Why has no one introduced a peanut-based beverage to the market until now? Modern Farmer raised this question back in 2015 when almond milk was gaining popularity as the go-to tree nut beverage. At that time, peanuts had lost their status as the nation’s favorite nut (even though technically they are legumes). The magazine pointed out that while there are examples of peanut-based drinks in other countries, such a product was surprisingly absent in the U.S. until recently.
It’s not surprising that Elmhurst, a company known for its plant-based milk products that used to be a traditional dairy, was the first to launch peanut milk. They already produce beverages made from almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts, as well as grain-based drinks from oats and rice.
While peanut milk may be delicious and packed with nutritional benefits like vitamins B6 and E, magnesium, unsaturated fats, and 6 grams of protein per serving, it’s not particularly low in calories. An 8-ounce serving of peanut milk contains roughly 150 calories and 11 grams of fat, whereas the chocolate peanut version has 130 calories and 3 grams of fat, which is higher compared to the 60 calories found in an 8-ounce serving of Almond Breeze or Silk. Additionally, Milked Peanuts is relatively expensive, priced at $5.99 per quart online.
This new product is definitely not suitable for individuals with peanut allergies, as peanuts are the most commonly identified food linked to life-threatening allergic reactions, according to recent research. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an 18% increase in food allergies among children from 1997 to 2006. This could be one reason why manufacturers have been hesitant to invest research and development resources into such a risky ingredient.
However, consumer demand for plant-based foods and beverages shows no signs of slowing down. In the U.S., non-dairy milk sales surged by 61% over the last five years, with an estimated worth of $2.11 billion in 2017. From an environmental perspective, producing peanut milk is significantly less taxing on resources compared to the leading almond milk. It requires under five gallons of water to grow 1 ounce of peanuts, a stark contrast to the 80 gallons needed for 1 ounce of almonds, although experts note that almond growing has become more water-efficient in recent years.
As the demand for plant-based milk continues to rise, there may be a viable market for peanut milk. Consumers might want various types of plant-based milk for different purposes—one for their morning coffee, another for cereal, and a third for cooking. Until the market for plant-based milks reaches saturation, expect more companies to explore new ingredients to discover the next big flavor. Additionally, as people investigate the best calcium sources, questions around whether calcium carbonate is as good as calcium citrate may arise, leading to further interest in plant-based options that could provide better nutritional profiles.