Ditching dairy? I tested oat milk. And I’m sharing my DIY hemp seed milk recipe

I don’t drink plant milk to quench my thirst. Although I do love chocolate almond milk (so good), my drink of choice is good old water. I use plant milk (almond mostly) for baking or cooking.

These days there is no shortage of non-dairy milk alternatives. (I’ve touched on this before how I went from soy milk in the 1990s to almond milk in the 2000s.) Walk down any aisle in your favourite health food store (and increasingly in regular grocery stores), and you can find anything from coconut, soy, quinoa, almond, rice cashew to oat milk.

It can be a bit overwhelming. I prefer to stick to good old almond milk. I find cashew milk too sweet and quinoa milk a little funky.

One day recently I was feeling the Costco high when I picked up a couple of litres of oat milk. Silk’s splashy red containers screamed “buy me.” Had I not been so excited to see another milk alternative on the block at a reasonable price, I would have kept on walking.

Technically it’s called an “oat beverage” as opposed to oat milk but hey, you know what I am talking about. Vegan and soy-free, the milk was talking tome. The package warns that the dairy-free fortified drink is not a source of protein. (That’s great because I already consume enough protein on my vegan diet). It’s also cholesterol and a good source of calcium and Vitamin D.

Word of caution: There are a few weird things in the milk. Thickeners, sea salt, sugar and sunflower oil. One would assume you just blend and water to make a milk. The portions were low but it’s always good to take notice of what’s on the label.

I love oatmeal so how bad can it be?

Not entirely bad. In fact, my glass was creamy, thick and slightly sweet. I used it in my steelcut oats and in a smoothie. I think the creamiest of the oat milk improved the taste of my smoothie. But it’s not something I would pour into a glass to drink with dinner. I could get used to the taste. I can’t tell you how it tastes compared to regular milk because I haven’t drank cow’s milk for many years.

Would I buy it again? Probably not. Although it was fine, I like my almond milk. And lately I have been using hemp seeds to create a milk for when I need to thicken a sauce, add to my smoothie or use in my baking. It’s incredibly easy.

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DIY Hemp seed milk

• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1-1/2 cup of water
• Four or five dates
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla

Instructions

1. Grab your high speed blender
2. Soak dates in blender with water for a minute to soften
3. Add the rest of the ingredients
4. Blend for one minute
5. Taste for flavour. Add more dates or vanilla for sweetness
6. Pour into glass jar to store (Optional: Strain through cheese cloth to get rid of any bits)
7. Refrigerate. I have kept mine for about three days.

Even if you don’t use hemp seed milk all the time, this is a great option when you are in a fix. As they say in the nutritionist speak, hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats and essential fatty acids.

When I made my own vegan yogurt, I had to go to at least three stores to basic organic soy milk with just two ingredients: soy beans and water. What I like about testing these new products on the market is the inspiration they give for me to try my own version at home. There is no doubt I will make my own oat milk.

Today I am leaving you with my short public service announcement on why you should ditch the dairy or at least reduce your consumption for your health and and the health of our planet. (Also it’s cruelty-free and better for your body.)