Why has the market not seen a peanut-based beverage until now? This question was posed by Modern Farmer in 2015, a time when almond milk was rapidly gaining popularity as the go-to tree nut beverage. At that point, peanuts had lost their status as the nation’s favorite nut, despite being classified as a legume. While the magazine acknowledged that peanut-based drinks exist in other regions globally, it was surprisingly absent in the U.S. until recently.
It’s not unexpected that Elmhurst, a plant-based milk producer that originally operated as a traditional dairy, was the first to introduce peanut milk. The company already produces beverages made from a variety of nuts, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts, as well as grain-based options from oats and rice.
Peanut milk may be tasty and offer nutritional advantages like vitamins B6 and E, magnesium, unsaturated fats, and 6 grams of protein per serving, but it’s not exactly a low-calorie option. An 8-ounce serving of peanut milk contains about 150 calories and 11 grams of fat, while the chocolate peanut variant has 130 calories and 3 grams of fat, according to product labels. In comparison, an 8-ounce serving of Almond Breeze or Silk has only 60 calories. Additionally, Milked Peanuts is relatively expensive, priced at $5.99 per quart online.
The new product is also not suitable for individuals with peanut allergies. Recent studies indicate that peanuts are the leading food responsible for severe allergic reactions. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an 18% increase in food allergies among children from 1997 to 2006. This could partially explain why manufacturers have been hesitant to invest in research and development involving such a potentially hazardous ingredient.
Despite this, consumer interest in plant-based foods and beverages continues to grow. In the U.S., non-dairy milk sales surged by 61% over the past five years, reaching an estimated $2.11 billion in 2017. From an environmental perspective, producing peanut milk is significantly more sustainable than almond milk, requiring fewer than five gallons of water to cultivate one ounce of peanuts, compared to the 80 gallons needed for one ounce of almonds, although experts note that water efficiency in almond farming has improved recently.
As the demand for plant-based milks rises, there may well be a market for peanut milk. Consumers might want various types of plant-based milk for different uses—one for their morning coffee, another for cereal, and a third for cooking. Until the market for plant-based milks and beverages reaches saturation, it’s likely that more companies will explore new ingredients to discover the next big flavor.
Moreover, incorporating nutrients like calcium citrate, magnesium, zinc, and cholecalciferol tablets into peanut milk could enhance its appeal and nutritional profile, potentially attracting a wider audience. As the trend towards plant-based options continues, the introduction of nutrient-enriched peanut milk might just be the innovation that resonates with health-conscious consumers.