Non dairy white stuff alternatives to cow milk.

[PracticalMac]

I am experimenting with plant based "milks", came across this article:

Almonds Are Out. Dairy Is a Disaster. So What Milk Should We Drink?

A glass of dairy milk produces almost three times more greenhouse gas than any plant-based milk. But vegan options have drawbacks of their own.

getpocket.com

I really love Hemp and Oat milks, but how the end product tastes vary quite a bit.

Soy and Almond are so so for me. I rather eat almond whole, anyway.

Not try Hazelnut.

Coconut water I have tried, but I do not think a milk product.

Rice milk was really disappointed in. I will not get again.


Thoughts from the peanut gallery?

 

[Huntn]

Almond milk! I go with HEB’s Grocery label. Silk is too thick for me. Why are almonds out?

From the post 1 link:

Almonds require more water than any other dairy alternative, consuming 130 pints of water to produce a single glass of almond milk, according to the Oxford study. Satisfying continual demands for larger almond crops is also placing unsustainable pressures on US commercial beekeepers. Nearly 70 percent of commercial bees in the US are drafted every spring to pollinate almonds. In 2019, a record number –over one-third of them– died by season’s end as a result of these pressures and other environmental threats.

So almond trees require an extraordinary amount of water to grow and fruit? And the article does not make it clear why almond trees are hard on bees.

Next time I go to the grocery, I’ll see if they have hazelnut, oat milk, and maybe revert to Soy.

 

[PhoenixDown]

Coconut Milk (not water) is probably the best alternative I’ve tasted.

 

[millerj123]

Yeah, the soy based drinks can sit poorly for me. I like some of the coconut alternatives.

 

[eyoungren]

Maybe this will stink up the thread, but…Coffeemate?

 

[TSE]

I love:

-Cashew Milk
-Soy Milk
-Oat Milk
-Coconut Milk
-Almond Milk

The only one I tried that I don't particularly enjoy is rice milk. But they all have their good qualities! Some are nutritionally better than others, but after getting off of cow's milk I don't miss it one bit.

 

[kazmac]

No Oat or Soy here (allergies).

Almond, Coconut milks are . The hazelnut I tried was mixed with almond.

 

[MacGizmo]

Good Karma Flax Milk (unsweetened) is pretty good. Soy, Gluten, Nut, and Dairy-free. They have "flavors" available, but we prefer the rather flavorless unsweetened one. It's difficult to find in most stores, but I know Safeway and Sprouts carry it.

 

[LizKat]

I think I'm kinda connecting to this thread at exactly the wrong time of year... just about wrapped up my winter pantry re-stocking effort, and included some nonfat dry milk (regular ol' dairy type) which is what I mix up to use in my coffee or on cereals.

Oh well. Meanwhile I see that both the stores I use for Instacart delivery do carry assorted brands of oat milk and soy milk, the two alternatives I'd be most likely to substitute for dairy. So I'll give oat milk a try next time I'm re-upping on fresh produce, and report back on what I think of it. Been meaning to try it anyway, now I've been nudged so I'll do it!

 

[Erehy Dobon]

Knowledgable vegans get mighty quiet when the topic of almonds is brought up.

Almost all of the world's almonds are grown in California and the harvest requires bees to be trucked in from all over North America for pollination. The long trip is the primary cause of the >30% mortality rate.

This is massive animal exploitation on a scale that couldn't be accomplished 50 years ago which is why vegans don't like discussing this.

Vegans are just as adept as anyone else at burying their heads in the sand when confronted with evidence of hypocritical behavior.

Worse, almond trees require lots of irrigation, something perpetually drought-inflicted California can't sustainably offer, at least not with the current water management policies in effect. Climatically, California is ideal for growing almonds. But from a large-scale farming standpoint, the region lacks the natural resources to support the current commercial acreage vis-a-vis the demand.

This is a major reason why older vegetarians are far less preachy and holier-than-thou than young vegans. The older folks have already been confronted multiple times with examples of vegan/vegetarian hypocrisy (whether they were originally aware about it or not).

Note I generally agree with most of the basic concepts of increasing vegetable consumption and reducing animal consumption. The world would be a better place if 80% of animal meat consumption was replaced by vegetable protein, but I won't see that in my lifetime.

 

[cdcastillo]

I am experimenting with plant based "milks", came across this article:

Almonds Are Out. Dairy Is a Disaster. So What Milk Should We Drink?

A glass of dairy milk produces almost three times more greenhouse gas than any plant-based milk. But vegan options have drawbacks of their own.

getpocket.com

I really love Hemp and Oat milks, but how the end product tastes vary quite a bit.

Soy and Almond are so so for me. I rather eat almond whole, anyway.

Not try Hazelnut.

Coconut water I have tried, but I do not think a milk product.

Rice milk was really disappointed in. I will not get again.


Thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Talking about "rice milk", now you have given me the munchies for some orxata de Xufa (it's not rice, but you can also make horchata from it). After a long walk in a hot summer day in BCN, you arrive to plaça del angel and gulp down a litter of wonderfully cold and refreshing orxata de xufa.

Damn!

 

[Gutwrench]

 

[Huntn]

I read this article:

Scientists Warn Almond Milk Is Destructive for the Environment

Billions and billions of bees are dying at the hands of the almond industry.

www.goodhousekeeping.com

It seems like if farmers stopped using certain pesticides it would make a huge difference. My last trip to the grocery, I bought a half gallon of Oat milk and a half gallon of Walnut milk. Reports to follow.

 

[0128672]

I swear by this Califia Farms Oatmilk Barista Blend in my coffee. It's unsweetened. After shaking it up, it pours nice frothy creamy goodness into my cup. I can't find it locally so I get a shipment once a month from Amazon.

 

[jwip]

i can't handle milk either, Soy and Almond milk for me.

 

[Blowback]

Maybe this will stink up the thread, but…Coffeemate?

View attachment 950578

Why not just straight up Fructose????

 

[rainafterthesun]

I love almond milk from project juice. And turmeric or matcha milk from ripple (not as easy to find as not all targets carry them... some does).

I mostly drink tea. Funny I can eat ice cream or cheese on pizza no problem. But if I drink milk by itself (vs chocolate in it) I’ll throw up.

she tried goat milk, rice milk... rice milk was the least offensive.

 

[Huntn]

Walnut Milk, Mariani Orchards (California) Brand Purchased at HEB Grocery, delicious, reasonably priced. There is no reason to be drinking cow milk. 👍

​

 

[LizKat]

^^ OK OK i'll try some oat milk or walnut milk as I had promised earier and then forgot about... although I confess that I just took delivery of enough nonfat dry milk to get me through the winter. I'll experiment with oat milk though, next time I re-up my fresh produce via Instacart.

 

[jeyf]

we use Silk brand "Original" or "UNSWEET" $2.50 ½ gal

this has moderate avaliability or better in my area.
The flavor comes close to what milk would do for me
It is important that the shelf life is much longer than regular milk.

i guess its what your used to

 

[Silencio]

Oat milk, for sure. We've been using Oatly, Planet Oat, and Califia Oat Barista Blend.

I also have to say that Oatly's oat milk ice cream is very good.

 

[bousozoku]

Soy has been what I've used most of my life. It still works well today, but Silk's version was not good. Store brands are just fine.

Almond and Flax were good, but Sesame and Coconut Milk were awful. Oatly brand was not good for me.

 

[bousozoku]

Knowledgable vegans get mighty quiet when the topic of almonds is brought up.

Almost all of the world's almonds are grown in California and the harvest requires bees to be trucked in from all over North America for pollination. The long trip is the primary cause of the >30% mortality rate.

This is massive animal exploitation on a scale that couldn't be accomplished 50 years ago which is why vegans don't like discussing this.

Vegans are just as adept as anyone else at burying their heads in the sand when confronted with evidence of hypocritical behavior.

Worse, almond trees require lots of irrigation, something perpetually drought-inflicted California can't sustainably offer, at least not with the current water management policies in effect. Climatically, California is ideal for growing almonds. But from a large-scale farming standpoint, the region lacks the natural resources to support the current commercial acreage vis-a-vis the demand.

This is a major reason why older vegetarians are far less preachy and holier-than-thou than young vegans. The older folks have already been confronted multiple times with examples of vegan/vegetarian hypocrisy (whether they were originally aware about it or not).

Note I generally agree with most of the basic concepts of increasing vegetable consumption and reducing animal consumption. The world would be a better place if 80% of animal meat consumption was replaced by vegetable protein, but I won't see that in my lifetime.

Living in Central Valley, which is almond country, we are dry. Most December rain doesn't happen. Almost anything that can be grown in a desert works fine here, as long as we have some water source. Having bees shipped seems unconscionable. Most people eat way more and various kinds of meat than most places where I've lived.

 

[jeyf]

once upon a time we had a store front that only sold tofu and associated products. Their house brand soy milk was excellent.
It had a lite green color and a mint flavor.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Knowledgable vegans get mighty quiet when the topic of almonds is brought up.

Almost all of the world's almonds are grown in California and the harvest requires bees to be trucked in from all over North America for pollination. The long trip is the primary cause of the >30% mortality rate.

This is massive animal exploitation on a scale that couldn't be accomplished 50 years ago which is why vegans don't like discussing this.

Vegans are just as adept as anyone else at burying their heads in the sand when confronted with evidence of hypocritical behavior.
...

This is a major reason why older vegetarians are far less preachy and holier-than-thou than young vegans.

Read what you wrote as someone who doesn't live inside your head, and ask yourself what the subject of your post is. Is it almonds? Bees? Or the enormous chip on your shoulder.

Every time I've heard this discussed it's been Vegans talking about it. No one else cares, including me. I look forward to catastrophic colony collapse & all of you eating soylent green, just so I can wag my finger at you all and rest assured no one was smarter than me or made better choices, bc excusing my own BS to protect my ego is really what's important here.