World Plant Milk Day occurs on August 22nd every year as a way to celebrate plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk. It encourages people to think about the environment, their own health, and how plant milk prevents animal cruelty.
This holiday hasn’t been around for long, but it is already making an impact by convincing people to try out some new, delicious milk!
History of the holiday
World plant milk day was invented in 2017 by Robbie Lockie who is the co-founder of Plant Based News. He soon made this a collaborative effort and partnered up with ProVeg to run a campaign in 2018.
This campaign aimed to encourage everyone globally to ditch dairy milk and try plant-based alternatives. Sandra from “Go Vegan World” has said that the day was founded as a “backlash against the dairy industry’s World Milk Day that takes place on 1st June every year.”
There is so much to celebrate on this day, as we really need to think about what we consume. Plant milk is generally low in fat, full of nutrients, and tastes great, but some have excessive sugar content so opt for an unsweetened version.
Why HumaniTea are plant-based
Our founder Tina wanted to create a drink that is good for humanity- so HumaniTea was born! Inspired by Taiwanese bubble tea, Tina wanted to make sure that her invention was plant-based so it caters to vegans and those who are lactose intolerant.
Around 65% of the world’s population are lactose intolerant, so we shouldn’t have to keep putting up with cow’s milk! Not to mention that more and more people in the UK are switching to a vegan or dairy free diet, so why not create a beverage that suits everyone?
The UK’s first vegan tea latte was created in two flavours- Earl Grey Oat Milk Classic Tea Latte and Matcha Oat Milk Green Tea Latte. We use oat milk because it is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly milks due to emissions and water usage- oh, and oat milk is delicious!
So why should we start thinking about drinking plant-based milk? Well, below we have outlined why oat milk, and other plant milks, should be used in cereal, tea, coffee, and more.
Types of plant milk
The options for dairy milk alternatives seem limitless, as there are a range of choices to suit everyone’s health and taste. We have outlined five great plant-milks for you to try, whether you are already vegan, or not!
- OAT MILK
This one is our personal favourite- that’s why we use it for our tea lattes! Oat milk is smooth, creamy and perfect to use in smoothies, lattes and coffees due to its sweet taste and a consistency similar to low-fat milk. Most oat milks are made from just oats and water, but some brands add extra ingredients to make it sweeter.
Oat milk has been shown to have great effects on the gut, as they help gastrointestinal problems and are a great source of fibre and vitamin D! The fibre helps blood sugar and digestive health- what more could you want from a plant milk?
- FLAX SEED MILK
This milk is one of the newer plant milks. Made from Omega-3 flaxseed oil and water, it is a great source of fatty acids that we need in our diet. It is also free from nuts, soy, and lactose, making it the perfect milk for those with allergies.
However, the flavour isn’t too strong and it lacks protein, so there may be natural flavours added to many brands out there. It is better to find a flax seed milk that has the addition of pea protein, so that you are getting some into your daily diet.
- ALMOND MILK
A very popular choice amongst plant milk lovers, almond milk is smooth, tasty with a mild nutty taste that goes great with cereals. There are less calories and less protein in almond milk compared to others, but it is also low in fat and high in calcium.
Homemade almond milk could be the way to go, as you can add more almonds and use let water, and this builds up nutrients. This milk is also rich in vitamin E, which is great for your skin, blood, and brain!
- HEMP MILK
Hemp is being used for everything nowadays, from salads, to lotions, and now for milk! It’s nutty with a great consistency, and some hemp brands contain magnesium and iron.
Made from seeds, this milk is low in carbohydrates, high in unsaturated fat, and has naturally occurring calcium- making it one of the healthiest plant milks depending if the brand has added extra flavouring. Hemp also needs little water to be produced and goes with pretty much everything! Everything apart from coffee…
- SOYA MILK
Probably the most common and original of all plant milks, this one packs the most protein as it matches up with cow’s milk. It also contains vitamins and calcium, and is recommended by nutritionists.
A great milk for baking, tea, and coffee, soya milk can come in a variety of flavours such as chocolate and banana! As mentioned earlier, soya milk is packed with a lot of protein. Some brands use highly processed soy protein, and others use whole soybeans which are organic and unprocessed.
All of these milks have their pros and cons, but don’t forget there are also plenty more options out there, including; coconut milk, macadamia milk, cashew milk, banana milk, pea milk, and rice milk.
How to celebrate….
There is no definitive way to celebrate World Plant Milk Day, but we would recommend trying the alternative milks we have mentioned above! Some won’t suit your palate as some are really sweet and others can be really nutty, but that’s why it is best to do your research.
You can also try your hand at making your own plant milk as they are quite easy to make! Most use only a couple of ingredients, and require only a couple of steps. Look into making your own recipe and add what you like!
Another way to celebrate is trying the 7 day dairy-free challenge that starts on August 22nd. It encourages you to ditch cow’s milk for seven days, and hopefully you’ll be able to stick to this habit once the challenge is over! If you are already vegan or dairy-free, there is also an option to challenge a friend. Got anyone in mind? Read more about it here.
