Due to scarce agricultural land and resources, Singapore has very few farms and 90% of our food is imported. Hence cow milk is not widely available. Instead of putting fresh cow milk into our coffee or tea, we used condensed milk, Coffee-Mate or UHT (Ultra High Temperature) milk in our drinks. As for myself, I have always been brought up with fresh soya milk as an alternative to cow’s milk.
Since I came to England 21 years ago, I have been exploring other plant-based milks as it was not very easy to buy fresh soya milk from supermarkets. Most of the time, I have to buy cartons of soya milk (imported from Hong Kong) from Chinese supermarkets. These days, with more and more people growing concerned about their health, the environment and animal welfare, there are so many plant-based / dairy-free milk options than before. For example, there is oat milk, almond milk, pea milk, hemp milk, soya milk, rice, quinoa and coconut milk!
Now if you take a walk down the aisle of the supermarket/shop, you will likely notice that there are countless plant-based milks as an alternative to cow’s milk. But if you are too busy or do not have time to do shopping, why not get your milk, plant-based milks, and other supplements from milk delivery instead?
Plant-based milks are not only good for the environment, some people rely on them! They could be lactose intolerant, just like my husband. Or people with allergies, or maybe they are vegan.
I am not an expert on alternative milks, but if you are thinking about making the switch to plant-based milks, here is what I think about it.
Oat Milk: This is my first choice as an alternative if given. Oat milk does not curdle or separate easily in tea or coffee. It has a creamy, luxurious and rich taste. It is also great for whipping.
Almond Milk: I love this for mixing in cereal. It has a sweet and nutty flavour. It does not work well in coffee, but great for ice cream etc. People with nut allergies should avoid drinking almond milk in case it causes a reaction unless they have been checked by their doctor.
Pea Milk: It does not taste like the peas you eat with your fish and chips. It has a slight natural sweetness. Some brands added grape juice concentrate, which I will avoid giving to our dog. As dogs can’t digest cow milk, we have been giving her lactose-free milk as a treat!
Soya Milk: It has a nutty taste and you will notice it, especially in tea. You can drink it as it is. It is packed full of protein, low in calories, and rich in several vitamins and minerals! I love using cartoned soya milk to make soya jelly for puddings. I also make fresh soya milk with a soup maker which is so delicious!
Coconut Milk: It has a distinct taste of coconut. It is slightly sweet and savoury at the same time. Personally, I prefer to use it in cooking, especially in a Thai green curry. It can be used in puddings, like mango sago, baked coconut sticky rice cake and Thai coconut sticky rice. It can also be added to coffee and tea!
Have you thought of switching to plant-based milk? Or are you still unsure if plant-based milk is for you? Let me know your thoughts in the comment below.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.