Oat milk: what it has going for it compared with almond milk and cow’s milk – sustainability and few allergens for starters

Positioned initially as a high-end option for coffee drinkers, oat milk has taken off, especially in the US market, where it could begin eating into sales of almond milk

Oats are low in calories, possesses lots of fibre, and have more protein than other grains

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Oat milk could be on its way to becoming the king of plant-based milks, and earns points for sustainability compared with almond or cow’s milk. Starbucks is among major consumer brands to have started using oat milk. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:30pm, 15 Mar 2020Updated: 8:29pm, 16 Mar 2020

Almond, soy, coconut, non-fat or whole? Stores offer a dizzying array of milk, but a new option is experiencing unprecedented growth and fast becoming a vegan favourite: oat milk.

The United States oat milk market was virtually non-existent five years ago, but in the 12 months to April 2019 revenues from the sale of the non-dairy creamy drink catapulted 222 per cent, according to The Good Food Institute.

In recent months, Starbucks, American yogurt giant Chobani, and Nesquik have all started offering oat milk, known for its nutritional and environmental benefits.

“There seems to be a buzz around oat milk, especially in the US, which isn’t there with other plant-based milks,” says Andy Coyne, food correspondent at research firm GlobalData.

A selection of oat milk brands on display in a grocery shop in Manhattan, New York. Photo: AFP

Swedish world leader Oatly entered the US market in 2016 by first offering oat milk in coffee shops for cappuccinos and lattes.

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