As I briefly mentioned in my last blog post, dairy-free milks have boomed over the last few years. Whilst soya milk was once the sole milk alternative on supermarket shelves, occasionally accompanied by almond milk if you were lucky, most supermarkets now stock at least six or seven different types of dairy-free milks. And the latest one to hit our shelves is pea milk.
Although the idea of pea milk seems pretty revolting (who wants their morning coffee to taste of peas?), it’s supposedly one of the most nutritious plant-based milks out there and one of the best for the environment too. Having tried most other dairy-free milks, I felt it was due time to give pea milk a go, so the last time I was doing my weekly shop I popped a carton of Sproud Barista Pea Milk into my trolley.
Fortunately, pea milk’s not actually green, but rather an off-white, creamy colour reassuringly similar to cow’s milk. In terms of its consistency, it’s also quite similar to dairy milk – not as thin as rice milk, but not as thick as oat. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the taste. Whilst you’ll be pleased to know I didn’t detect any notes of pea, the dominant flavour of this milk was peculiarly of salt. Although it wasn’t an offensive taste, I do usually prefer a sweeter milk, so the savoury flavour to this one took some getting used to. I’m not sure it was enjoyable enough for me to drink plain or to top cereal with, but one way I did get on well with it was by putting it in my porridge or adding it to hot drinks. It heats well, so you don’t have any issues with curdling as you sometimes get with soya milk, plus I found it really helped tone down the saltiness.
And pea milk is something I did really want to get along well with. Its carbon footprint and water footprint are both low, requiring 100x less water than it takes to make almond milk and 25x less water than dairy-milk. Sproud’s version is also a great option from a nutritional point of view, as it’s fortified with calcium, Vitamin D, Riboflavin and Vitamin B-12 – nutrients that plant-based milks are often lacking in unless they’re fortified.
Final verdict: Despite the slightly salty taste, I would definitely repurchase Sproud Barista Pea Milk. Whilst I probably wouldn’t drink it plain, it works well in porridge and in hot drinks, where it adds a lovely, creamy texture without curdling. It’s also a great option for the environment, plus I can be assured that I’m still getting a good dose of essential nutrients.
Have any of you guys tried pea milk? Let me know your opinions on it in the comments below!
La Vie Dairy Free 