A Healthy Non-Dairy Alternative: Best Oatmilks
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Oatsome Organic Oatmilk -
RISE Brewing Co. Oatmilk -
Califia Farms Plant Based Oatmilk -
Pacific Foods Organic Oatmilk -
Oatly Single Serve Oatmilk -
Minor Figures Organic Oatmilk -
Dream Blends Original Oatmilk -
Buyer's Guide
There are several reasons why a person might choose to drink oat milk instead of dairy alternatives. For example, if you are lactose intolerant, you may be searching for a tasty dairy replacement. Good news for you - oat milk tastes great in tea and coffee, on cereal, and can also be used to replace cow’s milk in various baking recipes.
Many studies show that animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Dairy milk uses about 8 times more land than any of the plant-based alternatives. The amount of water needed to produce cow’s milk is much higher than the amount needed to produce oat milk. It takes over 160 gallons of water to produce 1 quart of cow’s milk and it takes a little over 12 gallons of water to produce the same amount of oat milk. Basically, if you care about the environment, you should consider making the switch if you haven’t already.
Not only does it have a lovely creamy taste, in time, the majority of oat milk drinkers don’t miss dairy milk at all. In fact, the popularity of oat milk has grown exponentially in the last few years, creating a large variety of brands and flavors to choose from. To help you find a drink that suits your taste buds, we have created a list of the best oat milks in 2022. Check it out below! If you want to do further research, we've compiled an oat milk buyer's guide as well.
Oatsome Organic Oatmilk
- Organic milk made with gluten-free and natural ingredients
- Completely vegan
- Available in a variety of flavors and consistencies
- Sugar content is quite high compared to other oat milk brands
RISE Brewing Co. Oatmilk
- Amazing smooth taste
- Completely organic and responsibly sourced
- Healthier than a number of popular oat milk brands
- You may find this too watery for your personal taste
Califia Farms Plant Based Oatmilk
- Great for oat milk enthusiasts with allergies
- Amazing taste and texture
- North American grown ingredients
- Expensive compared to some other brands
Pacific Foods Organic Oatmilk
- Full of vitamins and natural goodness
- Very creamy texture appeals to a lot of vegans
- Goes great with your morning cereal
- Might be too sweet for some people
Oatly Single Serve Oatmilk
- One of the most popular brands in the world
- Amazing for vegans and those with soy allergies
- Completely organic and free from nasty additives
- Quite expensive compared to the competition, but you are paying for quality
Minor Figures Organic Oatmilk
- A very versatile coffee that works for both professionals and average consumers
- Completely plant-based and suitable for vegans
- The brand is committed to being carbon-neutral and therefore good for the environment
- Packaging isn’t the most exciting
Dream Blends Original Oatmilk
- Great tasting and excellent consistency
- All flavors are as good as each other
- Plenty of natural goodness
- Sometimes a little too watery
Here are the best oatmilks of 2022
Oatsome Organic Oatmilk - Best Overall
Kicking off our list of oat milk recommendations is the ludicrously tasty Oatsome Organic Oat Drink. Available in barista, chocolate, creamer, and regular, there are lots of varieties to choose from, no matter your cravings. Made from gluten-free organic sources and natural ingredients, this drink is the perfect addition to any vegan coffee, whether you prefer a latte, cappuccino, or even a mocha. Stick with this drink and you’ll wonder why you ever settled for dairy milk in the first place!
- Organic milk made with gluten-free and natural ingredients
- Completely vegan
- Available in a variety of flavors and consistencies
- Sugar content is quite high compared to other oat milk brands
RISE Brewing Co. Oatmilk - Runner Up
Available as chocolate, vanilla, original, or in a variety pack, the RISE Brewing Co. Oat Milk offers a variety of oat milk solutions for all your milk alternative requirements. This convenient product is unimaginably smooth and delicious, an impressive feat when you consider it is only made with four simple ingredients. Completely organic and great in a variety of drinks and recipes, RISE Brewing Co. Oat Milk could easily become your go-to oat milk moving forward.
- Amazing smooth taste
- Completely organic and responsibly sourced
- Healthier than a number of popular oat milk brands
- You may find this too watery for your personal taste
Califia Farms Plant Based Oatmilk - Honorable Mention
Califia is known for their top-quality plant-based milk products, and we are happy to say their Califia Farms Oat Milk is no exception to the rule. If you like your homemade coffee to taste as good as the ones you get from professional coffee houses, you’ll want a carton of Califia in your refrigerator. With zero gums or stabilizers and a commitment to using North American grown gluten-free oats, this is one of the best oat milks on the market today and well worthy of a place on our list of recommendations.
- Great for oat milk enthusiasts with allergies
- Amazing taste and texture
- North American grown ingredients
- Expensive compared to some other brands
Pacific Foods Organic Oatmilk - Contender
Don’t be put off by the somewhat unappealing packaging of Pacific Foods Organic Oat Milk, this plant-based drink is one of the sweetest and creamiest of its kind. Perfect as a milk substitute for those transitioning to a vegan diet, this is our choice for oat milk to add to your cereal - although you can add it to pretty much anything and it will still enhance the flavor. With plenty of calcium and vitamins, this is a healthy yet delicious alternative to any other type of milk you can think of - including several other oat milk brands.
- Full of vitamins and natural goodness
- Very creamy texture appeals to a lot of vegans
- Goes great with your morning cereal
- Might be too sweet for some people
Oatly Single Serve Oatmilk - Consider
If you’re looking for top quality and brand recognition, look no further than Oatly Organic Oat Milk. This brand of plant-based milk is incredibly popular among a lot of vegans and for good reason - it tastes amazing. This particular Oatly product comes in handy, single-serve cartons, and can be bought in barista, chocolate, original, and low-fat flavors. If you’re wary about plant milk and need something to convince you, Oatly should more than do the trick.
- One of the most popular brands in the world
- Amazing for vegans and those with soy allergies
- Completely organic and free from nasty additives
- Quite expensive compared to the competition, but you are paying for quality
Minor Figures Organic Oatmilk - Consider
While the packaging and branding aren't necessarily enticing, we definitely have nothing but good things to say about the way this oat milk tastes. Minor Figures Organic Oat Milk comes in a barista standard which makes it amazing for coffee shops and your home kitchen. You’ll find this product produces a frothy and well-flavored foam when steamed. It's also less likely to split in your coffee, unlike many other oat milk varieties.
- A very versatile coffee that works for both professionals and average consumers
- Completely plant-based and suitable for vegans
- The brand is committed to being carbon-neutral and therefore good for the environment
- Packaging isn’t the most exciting
Dream Blends Original Oatmilk - Consider
Dream Oat Beverage may not be the most popular brand name when it comes to oat milk, but this company makes just as good a plant-based product as any of the more well-known competitors. Available in chocolate, vanilla, and regular flavors, this oat milk is made with only the finest organic ingredients and contains plenty of calcium and vital vitamins such as Vitamin B12 and D. Not only is Dream Oat Beverage a great choice for vegans, but it is also completely soy-free, which is handy for anybody who struggles with soy allergies.
- Great tasting and excellent consistency
- All flavors are as good as each other
- Plenty of natural goodness
- Sometimes a little too watery
Buyer's Guide
Oat Milk Buyer's Guide
We hope you enjoyed our list of the very best oat milks on the market today. However, we understand that you may wish to do your own research into other oat milks, especially if you want to ensure you find one that perfectly suits your taste. Although most oat milks are fundamentally made with the same ingredients, there are many variants that set them apart.
Read on for our comprehensive rundown of all things you should consider when shopping for your new favorite plant-based milk alternative.
Things to consider before buying oat milk
Added vitamins
If you follow a vegan diet, there are certain vitamins you normally find in fish and meat that can be difficult to incorporate into your plant-based meals. However, there are plenty of ways to ensure you get everything you need thanks to oat milk. If you are concerned about your vitamin intake, choose oat milk with added vitamins and calcium.
In addition, you can get B12 (usually found in red meats) from nutritional yeast. Most people get their omega 3 from fish. You can find this vital nutrient in flaxseed and vegetarian omega 3 supplements (usually taken in pill form). Calcium, which many people associate with cow’s milk, can also be found in green vegetables such as broccoli, sprouts, and kale.
Consistency
It’s a hard truth that some oat milks will have a better consistency than others. Basically, the thicker the oat milk, the creamier it will taste. If the oat milk seems more watery, it will have a milder taste. Consumers will have a particular preference depending on their tastes. If you want to find out about the consistency of a product you are yet to buy, you should probably read some customer reviews.
Flavor
Many oat milks come with added flavors, the most popular being vanilla or chocolate. These are great options if you usually like to drink a glass of oat milk on its own. In our experience, unflavored oat milk is better suited to tea or coffee.
Barista
Barista oat milks are fuller in fat. They are the creamiest of the oat milks and therefore fuller in taste. Pro tip - if you shake the carton when it is a quarter empty, the milk will start to froth. This is the best way to enjoy a creamy coffee at home. No need to pay those extortionate Starbucks prices!
Oil content
Many oat milks contain sunflower or rapeseed oil. These oils give the milk a creamy taste and texture. If you are trying to watch your weight and reduce your fat intake, there are some oil-free oat milks available. Always check the ingredients list.
Gluten-free
Although oats are gluten-free, some oat milk are made in factories that handle other gluten-rich grains. Read the packaging to see if the oat milk is made in a gluten-free environment, especially if you have a moderate or severe intolerance.
Brands
You may be surprised how many oat milk brands are local to you. If you want to support small local businesses, a quick Google search will help you find an oat milk brand close to home.
If you are shopping for oat milk because you don’t want to support the dairy industry, do some research into the brands you are buying from. Some oat milk brands are actually owned by dairy companies.
Organic
If you want to further help Mother Earth, consider buying organic oat milk. Organic farms are believed to be better for the environment, mostly because they use fewer pesticides. Besides, you probably don't want to be ingesting those pesticides yourself anyway.
Packaging
A lot of oat milk products come in tetra packs. Unfortunately, these are not recyclable. However, some oat milk is available in recyclable plastic bottles. Plastic is not ideal, but at least you can reuse or recycle it. You may be able to find 100% recycled plastic packaging.
Consider buying oat milk in glass bottles - smaller independent businesses may offer a refill service. The key to being eco-friendly is to always read the packaging, seeing what it is made from, and finding out how easy it is to recycle. In fact, some oat milk brands are getting quite creative with their environmental impact. For instance, Oatly recently released packaging made with sugarcane. Wouldn’t it be sweet if this idea caught on?
Sugar content
Unsweetened oat milk is perfect if you are diabetic or trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. If you enjoy a sweet taste, opt for the sweetened variety.
Oat milk price range
Oat milk doesn’t vary massively in price. You should budget between $2 and $3 per quart for decent oat milk. You may find it even cheaper if you buy supermarket brands or if you support local independent businesses.
How we choose our oat milk
We consider a number of factors before including any of these oat milk in our buying guide. For example, we keep in mind things like consistency, taste, variety of flavors, brand recognition, and the overall price before deciding whether oat milk deserves a spot on our list of recommendations.
Oatmilk FAQ
Q: Can oat milk help me lose weight?
A: If you were to replace cow’s milk with oat milk without changing any other parts of your diet, you may potentially gain weight. Oat milk contains more carbs and calories than other plant-based milk options.
Q: Can I have oat milk if I have high cholesterol?
A: Studies have shown that oat milk may lower your cholesterol. Oat milk contains beta-glucans which reduce cholesterol by creating a gel-like substance inside your gut that binds cholesterol. In turn, this reduces cholesterol absorption.
