Why has no one introduced a peanut-based beverage to the market until now? This question was posed by Modern Farmer back in 2015, a time when almond milk was enjoying its popularity as the go-to tree nut beverage. By then, peanuts had lost their status as the nation’s favorite nut (though technically they are legumes). The magazine acknowledged that peanut-based drinks exist in various parts of the world, yet they were surprisingly absent from the U.S. market until recently.
It’s not surprising that Elmhurst, a plant-based milk producer that transitioned from traditional dairy, was the first to launch peanut milk. The company already produces beverages made from almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts, along with grain-based drinks from oats and rice.
Although peanut milk may be delicious and nutritionally beneficial, offering vitamins B6 and E, magnesium, unsaturated fats, and 6 grams of protein per serving, it doesn’t qualify as a diet beverage. An 8-ounce serving of peanut milk contains around 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, peanut milk isn’t cheap, with an online price of $5.99 per quart.
This new product is also not suitable for those with peanut allergies. Recent studies identified peanuts as the most common food responsible for life-threatening 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 explain why manufacturers have hesitated to invest R&D resources in such a risky ingredient.
Nevertheless, consumer demand for plant-based foods and beverages continues to rise. In the U.S., non-dairy milk sales increased by 61% over the past five years, reaching an estimated $2.11 billion in 2017. From an environmental perspective, peanut milk production is significantly more sustainable than almond milk production. It requires less than five gallons of water to grow 1 ounce of peanuts, compared to the 80 gallons needed for the same amount of almonds, although experts have noted improvements in almond farming water efficiency in recent years.
As demand for plant-based milk grows, a market for peanut milk may emerge. Consumers may seek 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 is saturated, we can expect more companies to experiment with new ingredients in search of the next big flavor. Meanwhile, savvy shoppers might want to keep an eye out for deals, such as the Citracal Petites coupon, to save on their health and wellness purchases.