Which plant milk is right for you?

Which plant milk is right for you?

In addition to our guide to the best plant milks, let’s delve deeper into which vegan milk is best for which purpose, as well as answer some of your questions about plant milk, to help you decide which one works best for you.

According to research, plant milk is more sustainable than dairy milk as producing it requires less water and land. Plant milk production also releases fewer emissions, which is great news for both animals and the planet. The environmental impact of different plant milks is different, however, as illustrated in the chart below.

Luckily, there are plenty of different varieties to choose from – and more dairy milk alternatives are hitting the market every year.

With well over 200 plant milks certified by the Vegan Trademark, it’s now easier than ever to choose a dairy milk alternative, whether you’re loyal to soya or an oat obsessive. When you see the Vegan Trademark used on a product, it means that our team of experts has checked all the ingredients and the manufacturing process to ensure they meet our strict standards of containing no animal-derived products and involving no animal testing by the company or on its behalf.

What plant milks are out there?

Soya milk 

One of the first non-dairy milk alternatives to become widely available. It’s versatile, meaning it can be used for a range of purposes from popping in your cereal and hot drinks, achieving a foam on your latte to using for savoury dishes like vegan mac and cheese. It makes a good base for flavoured milks like strawberry and chocolate, too – great for adding to vegan milkshakes (and even your cereal). Soya's high protein content means mixing it into your protein shake will give it an extra boost.

While we’re on the topic, did you know, soya milk is an excellent non-toxic pre-treatment for plant-based fabrics like cotton and linen for natural dyeing?

Its popularity means there’s plenty to choose from, whatever your purpose, including ASDA Sweetened Chilled and Long Life and Unsweetened Chilled and Long Life soya milks, Alpro Soya Original, Light and No Sugars 

Oat milk 

Oat milk needs just a fraction of the water and land required to produce cow’s milk and its creamy texture and subtle flavour make it a perfect mate for matcha lattes and, of course, coffee. Vegan Trademark registered oat milk products include ASDA Oat Barista Drink, Oddlygood Gluten-Free Barista Oat Drink, and Alpro Oat Original, Barista and No Sugars

Almond milk 

Almond milk is probably the most popular nut milk and another vegan classic. It works amazingly for sweet treats such as desserts, chocolates and vegan milkshakes and goes beautifully with an iced matcha. Check out these Vegan Trademark certified almond milk picks: ASDA Unsweetened Chilled and Unsweetened Long Life almond milks, and Alpro Almond Original, No Sugars and Barista (if you want to achieve a foam)

Coconut milk 

Coconut milk is a super-versatile option for cereal, smoothies, baking and more and adds a lovely coconut twist to your warm coffee, frappes, hot chocolate or matcha! If this is your pick, try Koko Dairy Free Original, Unsweetened,Barista, Super (fortified with 14 vitamins and minerals) and Kids (for children aged one and up) coconut milks, ASDA Chilled and Long Life coconut milks and Alpro Coconut Original, No Sugars and Barista

Hazelnut milk 

Hazelnut milk is a rich, sweet and luxuriously nutty option that’s ideal for chocolate-flavoured milkshakes and treats, desserts, cereals, baked goods and to add an extra dimension to your cold coffee or matcha drinks. Check out Alpro’s Hazelnut Original.

Hemp milk

If you’re looking for a different kind of plant milk taste, why not try hemp milk? Lighter in consistency and made from hemp seeds, this plant milk is a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids,  contains all nine essential amino acids and naturally free from allergens like dairy, soy, gluten, and nuts. Its nutty and earthy flavour makes it perfect for cooking, smoothies and even for tea. It’s surprisingly versatile! Check out Good Hemp Seed Milk, Barista Seed Milk and Oat + Hemp Milk

Which is the best plant milk for coffee?

The thicker consistency of soya milk and oat milk make them two of the best options for coffee. However, with the popularity of plant milks growing both with people adopting a vegan lifestyle as well as those who consume animal products ditching dairy for allergy, health, environmental and taste reasons, many brands have now released barista versions of their own plant milks which are made to be more suited to coffee drinks. Barista blends usually contain different additives compared to their regular counterparts, which are there to help with achieving a foam or froth on your lattes.

There are plenty of Vegan Trademark options for you to try, including ASDA Oat Barista Drink, Alpro Barista Soya, Oddlygood Gluten-Free Barista Oat Drink, Alpro Almond Barista, Alpro Coconut Barista and Good Hemp Barista Seed Milk

Which is the best plant milk for matcha?

If you’re adding milk to your warm matcha, oat milk and soya milk are your friends – particularly the barista blends. For iced matcha lattes, almond milk and coconut milk add wonderful flavour. With newer barista blends of almond, coconut and even hemp milk – these can work just as well as oat and soya milks for your warm matcha depending on your taste preference.

Which is the best plant milk for baking?

Many people suggest that the more versatile plant milks, such as soya, oat and almond, are best for baking, as these have a less watery texture than other plant milk alternatives. With a higher protein content, soya milk can be a great nutritional addition to your home baking, too.

Which vegan milk has the highest protein content?

It’s important to note that protein content will vary according to each brand and formulation of plant milk products out there, but given the general nutritional content of each, soya and pea milks come out on top.

Soya milk and pea milk naturally have the highest protein content, both with around 7-8g per cup (around 240ml) – a similar amount of protein that cow's milk provides.

While it ranks high on taste and versatility and often chosen over dairy milk by many who aren't on a plant-based diet, oat milk contains only around 3g of protein per cup.

The plant milks with the lowest protein content are hazelnut (1-2g per cup), almond (1g per cup) followed by coconut milk and hemp milk (0-1g per cup) but if you prefer these dairy-free milks because of their flavour and texture, you can very easily get your daily protein intake from other meals, drinks and snacks.

Does vegan milk contain enough vitamins and minerals?

If you’re thinking of ditching dairy milk and opting for plant milk instead, it’s great to note that many plant-based milk alternatives are fortified with key nutrients such as iodine, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12.If you’re still worried about getting enough, The Vegan Society’s VEG 1 contains essential vitamins and minerals, such as B12, D3 and selenium. 

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your preference and goals. For example, almond milk can be lower in energy on average, while soya is higher in protein, and oat milk tends not to separate when cooking. Every plant milk will offer a nutritional addition or practical advantage in its own right.

Whether you’re looking to make the switch to plant milk or just want more information on the best uses for plant-based milk alternatives, we hope this blog was useful for you. Using plant milk in your recipes? Make sure to tag @vegantrademark on Instagram to inspire others – we love to see your ideas!

By Vegan Society Marketing Officer, Nishat Rahman