Trader Joe's Non-Dairy Oat Beverage (Oat Milk)

2019 was a great year for non-dairy milk alternatives. Is that the politically correct term? I don't want any dairy farmers or dairy conglomerates leaving angry comments. It was the year I finally found the non-dairy milk beverage for me. Speaking of lactose intolerance - is it true that exposure to lactase will eventually build an "immunity" of sorts and allow one to eat dairy products without suffering the consequences? Asking for a friend.  

Trader Joe's came out with not one but two oat beverages - one that comes refrigerated and the other shelf stable, next to all of the other shelf stable milks. Automatically, I give extra points to the refrigerated one for the packaging. If you've never had oat milk before, the packaging is not only aesthetically pleasing but practical. I'm supposed to expect something mildly sweet, delightfully smooth, and oat-y. 

 "Who knew oats and water could be mildly sweet?" Uhh...like a ton of Asian cultures. Japanese, Korean, and Chinese have been making and drinking oat/grain teas. The Koreans have misugaru, which is a blend of roasted grain and seed powders mixed with milk or water. There's an entire aisle in every Chinese grocery store dedicated to this kind of thing - some kind of grain or seed powder with sugar that you add to water to make a cereal-y type drink. Granted, not all of those drinks resemble the beverage that is oat milk, but cereal + water isn't something new. Anyway, when I first discovered oat milk earlier this year, I've been waiting for TJ's to come out with their own version.

Unlike other oat milks on the market, there has been an attempt here to use real oats. Hydrolyzed oats, I think, means oats that have been soaked in water. Of course, all other vitamins have been added. Oat milk obviously doesn't have as much protein or calcium compared to cow's milk, so it might not be the right choice for everyone's dietary needs. Like infants.

The shelf-stable oat milk is half the size of the refrigerated one (1 quart vs. 2 quarts), and the packaging isn't as informative but it does promote modern sustainability values - use that paper straw that will disintegrate as you're drinking your beverage because it helps slow the rate at which we're all collectively killing the planet! :P

Notice that this product does not use the words, "delightfully smooth." But it claims to still be smooth and creamy. Hmm...

This one has less fat, less protein, and less sugar. It also doesn't have any of the added vitamins, sunflower oil, or emulsifiers. Does this make it healthier than the refrigerated one? Potentially, especially if you're avoiding additives.

1) I put this picture here to point out that it's hard to tell the difference from the two. The left one is the refrigerated one, and the right one is the shelf-stable one. Perhaps the shelf-stable one has less opacity, but otherwise they look the same.

2) I personally prefer the refrigerated version - the emulsifiers add a creamier, more pleasing mouth feel. Part of the reason I like oat milk so much is because compared to all the other alternative milks out there, it goes best with coffee, lattes, and smoothies. Alternative milks usually contain a substantial amount of water, which means they will inevitably water down whatever drink it is that you're adding it to.

3) Does it taste like cereal? Not really. The oat flavor is pretty mild. I find it pretty gentle compared to the flavor of a soy milk.

4) The shelf stable one tasted watery and sweet. Not that sweet but weirdly sweeter than the refrigerated one even though it has less sugar.

5) Both are fine. The refrigerated one is the better value at $3.99 for two quarts versus the shelf-stable one at $2.29 for one quart.

6) I prefer Silk Oat Yeah and Oatly over both of these Trader Joe's versions. Oatly is expensive but used in independent coffee shops (and BOBA GUYS). And Silk has more emulsifiers and whatnot for a marginally better mouth feel. I guess I just like artificial milk!

TL;DR: Trader Joe's Non-Dairy Oat Beverage. Refrigerated for creamier non-dairy "milk," shelf-stable for its waterier, more natural cousin. Refrigerated - 8 out of 10. Shelf-stable - 7 out of 10. Mantou Joe repurchase? Would repurchase the refrigerated one in a pinch.