Oat milk, alongside other milk substitutes, is rising in popularity as we become more aware of the impact that dairy has on our bodies. But oats have much more to offer than just being an alternative to regular milk.
Recent studies show that over 70% of the world’s population has some form of lactose intolerance. Many just don’t know it yet. Out of all the plant-based dairy alternatives, oat is the best one, as it has the highest amount of protein and fiber in it compared to other milk substitutes. It is also a great alternative for those with soy and nut allergies.
Not just Milk
There is an abundance of dairy-alternative products based on oats. Besides the usual milk, we can find oat-based ice creams, yogurts, coffee creamers, sour creams, and even kefirs! Some brands offer an oat spread, which is somewhat similar to cream cheese. However, the spread is mostly sold in Scandinavian countries and can rarely be found in other places.
In the near future, customers will find an increase in oat-based cheeses on their market shelves, as though not very popular now, these products are already sold in some places. Some speculate that oat cheese will be more popular than all other plant-based cheeses, as its taste and quality are high, while the price is low.
There is even an oat-based alternative to mozzarella. So don’t be surprised if in several years you find this tasty oat product on your pizza!
An abundance of flavors
Common flavors for oat milk now are similar to common flavors for whole milk. Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, and Strawberry However, recently we have seen an increase in interest in plant-based milk. This popularity rise has already led to some “unusual” flavors popping up on the market.
Some brands already have such flavors as “Green Matcha Tea”, “Exotic” (which is a mix of mango, orange, and passion fruit), “Honey”, and “Coffee”. However, I am sure that this will not be the end of flavor creativity when it comes to oats.
So don’t be surprised when oat milk gets as many unconventional flavors as whole milk once did. “Blueberry”, “Melon”, “Cotton Candy” and “Root Beer” flavored dairy alternatives will surely appear on our market shelves. However, flavor creativity will not stop at milk. Oat yogurts, desserts, and creamers will gain even more flavors as we see that similar dairy-based products surpass whole milk when it comes to flavors.
References:
Lactose intolerance study – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030287800231
Photo credit: Big Stock
