Plant milk is not a modern invention but a centuries-old culinary tradition worldwide.
In short: While often viewed as a contemporary substitute for dairy, plant-based beverages have been consumed for centuries across diverse cultures. From medieval almond milk recipes to traditional Nigerian millet drinks, these liquids have long served as both staples and flavor ingredients, now evolving into a massive global industry.
The history of plant-based milk stretches back far beyond the current supermarket boom. The term 'milk-like plant juices' has been used in English since 1200 CE, and by the 13th century, almond milk was a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, famously appearing in Muhammad bin Hasan al-Baghdadi’s 1226 cookbook, Kitāb al-Ṭabīḫ. In medieval England, it was a common ingredient in dishes like rice pudding, while soy milk use in China was recorded as early as 1365. These drinks were not merely dairy alternatives; they were traditional beverages in regions where lactose intolerance was prevalent.
Modern production has refined these ancient concepts into a sophisticated global market, projected to reach US$62 billion by 2030. Manufacturing typically involves cleaning, grinding, and filtering plant materials—such as legumes, grains, or nuts—into a slurry. To achieve the creamy mouthfeel and nutritional profile expected by consumers, manufacturers often homogenize the liquid and fortify it with micronutrients like calcium and vitamin D. The process may also include heat treatments like pasteurization or ultra-high-temperature processing to ensure stability and shelf life.
The shift toward these products is driven by a complex mix of environmental and health concerns. Research suggests that dairy production requires significantly more land and water, and generates higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to plant-based alternatives. However, the environmental footprint varies by source; while almond milk is low in emissions, it is relatively water-intensive. As consumer trends shift away from dairy—evidenced by declining consumption rates among young people in the United Kingdom—the industry continues to expand, with approximately 20 different types of plant milks now available worldwide.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Plant milk
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