Oatmilk
Oat milk is a plant milk derived from whole oat (Avena spp.) grains[1] by extracting the plant material with water.[2]
Oat milk has a creamy texture and mild oatmeal-like flavor,[3] and is manufactured in various flavors, such as sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate.
Unlike other plant milks having origins as early as the 13th century,[4] oat milk was developed in the 1990s by the Swedish scientist Rickard Öste.[5][6]
Over 2017–2019, oat milk sales in the United States increased 10 fold,[3] and one major manufacturer, Oatly, reported a three-fold increase in worldwide sales.[7] As of late 2020, the oat milk market became second-largest among plant milks in the United States, following the leader, almond milk, but exceeding the sales of soy milk.[8][9]
By 2020, oat milk products included coffee creamer, yogurt alternatives, ice cream, and chocolate.[7][9][10] Oat milk may be consumed to replace dairy in vegan diets, or in cases of medical conditions where dairy is incompatible, such as lactose intolerance or an allergy to cow milk.[5][11] Compared to milk and other plant-based beverages, oat milk has relatively low environmental impact due to its comparatively low land and water needs for production.[12][11][13]
History[edit]
Invention[edit]
Soy milk and almond milk predate all other alternative milks, including oat milk, both as cultural and commercial products.[4] Since the early 20th century, soy milk made its way from Asia to European and American grocery stores, initially as a dairy substitute due to lactose intolerance.[2] The increase in consumption of soy milk since its global distribution created a large market for plant-based beverages like oat milk.[1] The first recorded instance of an oat-based plant beverage was in the early 1990s, when Rickard Öste developed oat milk.[5][6] Öste was working as a food scientist at Lund University in Lund, Sweden, researching lactose intolerance and sustainable food systems, when he invented the drink.[5][6] Soon after, Öste founded Oatly, the first commercial manufacturer of oat milk.[5]