What is potato milk?

Long gone are the days when vegans or anyone with a dairy allergy would struggle to find suitable milk alternatives for their morning brew.

We’re learning that not all plant-based milks are created equal – which probably explains the rise of a new player in the game: potato milk.

The health benefits

Plant-based nutritionist Rohini Bajekal (plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com) says fortified milks are beneficial in being “low in saturated fat and allergen-friendly”.

“I generally favour fortified soya milk for its amino acid profile or a nut-based milk, as they contain more protein compared to milks made from starches like rice, oats and potatoes,” she says.

The environmental benefits

Swedish brand DUG (dugdrinks.com) is bringing potato milk to the masses, and it says there are a whole lot of environmental benefits to the drink.

DUG suggests its potato milk has a 75% lower climate footprint than dairy milk – and it’s not just coming for cow’s milk, but other dairy-free alternatives as well. It says growing potatoes is “twice as efficient as growing oats in terms of land use”, while also using 56 times less water to grow compared to almonds.

How you can drink it

Potato milk is becoming more widely available to buy – DUG is now available in Waitrose – and at £1.80, it’s pretty much on a par with the price of other non-dairy alternatives, which tend to be more expensive than cow’s milk.

Alternatively, you can make your own – although this won’t be fortified, so is unlikely to have many health benefits. Boil potatoes until soft, blend with water until you have the right consistency, add flavourings or a sweetener as desired – then strain through a muslin cloth.