Peanut milk, where have you been all our lives?
It sounds like something out of an allergy-prone kid’s nightmare - so you probably won’t be seeing it in elementary schools anytime soon. But peanut milk is the newest plant-based milk alternative to hit store shelves. We gave it a try to determine whether it was worth buying over almond (or, you know, cow’s), and the verdict might surprise you.
Dairy-free milk replacements are nothing new. Almond milk, soy milk, oat milk... Companies keep on finding more and more plant-based foods to milk, trying to turn everything from almonds to bananas into a palatable milky beverage. Not all milks are created equal, however - few are ever as nutritious as the dairy-filled original.
Having heard of pecan milk, walnut milk, and even pea milk, peanut milk didn’t come as a huge shock. When our friends at Elmhurst sent us over a couple of quarts of their new dairy-free milk replacement, we didn’t have much in terms of expectations. Wouldn’t this stuff just taste like oily, watered-down peanut butter?
But after pouring that first glass, we realized we’d gone nuts for peanut milk. Why hasn’t anyone tried milking peanuts sooner?
This new dairy-free milk option tastes just like almond milk - only (peanut) better. With notes of peanut-ty taste and a smooth, milky texture, this milk left nothing wanting from our milk-drinking experience. While almond milks and other milk replacements tend to taste watered down and empty, this flavor was rich, thick, and perfect for a peanut butter and banana smoothie.
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The milk contains more protein than almond milk with the same amount of healthy fat. There was some added sugar involved, but all milks have sugar - even cow’s milk. This particular company used cane sugar to sweeten their beverage, and just a tiny bit (5 grams per serving) did the trick.
If you or someone in your life has a serious peanut allergy, steer clear. Each serving is made using 31 peanuts. For the lactose-intolerant and plant-based, however, this milk could be the answer to your prayers.
Elmhurst also created a chocolatey version, Milked Peanuts With Chocolate. This beverage tasted like a sweet glass of smooth chocolate milk - or a rich hot chocolate, if you chose to warm it over the stove. It smelled like your jack-o’-lantern might after a successful night of trick-or-treating - Reese’s and Kit Kats and Snickers all meshed together. Though a less nutritious option than the plain peanut milk, this cocoa-sweetened beverage was a favorite for our tasters. We bet it would blend deliciously with one of these 25 healthy smoothies that taste like dessert.
more for people going dairy-free
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