Over the last couple of years Catherine has reviewed many milk alternatives, or mylks, as she likes to call them. I’ve tried several myself with varying degrees of success. Now I’ve found a new one made from roasted macadamias. Here’s how I found it for taste and nutrition.
I’m sure you’ve seen the plethora of tetra-pack mylks in the supermarkets. Once soy was the only alternative to mammal milks such as milk from cows, goats and sheep but now there’s coconut, almond, coconut and almond blend, hemp and pea protein as well. Many are available sweetened or unsweetened; some are organic, some are fortified with added calcium and B vitamins, others have flavours added. There are just so many to choose from. Now there’s another. It’s called Suncoast Gold MAC milk and it’s made from roasted macadamias.
It looks pretty much like most mylks, being a sort of creamy beige colour. However, it does seem to have little more body than other milk alternatives.
What does it taste like?
I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first sip. While it’s definitely an acquired taste, it’s an improvement on most unsweetened milks. To my palate, most of these mylks taste like Liquid Cardboard (LQ) - not pleasant. MAC Milk, however, while it does have a hint of LQ about it, tastes much more pleasant. This is probably due to the addition of vanilla and the fact that the nuts have been roasted, giving them a greater depth of flavour.
You can drink it as is, in place of dairy milk, use in your favourite smoothie recipe, or pour on your cereal. Coffee is a different matter. If your morning coffee is made with heated or frothed milk then I think you’ll be disappointed. When I tried it on its own, it sort of separated and didn’t froth. Not pleasant.
However, as I was trying this for its low carb content and I wasn’t concerned about fat, I found that if I added a slurp of cream to the MAC Milk in the frother, it was quite acceptable. Not as frothy as say A2 full-fat (which in my experience gives the most froth), but certainly enough to feel like a real latte.
If you make your coffee or tea blackened then just put a little MAC Milk into I’m sure it would be fine, though I haven’t tried it. The pack also says you can use it in baking.
The pack spruiks the fact that this is soy free, lactose free, gluten free and vegan. However, be aware it is made from nuts so if you have a nut allergy, you should steer clear of this. It also says that it’s made in Australia from 99% Australian ingredients – which is good to know.
The pack advises it be stored in cool dry conditions but as it’s a tetra-pack there’s no need to refrigerate until it’s been opened. You can’t freeze it and, once opened, it should be kept in the fridge and used within 5 days.
Ingredients from the pack:
Water, Macadamia Paste (3%), Vegetable Gums (Locust Bean Gum, Gellan Gum), Mineral Salt (Calcium Carbonate), Salt, Natural Flavour (Vanilla), Sunflower Lecithin. |
CONTAINS TREE NUTS (macadamia nuts). |
If you’re looking for a non-dairy, non-soy, non-sweetened, low carb mylk, then MAC Milk may be worth a try.
Like most of these alternatives, it comes with a hefty price tag. I’ve found it on special in Coles for $3.00. However it’s RRP is $3.70 per litre.
It’s not widely available as it seems it’s only sold in Coles, or on the Patons website (www.patons.com.au) so if you don’t have one near you, and you don’t want to buy 8 cartons at once for $30 + $15 postage, plus $1.50 GST (that’s a whopping $46.50 for 8 litres - $5.80+ per carton!) then you’re out of luck.
Would I buy it again? Yes, and I have occasionally but only when it’s on special.
Post written by Munaiba Khan, a retired naturopath with an interest in nutrition.