If you’ve been even a little bit curious about plant-based milks—or, if you’re simply a potato lover—then you want to read this. The beloved root vegetable is one of the latest discoveries as a food that can be made into milk… and the health benefits of potato milk might impress you.
The U.K.’s Plant Based News reports that potato milk is an up-and-coming trend in plant-based milks. Not only is the flavor said to be naturally mild (and the texture somewhat creamy from the potato’s natural starch), but the process for making it is said to be much friendlier to the environment than dairy and a lot of other plant-based milks.
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That’s because potato milk reportedly requires half the land of oat milk, and just two percent of the water that’s necessary to make almond milk (approximately seven liters for potato milk, versus 371 liters for almond milk). It’s also said to produce a lot less carbon dioxide than milk from animals.
It might also surprise you to learn some of the potato’s unique health benefits that may transfer to potato milk. These can include antioxidants (it’s been said colored potatoes, like purple-skinned, deliver the greatest amount of antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals that can cause cancer, according to the University of Maine). Potatoes also deliver magnesium, potassium, fiber and even Vitamin C.
We haven’t sampled potato milk just yet, but the Scandinavian potato milk brand, Dug, says all three flavors of their potato milk—Original, Barista, and Unsweetened—are sold out in the U.K. and Sweden. The nutrition facts suggest that 100 milliliters—that’s about 3.5 ounces—contains 1.5 fat grams, 4.4 grams of carbohydrates (with two grams as sugar), and 15% of Europe’s daily recommended allowance of calcium.
We should note Dug also contains some additives, like rapeseed oil, fructose, and “natural flavour” (not always so natural!), among others. Still, potato milk may be interesting trend to keep your eyes on…
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