Alisa Fleming ~ Each year a new ingredients steps up in the world of dairy alternatives. The most recent superstar was coconut, but I’m wondering if it’s now the almighty flaxseed’s turn to shine. True, flaxseeds can’t rival the natural cream of coconut, but the health food industry has come up with a recipe to make flax-based milk alternative that tastes pretty darn amazing.

Several months ago I read an article from a mainstream publication where a group of dairy-consuming writers sampled various types of milk alternatives for a big taste-test. I’m always curious when people who drink cow’s milk regularly, weigh in on milk alternatives. Still, their findings surprised me. Of all the varieties, flaxmilk won, hands down. Flaxseeds made into milk beat out coconut, almonds, soy AND rice – seriously? Now this was something that I had to taste for myself …

As it turns out, there are already two brands on the market, FlaxUSA Flaxmilk and Good Karma Flaxmilk. However, they are identical. The nutritional profiles and ingredients match up exactly, and we couldn’t taste a difference in our trials, so my guess is that these are actually the same milk alternative, made in the same factory, with different packaging.

So, the following tasting notes are for both brands …

Vanilla Flaxmilk – This was way sweeter than I expected, almost dessert-like but oh-so yummy. The flavor is VERY vanilla, which I absolutely loved. It also had a semi-rich, 2% like texture that was incredibly smooth and easy to drink (see below for a picture that I took). I found it to be less thick than coconut milk beverage and smoother and more refreshing than the almond milk options. I think this one could be a big hit in almost any sweet recipe, and in everyday drinks like hot cocoa, coffee, and tea.

Original Flaxmilk – Wow, this was, well … perfect. I could easily taste why this was the unanimous winner. It was fluid, smooth, lightly creamy, and yet refreshing. The Original has a hint of sweetness, but is relatively neutral in taste, with an overall seamless flavor. This variety seemed quite versatile, though I still wouldn’t use it in a purely savory recipe, like mashed potatoes.

Unsweetened Flaxmilk - I typically purchase only unsweetened varieties of milk alternative for their multi-purpose potential and the ability to make sugar-free recipes, so this was the flavor that I was most curious about. Truthfully, it wasn’t as scrumptious as the other two for the obvious reason, no sweetener. However, my interest in milk alternatives isn’t for sipping, it’s for smoothies and other recipes, from sweet to savory. The unsweetened flaxmilk added just the right amount of body to my breakfast smoothies, and the fairly neutral yet somewhat savory flavor seemed like a perfect fit for most dishes. I would definitely consider purchasing this one again for further testing.

And some additional details that I thought you might find interesting …

• In addition to being vegan and dairy-free, they are completely soy-free (no soy lecithin!), gluten-free, and free of the top eight allergens in terms of ingredients. Please see my note below and consult the company if manufacturing processes and trace amounts of an allergen are a concern for you.
• Each serving contains 1200mg of Omega-3’s from cold-pressed flax oil. In fact, fat is just about the only thing in this product beyond some sugars (from evaporated cane juice) in the vanilla and original varieties. The unsweetened contains just 25 calories (and 2.5 grams of fat) in an 8 ounce glass!
• Even though the Original and Vanilla varieties are sweetened, they are still relatively low in sugars when compared to several other brands, 7grams and 11grams per serving respectively (similar to, or lower than the sugars in dairy milk).
• These flaxmilks are fortified with vitamin A (10%), vitamin D (25%), vitamin B12 (25%), and calcium (30%) to rival the vitamin and mineral content of dairy milk. Please check the packaging for current nutritionals and ingredients; this was the information on the packaging at the time of my review.
• You can find flaxmilk in both aseptic (shelf-stable) quart-sized packages and in refrigerated half-gallons. Since Walmart has taken the lead by carrying FlaxUSA Flaxmilk, I think you can expect to see flaxmilk popping up on more and more shelves (in the U.S. and hopefully elsewhere soon) over the next couple of years.

Dietary Notes: By ingredients, these milk alternatives are Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Soy-Free, Wheat-Free, and Sugar-Free (unsweetened variety only). See the packaging for allergen and manufacturing "may contain" labeling, and contact the manufacturer when severe food allergies are of concern.

For More Product Information: Visit the FlaxUSA website at www.flaxusa.com and the Good Karma website at www.goodkarmafoods.com.

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