whole milk Nutrients: Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 We’d use it in: Smoothies, cooking, coffee Other flavors: Chocolate, Sugar-Free Original, Vanilla, Sugar-Free Vanilla Most colorful reviewer comment: “Not half bad, but I’m not sure I’d shimmy up a palm tree for it.”

Hazelnut Milk

Brand: Pacific Natural Foods Original Calories per 1 cup serving: 110 Taste: Sweet and nutty with a very rich hazelnut flavor; one of the favorites among the group Appearance: Dark tan in color, thin consistency Nutrients: Calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin (vitamin B2) We’d use it in: Cooking, baking: the rich taste will lend great flavor to whole-grain and/or high-fiber cereals, especially unsweetened ones Other flavors: Chocolate Most colorful reviewer comment: “Liked it a lot, but I kind of wanted it to taste like Nutella. I wonder if the chocolate flavor does. Can we sample that next?”

Hemp Milk

Brand: Living Harvest Tempt Original Calories per 1 cup serving: 100 Taste: Earthy with mild grassy notes Appearance: Tannish-yellow color, thin consistency Nutrients: Calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, omega-3 fatty acids We’d use it in: Cereal Other flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla Most colorful reviewer comment: “Whoa!”

Oat Milk

Brand: Pacific Natural Foods Low-Fat Original Calories per 1 cup serving: 130 Taste: Very reminiscent of a bowl of oatmeal, sweet with a vague hint of cinnamon; a favorite among the tasters Appearance: Medium tan in color, thin consistency Nutrients: Calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin (vitamin B2) We’d use it in: Baking, cooking, cereal, to dunk cookies in (especially oatmeal cookies) and even drink on its own Other flavors: Low-Fat Vanilla Most colorful reviewer comment: “Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this, but it was like sipping the liquid out of the bottom of a bowl of oatmeal. Only smoother.”

Rice Milk Drink

Brand: Rice Dream Original Enriched Calories per 1 cup serving: 120 Taste: Very mild in taste, neutral flavor; reminded tasters of skim milk Appearance: Opaque white, looks like non-fat milk; thin in consistency Nutrients: Enriched with Vitamins A, D, B12 and calcium We’d use it in: Cereal, coffee, smoothies, cooking Other flavors: Chocolate Enriched, Vanilla Enriched Most colorful reviewer comment: “If you put some sugar and cinnamon in this it would taste just like the horchata my nana used to make.”

Soy Milk

Brand: West Soy Low-Fat Plain Calories per 1 cup serving: 90 Taste: Neutral and versatile flavor; not at all sweet Appearance: Tan in color; looks like iced coffee with cream; thin in consistency Nutrients: Calcium and vitamin D We’d use it in: Cereal, coffee, smoothies Other flavors: Low-Fat Vanilla Most colorful reviewer comment: “The color on this was darker than the others so I thought it might taste like milk with a drop of soy sauce in it. But it was surprisingly mild.”