Photographs by Bennett Pruitt
Whenever you stand in front of the milk section buying your skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk, do you take a glance at the other milks next door? Have you ever wondered, “Who drinks those milks and what would they taste like?” I would imagine that you would be correct in your assumption that people with different dietary needs are the consumers of these unusual and fascinating (to me at least) kinds of milk.
So when you are curious enough to take a look at the other milks, here are some that you will find: soy milk, goat’s milk, almond milk, rice milk, and coconut milk. All of these milks except for goat’s milk are mainly for vegetarians and vegans. As for goat’s milk, it is typically for religious or cultural reasons since cows are not in the diet plans. Also for people who are lactose intolerant, these milks are great substitutes for cow’s milk.
Soy milk is made from soy beans. It has a high nutritional value of protein as much as dairy milk, less fat, and is low in cholesterol. Since it's also fortified, it's loaded with vitamins and minerals. Soy milk comes in variety of flavors but unsweetened is the recommended variety to use in cooking and baking. It doesn’t taste like regular milk and sometimes has a strong aftertaste. Try the sweetened vanilla flavor first before moving on to the unsweetened one.
Almond milk, made from almonds, has a rich, creamy consistency with a nutty flavor, perfect for using in smoothies and desserts. It has higher value in calcium than dairy milk with no cholesterol and saturated fats.
Rice milk is made from boiled rice with brown rice starch. It has thinner consistency than soy and almond milk. It has no cholesterol and is low in calories with some enriched nutrients. It can be used for milk substitute for baking and cooking.
Lastly, coconut milk is made from grated coconut meat mixing with water and strain to remove the meat. This drinking variety is not the same as the cooking variety from the can. It can be used in drinks and smoothies. It has low calories with some fortified vatamins.
