Soymilk-which brand do you generally use?

[Neil D]

Ok, I appologize if this should go to the veggie section of this forum...But hear me out...

For someone who is just begining to look for milk alternatives, what better place to get the imput of many individuals than the Townhall?

And what better place to attempt to compare notes as to prices and taste ?

So, which brand of soymilk do you use? Do you use any soymilk at all???? What tastes best to you? What are your criteria ? Texture? creaminess? closeness to cow's milk? Price????!!!

What turns you off toward soy milk? The grittiness of the bottom of the pitcher? The "It ain't whole cow's milk" syndrome?

Perhaps you don't like soy milk, but instead use rice milk? What brand? Why?

Let us know...

[Taylor]

A friend of mine who has recently gone "vegan" says he loves Rice Dream as it doesn't have a soy taste to it which can mean a "beany flavor". He likes it on cereal but not to drink.

[Pockey]

I like Rice Dream. Mostly for the taste. I don't like soy milk that much, it kind've makes me want to puke. But Rice Dream is has a mild sweetness to it.

[Naomi]

Silk is my extra special first choice. I love the vanilla and sometimes the chocolate.

My choice is based on taste, and availability.

No, I don't like the grittiness of many brands which I have tried.

Naomi

[Ron Lambert]

I agree with Naomi. Silk by far is the most like milk; I especially prefer the vanilla flavor. I doubt that anyone of any taste would be disappointed with Silk. I can find it at regular grocery stores, like Kroger.

[cricket]

8th Continent Light

[Halfstep Denise]

I tried to learn to like Soy Milk when my family lived in Hawaii, but my taste buds curl at the very thought of drinking it!

My parents have become almost full time Soy Milk drinkers and when they come to visit they bring their own supply. I think it's the Silk style.

Halfstep Denise

[phkrause]

Love Silk. But I like them all. Started out a few years ago just using soy milk for my cereal. Now I can drink it as a drink too.

[Dr. Shane]

We use vanilla flavor and most of the time we buy the store brand that is in the refrigerated section. We also buy 8th Continent Light and Silk but they do cost a little more. Check out the fiber content. Some contain a little fiber and some don't contain any.

[Gregory Matthews]

I was given soy milk as a very young child, and then later switched to cows milk.

Now as an adult I drink both soy and cows milk.

My vote is for "Silk Milk." It is head and shoulders above all of the rest in tast, as far as I am concerned.

Further, in the hospital, in which I work, when patients are given a soy milk, they are given Silk Milk, as they seem to like it best.

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Neil,

We use the Walmart brand, GV because it's cheaper and taste about the same as others on hot or cold cereals. We rarely drink it. Sometimes we drink Silk Milk "Very Vanilla" as a treat.

What I really like and have not had in a while (because soy milk is so readily available) is cashew milk.

Get a cup of raw cashews, rinse them well then roast them in the oven at 225 till they start to turn a little darker. If you can smell them then they are usually ready.

Then blend them with a cup of warm water till they are really creamy (add more wter if you need to). Then add vanilla or your favorite flavoring, add maple syrup to sweeten, add a 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of salt and blend till it's mixed. Then add 2.5 or 3 cups of water (depending on the consistancy you like) and blend again. Chill and enjoy.

Norman

[Denise]

I really like Silk, very vanilla silk is so so good! Also, have you ever tried the silk nog at Christmas time? It is delicious! Taste like the real thing, but better than the real thing without the raw eggs! I have always loved egg nog, but the raw eggs turn me off, now I can drink freely silk nog, and it's great making vegan pumpkin pies! Sorry off topic! Anyways, the brand Silk is the best. Denise

[Dr. Shane]

That Silk Very Vanilla has a lot of sugar. My kids love it. Regular 8th Continent has a lot of sugar too.

[Amelia]

Neil, some of those soy milks have alot of sugar in them, so be aware. I use both 8th ContinentLight and Soy Slender.

8th Continent goes on sale quite often and you can usually get it @ 2/$5 for a half gallon. You can find 8th Continent in the dairy section of just about every chain grocery. Soy Slender is the cheapest at WinCo. $1.29 for 32oz. Soy Slender will be in the baking section of Safeway and WinCo. At Freddies it is in the natural foods section. It comes in an aseptic carton so no need to refriderate until you open.

Everyones taste buds are different. I found that Rice Dream had a beany after taste. Silk was too sweet and just felt thick on my tongue. I tested a ton of others that I just cant remember.

I use vanilla for my cereal, oatmeal and tea. Chocolate is for protein drinks and milkshakes in the summer. Plan is for cooking unless I want the added vanilla taste and then I use the vanilla flavored.

The all time absolute best soy ice cream is Tofutti. But I also like Rice Dreams cookie and ice cream pies. YUMMMMY <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/yahoo.gif" alt="" />

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Shane,

Quote:

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That Silk Very Vanilla has a lot of sugar

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That's why Denise likes it, it makes her sweet.

Norman

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Amelia,

I like Tofutti wildberry. I haven't had it in a long time but I remember it as being very good.

Norman

[Ellen]

In our province (Ontario Canada) the one I like best is called So Good. I don't care for vanilla flavour in my milk so I get the original. I have tried several others but So Good is my first choice.

I tried soy milk years ago when it was made from powder and I didn't take to it. Always could taste the powder and the water it seemed. So I was flabbergasted how much better it is today and use it exclusively.

[Dr. Shane]

We use soy milk exclusively to drink - and we drink a lot (nearly a gallon a day). We buy powder and evaporated milk to make pudding and mac & cheese with.

[Nan]

So Good is the soy milk made by Sanitarium the SDA health food company in Australia and NZ. For some years they have been pushing into the Canadian market. From memory, I think it was their scientists who developed the early commercially successful soy milk.

[Beryl]

Yes, that is correct. So Good IS good -- not just because it was perfected in Australia!!!! <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/yahoo.gif" alt="" />

When Sanitarium began to look at manufacturing a soy milk, they wanted one that really truly took the place of milk nutritionally, as well as tasting good. So Good is the top selling soy milk in Australia, and comes in "No Fat" "Lite" and the "full cream". I like the "Essentials" which is the equivalent, nutritionally, to milk with only half the fat. It also has extra calcium, Omega 3, folate and iron.

So Good contains many advantages over ordinary soy milks. Most soy milks are just that -- made from soy beans, with sugar, salt, and flavourings added, but missing out some of the nutrients ordinarily found in milk. So Good seeks to replace those.

Reading from the Nutrition Information on my package of So Good Essentials, a 250 ml serving (1 cup) contains 550 Kj (152 cals); 8 g protein; 3.8 g fat (made up of 0.5g saturated, zero trans fat, 2.5g polyunsaturated,63mg Omega 3, 0.8g monounsaturated fat, with nil cholesterol. Total carbohydrates are 15.8g, of which 5.5g is sugar (about 1 level teaspoon). It contains 0.8g dietary fibre; 113 mg sodium and 338mg potassium, 112 ug Vitamin A, 0.24mg Thiamin, 0.37 mg Riboflavin, 0.35mg Bitamin B6; 0.4ug B12, 88 ug Folate, 20mg Vitamin C, 22 mg Vitamin E, 575 mg Calcium, 213 mg Phosphorus, 2.2 mg iron, and 7.8 mg isoflavones.

So, in addition to supplying a great alternative to milk, So Good also supplies many of the nutrients that are missing in other soy milks here in Australia, and probably in other areas as well. I find it great to know that I can find all these nutrients in this great non-animal product. 2 cups of So Good a day will supply the majority of a vegan's B12 needs.

Congratulations to Canada for the support that they have given in establishing this brand, and I hope that the US will also see the benefits for those who cannot or do not wish to consume cow's milk.

And, of course, in Australia the Sanitarium Health Food Company is a wonderful provider of finance for our work, at home and in the mission fields.

Remember -- BUY SO GOOD AND HELP THE WORK!!!

God bless,

Beryl

<img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/bluejump.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/bee.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/dancingman.gif" alt="" />

[Gregory Matthews]

Re: "That Silk Very Vanilla has a lot of sugar. My kids love it. Regular 8th Continent has a lot of sugar too."

The Silk Milk that we drink has 7 grams of sugar in an 8 ounce serving. Regular milk has 12 grams pers 8 ounce serving.

I am aware that you can purchase Silk Milk with more sugar in it. But, you can also purchase cows milk with 35 grams of sugar in it--they sell such in our area.

I do not consider the7 gram per serving Silk Milk to be high in sugar, and you do not have to purchase the higher sugar versions.

Yes, we also dring Silk Nog, at Christmas time.

[Amelia]

Silk nog is the only way to go at the holidays! As far as I know its the only soy nog out there?

[Amelia]

Oh, they also use to make Silk spice. It came in a little 12 oz bottle. I havent seen it and the other flavors in ages though. But if you can find it, its better than chai tea.

[Neil D]

Wow! I ask a question yesterday, and today I get 3 pages of posts! Wow!

I have tried many soy milks...and none of them satisfy me. I have tried the powder "Better than milk". It's seems to be good for my baking needs. I make home made bread from time to time.

Silk is the more popular and Ihave tried it. It has some sort of metalic taste for me. I have also gotten others but they too have some sort of after taste that is off.

I used to really like grape juice but never noticed that it is kinda sharp at the end of the drink. I tried WHITE grape juice, specifically Langers, and oh, sooo good and smooooooth... spoiled all the other purple grape juices Now, all the other purple grape juices have to be mixed with Langers White grape juice.

Anyways, all the soymilks are like that...they have a different taste to them that is not .... for lack of a better word, natural. And of course, after they are opened, that metalic taste just gets worse.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

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I am aware that you can purchase Silk Milk with more sugar in it.

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The "Very Vanilla" is one with high sugar content. I think it is the vanilla version of chocolate milk. My kids love it. My wife used it once to make mac & cheese and that didn't turn oout so great - although the kids ate it.

From what I understand, when soy milk replaces cows milk in our diet, our blood preasure drops a little bit.

In latin America they actually make a rice drink. They put white rice in the blender with water, sugar and vanilla. They blend it up real good, pour it through a strainer and it tastes simular to vanilla soy milk. But it isn't enriched.