Ingredients: Filtered water, organic cashews, Himalayan pink salt, organic almonds
Nutrition: One cup serving has 90 calories, less than 1 g of sugar, and 3 g protein.
Macadamia
Verdict: Milkadamia offers a range of macadamia milks; while the unsweetened version is on the thinner side, it has a lovely natural sweetness and pretty neutral flavor. It’s great in smoothies and lattes. The brand just launched an Organic Artisan Macadamia Milk with just filtered water, macadamias, organic agave nectar, organic citrus fiber, and sea salt—meaning it lacks added gums, natural flavors, and pea protein—I’m excited to try that next.
Ingredients: Macadamia milk (filtered water, macadamias), calcium phosphate, guar gum, natural flavors, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, sea salt gellan gum, zinc sulfate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D2, riboflavin (B2), vitamin B12
Nutrition: One cup serving has 45 calories, 0 g sugar, and 1 g protein.
Buckwheat
Verdict: I can’t get enough buckwheat and while I’m more than acquainted with snacks, teas, and noodles, I was shocked to hear that I could have buckwheat milk. Bam’s buckwheat milk is made from both organic buckwheat and organic coconut cream. The light brown milk is nutty, creamy, and high in protein thanks to the nutrient-dense buckwheat seed. It’s definitely on the sweeter side, so it’s best in drinks or rice (or chia) pudding where you’re looking for a touch of sugar.
Ingredients: Organic buckwheat base (water, organic buckwheat), organic coconut cream, regenerative organic cane sugar, organic acacia, sea salt
Nutrition: One cup serving has 130 calories, 2 g sugar, and 4 g protein.
Sunflower
Verdict: I associate sunflower seed-based products with shockingly bitter allergy-friendly nut butters that made me sad in elementary school, but I was pleasantly surprised by this sunflower seed milk. It’s greige in color, but boasts a slightly sweet sunflower seed taste and froths pretty well.
Ingredients: Sunflower milk (filtered water, organic sunflower seeds), 2% or less of natural flavor, calcium carbonate, vitamin D2, riboflavin, vitamin B12, sunflower lecithin, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, gellan gum
Nutrition: One cup serving has 50 calories, 0 g sugar, and 2 g protein.
Walnut
Verdict: You have to love walnuts to love walnut milk. This alt-milk is light brown in color and has a nice roasted flavor, but there’s definitely the same slightly bitter aftertaste that comes with eating a handful of walnuts. For this reason, it’s best in your go-to caffeinated beverage or morning oatmeal rather than as a dairy-free alternative in a baking recipe. The brand also makes a Maple Walnut Barista Edition which is pretty much an autumn beverage dream.
Ingredients: Filtered water, walnuts
Nutrition: One cup serving has 120 calories, 0 g sugar, and 3 g protein.
Pecan
Verdict: Pecans rank pretty high in the nuts hall of fame, mostly thanks to pecan pie. This Pkn’s pecan milk is light brown in color, has a subtle pecan taste, and goes great in coffee or dirty chai. We noted that it wasn’t as thick or creamy as some of the other alternative milks, and some separation occurred, requiring you to shake well before using.
Ingredients: Pecans, salt, vanilla extract, water
Nutrition: One cup serving has 90 calories, 0 g sugar, and 1 g protein.
