Milk is one of those items the vast majority of us consistently have in our fridge, but not many of us opt for dairy free.
As the cost of living crisis rages on, we've been putting a range of supermarket products to the test. We've sampled value ranges as well as our local supermarket's dupes, and budget-friendly items whenever the value range is out of stock.
Over the last few months, we've tested all kinds of cheap and cheerful shopping products including tea bags, coffee, tomato ketchup, fish fingers and more. Last week, we got into the festive spirit and put a range of Halloween candles to the test.
READ MORE: We tried M&S and Aldi pizzas and one was as good as a takeaway
This week, we've gone back to basics and perused the supermarket shelves for milk - but with a twist. We visited Asda, Sainsbury's and Iceland to compare product availability, price and, all importantly, the taste of plant based milks. Here's what we thought:
Asda Fresh Oat Drink
I'm very fussy when it comes to regular milk, so much so that I don't actually drink it - I did say I was fussy. I don't mind cow's milk if it's hidden in a bar of Galaxy, but in its standard liquid form, I think it's gross.
I haven't had cow's milk in my fridge for years, and after much trial and error, I've found oat milk to be the best plant-based alternative. Bigger branded oat milk can come with quite the hefty price tag, but Asda's own version is £1 for a litre which is rather reasonable.
It comes in a slightly garish yellow carton, and I've spotted it on offer for even cheaper on a number of occasions. In terms of taste, it has a little sweetness to it but it's quite a subtle flavour overall - which is what I want from my milk. It doesn't quite measure up to Alpro or Innocent's oat milk but it's a worthy contender.
It's lovely on cereal and it makes deliciously creamy mashed potatoes. I even choose oat milk on the rare occasions I buy a hot chocolate in town, and it makes the entire drink infinitely more enjoyable.
I don't drink tea or coffee so can't say how well it pairs with those beverages, but for my needs, Asda's Fresh Oat Drink is tasty, reasonably priced and gets the job done. I rebuy it every week without fail.
Price: £1
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Your local Asda store or online
Alpro Almond No Sugar
I tend to go for cow's milk when drinking tea and coffee, or pouring on cereal so I wasn't convinced I was going to like a vegan alternative. I enjoy a nutty flavour so thought an almond milk would be the best option to try and didn't want anything too sweet, so picked up an Alpro No Sugar in my local Sainsbury's.
The 1L carton was £1.95 and the drink is dairy free, lactose free and gluten free. When I poured it into a glass it was a bit of an off-putting grey colour, compared to the creamy white of my usual semi skimmed.
It had quite a thin consistency and I thought this might indicate a lack of flavour, but when I tasted it, I found it quite pleasant. It was certainly nothing like the cow's milk I usually have, but the almond flavour came through quite strongly. It wasn't too sweet and it added a nice nutty flavour when mixed in coffee.
Price: £1.95
Rating: 3/5
Where to buy: Sainsbury's instore or online
Arla Lactofree Semi Skimmed Milk
To say I'm picky about trying new things would be an understatement, especially when it comes to things like milk and cheese. While I typically stick to normal cow's milk, I recently tried Arla's lactofree milk, which contains less than 0.03% lactose and is supposed to be easier to digest.
The alternative is aimed at those who may have gastro-intestinal discomfort caused by lactose intake and is "rich in protein, rich in vitamin B12, source of calcium." The 1L carton from Iceland is priced at £1.50, which I thought was reasonable.
I had worried about the taste, I won't lie. However, from the first sip I knew I had nothing to worry about. The smell, flavour and texture was just the same my usual go-to semi skimmed milk, which I was thankful for. The colour was slightly off white, rather than the usual bright white, but once it was splashed into a cup of tea I really couldn't tell the difference.
There was a slightly unusual after taste from the lactofree milk, but nothing off-putting. I'll definitely be giving it another go.
Price: £1.50
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Your local Iceland or online
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