The chronicle of plant-based milk
In our daily lives the word milk has become synonymous to cow milk. You may have heard of goat and buffalo milk too. But do you know that plant-based milk is also available? Well, there are many of them, starting from coconut and soya even to almond milk.
Plant-based milk is growing in popularity among the vegans. They strictly adhere to a plant-based diet and don’t indulge in any animal-based foods including dairy products. With veganism growing as a trend, you might think that the practice of consuming plant-based milk is new. However, that is not correct. For centuries, people of various cultures have enjoyed this liquid. Interestingly, the origin of almond milk can even be traced back to the Middle Ages. How fascinating is that! Here’s a bird’s eye view of the history of 3 types of plant-based milk.
Coconut milk
Coconuts were originally found in India and Southeast Asia, where coconut milk has been widely consumed for over 2000 years. It has been used in cooking, as a beverage and as ceremonial offerings.
Interestingly, the origins of coconut milk can be traced back to the Austronesian people, who belong to regions such as the Oceanic Island, Maritime Southeast Asia and Madagascar. Moreover, evidence shows that around 3000 to 1500 BC, people on Austronesian Expansion journeys carried coconut graters with them. Wait, what is this Austronesian Expansion, all about? The mass migration of thousands of people from the coast of modern-day Taiwan due to population growth. The migrants eventually settled in Southeast Asia, Oceania and Madagascar!
So, how is coconut milk produced? It is not possible to squeeze coconuts to make milk. After all, we aren't the Hulk, are we? Simply put, it is made by grating coconut and combining it with hot water. This technique has been used for over 5000 years.
Soya Milk
Soya beans originated in China, and the roots of soya milk can also be traced back to 13th century China. Interestingly, a Chinese stone slab dating back to 1365 has the earliest recorded mention of soya milk. The Chinese preferred it over cow milk as it was easier to digest and cultivate and had more nutritional value.
In 1897, an article published in a US periodical compared the nutritional value of soya and cow milk. America and Europe began cultivating soya in the 19th century, and the world's first soya milk factory was established in Paris in 1910. Since then, the popularity and demand for soya milk have only grown. Today, soya milk is one of the most widely consumed and nutritionally dense plant-based milk on the market.
Almond Milk
You would be amazed to know that the history of almond milk dates back to more than 1000 years. It was very popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. Used as an alternative to dairy milk alternative, it was easier to digest. Almond milk first appeared in medieval medical texts written between the 8th and 12th centuries. Originally, it was prescribed for coughs and shortness of breath. Baghdadi and Egyptian recipes also mentioned the use of almonds during the 13th and 14th centuries.
Coming to more recent times, the popularity of these seeds surged in the United States during the early 20th century. Members of The Seventh-day Adventist Church, which is a global body of churchgoers, typically vegan or vegetarian, were responsible for this change. For them, almond milk was a perfect substitute for cow milk. British consumers were not far behind too, as they reportedly spent more than 105 million Euros on almond milk in 2020! Here's a fun fact for you: 92 almonds yield one litre of milk.