Let’s face it, the best milk doesn’t come from any other animal. We’ve known this for some time, and with an aversion to cow milk and an increasing number of people developing soy and tree nut allergies, it can be difficult to find good dairy alternatives in a market rife with enthusiasm for soy and almond milk.
As tasty and effective as almond milk is, it’s not the only one out there. Here are some of our favorite dairy alternatives. There are so many choices, you’re sure to find one to fit your needs. But just one questions first: How do you milk a nut? haha
Coconut milk
Sweet and creamy, with a high content of healthy fat, it’s a little thicker than a lot of the dairy alternatives you’ll find in your grocery store, but that just makes it heartier! It has a less nutty flavor profile compared to most other nut-based milks, and makes a phenomenal coffee creamer.
Soy milk
With a rich, chalky taste and texture, it packs a whopping 11 grams of protein in a serving, dwarfing other milks by a long shot. For comparison, skim cow’s milk contains 8 grams of protein per serving. Due to its prevalence, it also comes in lots of different flavors, like chocolate and strawberry, and is probably the least hard-to-find dairy alternative.
Flax milk
This is a smooth, creamy alternative that boasts a wealth of omega 3, which is great for heart and brain health, but it contains no protein. It has a sweet flavor and its texture is very thin. Its neutral flavor makes it a great thickening agent for soups and stews, and a great dairy replacement for smoothies.
Rice milk
This milk has quite a different flavor compared to other milks, tasting more similar to cow’s milk, but with a thinner consistency.
Hazelnut milk
Unfortunately, this milk does not taste like Nutella (which is really bad for you, anyway), but does have a bit of a hazelnut flavor that is comparable to the flavoring of almond milk.
Hemp milk
This may sound controversial, but this milk comes from the super healthy hemp seed- not any other part of the plant. It’s got a bit of a watery consistency and a nutty flavor.
Quinoa milk
If you’ve never heard of quinoa milk, you may not be surprised to hear that it’s more of a difficult find than others on this list. Fortunately, its popularity is growing due to the fact that quinoa is really “in” right now, as well as its effectiveness as an ingredient. However, it may not be the most drinkable alternative with its weak flavor and watery consistency. Almond milk fans may be underwhelmed with a glass of quinoa milk.
Cashew milk
This is the most comparable to almond milk on the list, which makes sense because it is a fellow tree nut. However, cashew milk is noticeably creamier than almond milk, with a sweet but comparatively less nutty flavor than other nut milks.
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