A trending milk alternative

Food & Beverages

A TRENDING MILK ALTERNATIVE – POTATO MILK?

Plant based milks are nothing but the non-dairy products developed from water- based plant extracts with distinct flavors and aroma. Plant based milks can be consumed as an alternative to milk, and gives a creamy mouthfeel once consumed. These plant- based milks are in use since 13th century, with the name ‘milk-like plant juices.

Now a days, these are called as plant -based milk, non-dairy milk, milk alternative, vegan milk. These can be packed in the same kind of packaging material which is used for milk. Plant based milks can be further used to produce other by-products like cream, cheese, yogurt which is plant based. The types of plant-based milk include – rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, pea milk, coconut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, peanut milk etc. Potato milk is one such example of plant-based milks. Kunu, is a Nigerian based beverage made from sprouted millets like sorghum.

BENEFITS OF POTATO MILK

Rich in nutrients (Proteins, Vitamins C, B6, Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Niacin, Folate).
Good source of fibre.
Rich source of anti-oxidants.
Balances blood cholesterol levels.
Naturally gluten free

As mentioned, potato milk is also a plant-based milk developed using potatoes. Home-made potato milk greatly differs when compared to the commercial product available in market.

A Swedish based start-up company has recently developed a plant-based milk using potatoes on a commercial scale, with the brand name DUG. This company is believed to be the world’s first to develop a plant-based milk using potatoes, instead of soy, almonds and oats. The brand Dug is created by a food innovator Veg of Lund, during the research conducted by Professor Eva Tornberg’s at Lund University.

According to this brand, it is a base of potatoes along with maltodextrin, pea protein, rapeseed oil and other natural flavoring substances. Dug is also fortified with vitamins D, B12, folic acid. Currently, there are three different flavors in this brand: Original, Unsweetened, Barista. The entire range of Dug is free from soy, gluten, nuts and lactose. These products can be used as foam for lattes as well apart from cooking and baking.

As potatoes requires half the amount of farming land when compared to oats farming, and they require 50 times less water than almond milk, makes potatoes a super sustainable crop when compared to oats, almonds and soybeans.

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