As a niche product, plant milk is increasingly conquering the food markets. Vegan alternatives to cow's milk offer a wide variety.
Innovation drives development even further, as can be seen, for example, in newcomers such as pea or lupine milk. This means you can find the right plant drink for practically every taste.
But did you know that you can easily make such a product yourself? Below we will explain to you how it works and why it is worth it.
Requirements for vegan alternatives to cow's milk
Classic cow's milk is considered one of the staple foods in the omnivorous diet due to its protein and calcium content as well as its vitamin B content. When it comes to plant-based alternatives or substitute products , the focus is on imitating this nutrient profile.
You've probably come across plant drinks with additives like " plus calcium " on the packaging. When it comes to industrially manufactured products, a typical process involves enriching vegan substitute products such as plant-based drinks with nutrients.
When it comes to vegan protein sources, not every product performs equally well. On the one hand, this is due to the basic ingredient and the associated protein content. On the other hand, the manufacturer and its production conditions. If we take a basic look at the vegan diet , legumes are the clear frontrunner among sources of plant-based protein.
Accordingly, they are also ahead in the world of vegan milk alternatives . That's why representatives such as soy, pea and lupine milk are considered top protein suppliers.
Keep a close eye on ready-made vegan alternatives in terms of nutrients and, above all, additives. So pay attention not just to the protein , but to the “ whole package ”. It also depends on individual tolerance.
If you have gluten intolerance, a nut allergy or an allergy to soy protein, you need to precisely select the right milk alternative. And of course your individual taste determines which product you choose.
Favorites vary depending on the person. In addition, depending on the manufacturer, there are sometimes significant differences in the taste of the products .
These plant drinks are currently available on the market
From real classics to promising newcomers - depending on availability, you benefit from a different selection of vegan alternatives .
These include plant drinks made from:
- soy
- Oats
- rice
- Spelt
- millet
- Cashew
- almond
- Tigernut
- hazelnut
- coconut
- pea
- lupine
- hemp
- Sunflower seeds
- buckwheat
In addition to these, there are now a growing number of mixed variants, such as oat-soy or almond-coconut . In addition, there are special barista products that foam well and are therefore preferred for various coffee specialties.
The variety of variants depends on the respective manufacturer. Accordingly, new products, versions or “ improved recipes ” regularly come onto the market. Making plant milk yourself allows you to implement your individual desired recipe.
When making your selection, make sure that the plant drink depends on its use . Not every product cuts a good figure in coffee or baking, for example. This is partly due to the composition and partly due to the taste.
Depending on the intensity of the drink, the typical note resonates during preparation. Of course, you can also use this in reverse, for example by using coconut milk when baking.
Overall, the only thing that helps is : try it out. Making your own plant drink is one of the ways to experiment with different types and flavors.
Make plant milk yourself: 6 arguments for it
In addition to the curiosity of trying things out and the fun of preparing them, there are a few aspects that speak in favor of making things yourself .
This includes:
- Variety of taste : You decide how you individually refine your plant drink. Sweet, creamy, spicy - the choice is yours.
- Easy to prepare : It doesn't require a lot of ingredients or a lot of complicated equipment.
- Maximum transparency during preparation : Making it yourself means knowing exactly what is in your plant drink.
- Low-packaging storage: Glass bottles or large preserving jars are ideal for storage and can be used again and again.
- More environmentally friendly alternative : You can also consciously use regional products for the basic ingredients. You also only use a few resources for your “microproduction”.
- unbeatably cheap : purchasing, production, energy costs - nothing comes close to homemade plant drinks.
By storing the necessary ingredients, you can always create a delicious plant-based milk alternative when needed. Regular preparation is necessary because a homemade plant drink will not last longer than a few days in the refrigerator.
There is a simple reason for this. Your homemade product does not contain any preservatives and does not undergo a preservation process such as ultra-high heat . In return, you get a delicious, fresh and homemade product without any unnecessary frills.
Make plant milk yourself - this is how it works!
When it comes to vegan alternatives or substitute products, hardly anything can be implemented as well and easily as plant milk.
This is what you need for preparation:
- the base ingredient: Depending on what type of plant drink you want to make. For example, oatmeal, rice or nuts.
- the other ingredients: water, a pinch of salt, a sweetener and other flavors such as ground vanilla pod or cinnamon of your choice.
- a high performance mixer
- Strain cloth or nut milk bag
- Container like a large bowl to collect the liquid
- Containers for storing your plant drink: preferably glass bottles
Making your own plant milk can be done in just a few steps. First, put all the ingredients in the blender and puree everything as finely as possible. The quality of the mixer pays off here, as high-quality devices deliver the best results in this regard.
That's why it's worth integrating a high-performance blender into your basic kitchen equipment.
Attention : Depending on the base ingredient, it is worth letting it soak first. This makes it easier to produce a homogeneous mass. This intermediate step is recommended for nuts, for example.
After mixing, strain the vegan milk into the prepared containers . For this you need the straining cloth or alternatively a nut milk bag. First, pour everything through and then squeeze the cloth or bag firmly again.
This will ensure two things. You filter your plant milk . This means there are no crumbly residues left that disturb the mouthfeel. Furthermore, you get the most out of the end product. Finally, fill this into the prepared storage containers.
If necessary, you can boil them in a pot beforehand to sterilize them.
With your finished plant drink you have a great vegan substitute product for pure enjoyment. But it is also suitable for making other things out of it. How about a plant-based yogurt alternative , for example?
In addition, you need some live plant-based yoghurt cultures , for example in the form of finished plant-based yoghurt. And if necessary, some vegetable gelling agent or starch to thicken it.
You see : producing plant milk yourself is worthwhile both for end use and for further processing. This also gives you the chance to absorb valuable nutrients such as vegetable protein.
By the way : Decoratively bottled, you can make a creative gift with homemade vegan milk alternative.
What else should you consider when producing plant-based drinks?
If you want to make vegan alternatives such as oat milk yourself , high-quality ingredients are the foundation. It is recommended to use organic products - if possible regionally grown. This is something that runs through the entire product range at Greenforce, for example.
Ultimately, vegan substitute products should be as nutritious and ecological as possible. High-quality and organic means, for example, that you avoid unwanted residues such as pesticides in your ingredients.
Make sure that a home-made plant drink has a different consistency and sweetness. You can work on the recipe with sweeteners of your choice and vegetable fats .
Depending on the variety, a layer of water may also form during storage. This is the case with spelled milk, for example. Don't worry : this doesn't mean your product is bad. Simply shake or stir vigorously again.
If you add your plant drink to the coffee , it may flake. This happens because vegan protein sources like soy react with the tannic acid in coffee. So it says nothing about the quality of your product.
As already mentioned: If you make the plant drink yourself , this also means a shorter shelf life for your product. To avoid accidentally using a spoiled product, pay attention to your sensory impressions.
- Does your plant drink have an unpleasant, possibly musty smell?
- Do you notice a sour taste?
- Does the consistency change and can no longer be influenced by shaking or stirring?
- Does the drink show a different color?
Greenforce ahead - our offer for your plant milk enjoyment
With our organic oat drink natural, we offer you one of the most popular milk alternatives there is. And one of the most tolerable. Because our product contains neither lactose, gluten, soy, flavor enhancers, preservatives or flavors.
Made in Germany from valuable organic oats, this oat drink is also sustainable and saves unnecessary packaging waste. One pack is enough to make four liters of oat drink .
And this is how you can make our plant milk yourself:
- just mix,
- shake and
- enjoy.
Perfect for everyday life or as an alternative to homemade plant drinks if you need to go quicker.
You will also find numerous other vegan alternatives here. With our egg substitute , for example, you can create delicious, plant-based scrambled eggs or omelettes . With our vegan fish alternatives you can prepare classics such as fish fingers or fish cakes in a completely vegan way.
Our meat substitute is also impressive and provides you with delicious vegan mince , for example. Not to forget our spices, dips and sauces, vegan spreads and vegetable breadings, which you can use to make dishes more colorful and varied.
Conclusion: Vegan plant drink - an individual pleasure
The world of plant-based drinks is diverse , delicious and sustainable with high-quality products.
You can take advantage of all this by making your own plant drink . Or prepare the organic natural oat drink with the help of Greenforce . In both cases you know what's in your milk alternative.
We wish you good luck trying out these and other vegan alternatives and lots of enjoyment!
