How Is Vegan Milk Made?

How are vegan milks made?

Most vegan milks are made using the same process. The main ingredient (such as nuts) is soaked in water for several hours, before being blended into a puree. This mixture is filtered to separate the milk from the plant matter, and is boiled to sterilise the milk as well as add flavour. Some flavouring can then be added, such as vanilla or sugars, for taste. This process is used in almond milk, soya milk, macadamia milk, hemp milk and lots of other milks that use a nut, bean or water-base.

You can also make your own vegan milks, which many people swear by. Check out Simple Vegan Blog’s recipe for homemade oat milk, and this almond milk recipe from The Minimalist Baker. The process of making plant milks at home is very similar to the process of making them on a big scale. 

Are non-dairy milks healthy?

Most plant milks are lower in saturated fat than dairy, however coconut milk contains more saturated fats than most other plant milks; be aware of this if you are someone who consumes a lot of milk daily. Lots of plant milks are also lower in calories than dairy milk. Plant milk also contains the same nutritional value of dairy milks, as plant milks are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals to ensure a healthy body. 

What are the best dairy-free milk alternatives?

As the demand for plant-milk has grown, so has the range in milks being produced, meaning there are milks from everything from macadamia to soy to oat to rice. It’s up to you which taste you like the best, but here is a helpful guide to find out whether you’re team Alpro, Oatly, Rebel or more.

Plant milks can be found really easily now, as supermarkets and grocery stores stock a variety of milks and different brands. Popular brands like Oatly can be found in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons — pretty much every major supermarket around the UK. Brands like Alpro and Rebel are the same. For more niche milks, such as macadamia, they can still be found online at vegan and organic grocers. It’s truly never been easier to find great-tasting vegan milk!