June 1st is National Milk Day. Some people never touch a glass of milk, but we love it. We can drink two eight-ounce glasses a day. That’s in addition to cereal milk, yogurt and other milk-based products.

Our brother is the same. So we were surprised recently when he asked if we’d like a few quarts of almond milk; he had purchased too much.

Why the switch to plant milk? A physician had suggested that he cut back on cholesterol. He found that he preferred the rich, creamy taste of almond milk to fat-free cow’s milk (all plant-based foods are cholesterol free).

He also likened the flavored varieties—Chocolate, Coconut, Vanilla—to milkshakes without the calories.

Almond milk can be used in just about any recipe calling for cow’s milk: in baking, hot and cold beverages, sauces and soups. The only significant limitation is in recipes that require cow’s milk starches to thicken, such as custard, pudding and yogurt. You need to add other thickening agents.

Another benefit: You need never run out of milk. Brands like Almond Breeze have shelf stable versions. Just store extra cartons in the pantry. Like Parmalat brand cow’s milk, no refrigeration is required until the container is opened.

Below:

> Milk trends in America.

> The different plant milks.

> How to choose.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of almonds and almond nutrition.

> The year’s 38 nut holidays.

> The year’s 16+ milk and cream holidays.
 
 
TRENDS: WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MILK IN AMERICA
 
For decades, cow’s milk consumption per capita has been on the decline, as newer generations—even pre-teens—drink coffee and soft drinks instead of a glass of milk. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumption across all age groups dropped 25% in the 37 years between 1975 and 2012.

Since 1999, according to market research firm Euromonitor, plant-based alternatives, called non-dairy milks, have grown in annual sales by an average of 10.9%. They are now a $1 billion-plus category in domestic retail sales.

The trend is based on personal factors, largely allergies, kosher and vegan diets, lactose intolerance and sustainable lifestyles*.

In the U.S., cow’s milk still dominates total milk consumption but plant milks have become a major secondary category and are now considered mainstream.

Plant milks are especially strong among younger, lactose-intolerant, vegan, and flexitarian consumers.
 
 
 
Below: 16 plant milks from which to choose, plus banana milk, which is a category unto itself.

[1] Almond milk is our favorite of the nondairy milk alternatives. Each person has his/her own preference. (photos: The Nibble).

[2] In addition to using Original in coffee and tea, Chocolate and Vanilla make tasty snacks (photo: The Nibble)

[3] Soy milk was the first widely-available plant milk (photo: The Nibble).

Twenty years ago, the option for non-dairy milk at supermarkets was soy milk. Then rice milk arrived. Today, the list is threefold larger:

 
See our tasting notes in the †footnote below.
 
 
Niche Plant Milks

 
Plus:

 
 
HOW TO CHOOSE?

Which one you choose should depend on two factors: taste preference and nutritional components. For example:

 
As the disclaimer goes, speak with your healthcare professional before making any changes.

How about a tasting party?

It can get expensive trying different milks. One idea is to invite people for a “tasting party” so everyone can see which option(s) they prefer—both in beverages and for other uses, like cereal.

If you spring for the milks, you can ask other participants to bring food. Perhaps the cooks and bakers in the group can bring dishes made with a plant milk.

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*Cow manure and flatulence produces huge amounts of methane, a major greenhouse gas. Here’s more information.

†Tasting Notes:

> Almond milk doesn’t have the protein of cow’s milk, but it is lower in calories and some brands add calcium and vitamins during processing. The key benefit for us is the mild taste. You probably wouldn’t even notice if someone replaced almond milk for cow’s milk in your coffee. A close second to soy in terms of sales, almond milk is the non-dairy milk with the largest annual sales increases.

> Cashew milk is beloved by our vegan expert Hannah Kaminsky, who drinks and cooks only with non-dairy milks. We should have tried it by now, but are too enthralled by almond milk.

> Coconut milk (the drinkable milk in a carton, not to be confused with the canned coconut milk for cooking and cocktails) has a noticeable amount of coconut flavor. If coconut is one of your favorite flavors and you want to taste it every time you use milk, then this is your milk alternative. While coconut milk is low in calcium and protein, on the good side it is also low in calories.

> Hemp milk is a product that people either love or hate. Personally, we don’t like the earthy flavor in a milk product. Like rice milk, it is an option for people who have nut and soy allergies.

> Oat milk we tried onlyonce, and didn’t care for it. Ditto with flax milk. Be your own judge.

> Rice milk can be gritty and watery. It is also higher in calories, carbs and sugar, lower in calcium and a poor source of protein. It is best for people who have nut and soy allergies.

> Soy milk is tasty when flavored, but in its plain form, there can be a beany aftertaste depending on the brand (we like it as a coffee milk). Soy milk has the most protein of the non-dairy milks; but on the down side, processed soy isoflavones can affect hormones, raising the risk for breast cancer; they can also depress thyroid function. Unless it’s organic, soy milk is likely made with GMO soybeans. Soy is the highest milk alternative in sales, but that’s because it’s been around for so long and anyone who has drunk it for years has no incentive to change. But almond milk is closing in!

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*Cow manure and flatulence produces huge amounts of methane, a major greenhouse gas. Here’s more information.
 

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