The world of dairy-free living is not what it used to be. The times of almond milk being the seemingly sole substitutes to dairy milk are long gone, and new milk substitutes are gaining traction in the dairy-free world. Here are my top 5 favorite milk substitutes.

1. Oat Milk

Oat milk is by far the best milk substitute I have found to this day. The consistency of oat milk is the most similar to regular dairy milk compared to other milk substitutes I have found in the past. Oat milk is very thin and milky and has a normal and respectful consistency, which makes it one of the best substitutes. The taste is also great. Oat milk is offered in a variety of flavors, but just plain, regular, unsweetened oat milk tastes no different than dairy-filled milk. The way oat milk is produced is also much better for the environment than other dairy-free options available.

2. Almond Milk

An oldie, but a goodie. Almond milk revolutionized the dairy-free milk industry, and in my opinion, was the first non-dairy option available on the market. I still remember the times where the milk section in my local grocery stores contained different types of dairy milk, and then maybe one brand of almond milk was available. I find almond milk to be much thicker than oat milk, but it’s still thin enough to not be that much of a bother. Almond milk is also offered in a variety of flavors from vanilla to even chocolate.

3. Coconut Milk

I have a love-hate relationship with coconut milk. Coconut milk had its prime around the same time as almond milk, and it was the second dairy-free option that became mass popularized. Coconut milk is the thickest dairy-free substitute on the market. In comparison to oat and almond milk, coconut milk has the least similar consistency to regular milk. In fact, I hated it when I first tried it. It was only after I tried my first Pink Drink from Starbucks, after seeing James Charles drink it every day, that I revisited the idea of coconut milk. After this, I had a newfound appreciation for the milk. I found myself enjoying the thicker consistency, and therefore, it has made my top 5.

4. Cashew Milk

Cashew milk is by far the most underrated milk substitute available. It is one of the least popular substitutes available, but it is one of the best in my opinion. Cashew milk has a more nutty taste as compared to the options, but I don’t mind it, in fact, I think it’s what makes cashew milk so great. It is again on the thinner side, which I appreciate, and is not very grainy, which again, is great. I use cashew milk more for cereal, or even smoothies, as it isn’t the best in coffee. I like it when my coffee looks creamy, and cashew milk doesn’t give me that color I want.

5. Soy Milk

I never really knew what soy milk was made of until quite recently, and I always thought it was dairy, but to my surprise, soy milk is indeed dairy-free. Soy milk is made from soybeans, making it plant-based milk, and perfect for my fellow dairy-free milk enthusiasts. Soy milk has that thin consistency that is so important in milk alternatives and tastes a lot like regular milk in my opinion. It’s not my favorite alternative, but definitely still a great choice.