Peanut milk

Last updated
Peanut milk Peanut milk.jpg
Peanut milk

Peanut milk is a plant milk, which is an alternative to animal milk. It is made with peanuts, water, and sometimes other additional ingredients like salt, sugar, or cinnamon.[ citation needed ] Peanut milk is high in fat and protein compared to other plant-based milks. This milk is sometimes used by people who identify with lactose intolerance, veganism, or a casein-free diet, as it has no lactose, but includes nutritional benefits like being high in magnesium, [1] Vitamin E, [2] Vitamin B-6, [3] and protein.

Contents

In the northern region of Nigeria it is a popular drink known as Groundnut milk. [4]

Invention

George Washington Carver, a well known botanist, scientist, conversationalist and professor in the early 1900s, was most likely to have been the modern inventor of peanut milk. With a fond curiosity and great skill in chemistry and physics, George was known for his valuable research on the peanut. Through the isolation of fats, oils, gums, resins and sugars of the peanut, he found many ways to use the nut, including peanut milk. [5] [6]

Market availability

There are very few manufacturers of peanut milk, despite plant-based milks being mass-manufactured, such as cashew, almond, and rice milk. As dietary preferences shift, as evidenced by the fact that online searches for diets like veganism have doubled in the United States since 2015, tripled in Australia, France, and Spain, and more than quadrupled in Sweden, demand for non-dairy milk has increased. Plant-based milk purchases in U.S. grocery stores rose by 5% over the previous year, accounting for 14% of total milk sales, according to the Plant Based Foods Association's examination of store sales statistics. [7] Sales of regular milk, on the other hand, had risen by 0.1 percent. [8]

Production

In order to make a basic form of peanut milk, the following is needed: peanuts, water, a blender and a Cheesecloth. The first step includes putting peanuts in a jar big enough to hold them, and then soaking the peanuts in water for at least six hours. Then transfer the soaked peanuts into a blender and blend them until smooth. Finally, transfer the blended nut substance into a cheesecloth to squeeze out the peanut milk, now ready for consumption. [9]

In Nigeria, peeled or unpeeled groundnuts are blended and boiled for few minutes. [10] Groundnut milk is served cold and chilled using refrigerator and ice cubes. [11]

Sustainability

Water footprint

Though little research has been done on the sustainability of peanut milk itself (due to lack of mass-production), there is information available on the sustainability of peanuts. Peanut production is mainly concentrated in drier climates like in the Mideast and Midwest parts of the U.S. [12] Peanuts in comparison to other nuts are the most water-efficient nut, as it takes around 3.2 gallons of water to produce one ounce of peanuts. This is because of its compact plant structure and its ability to grow underground, as it takes less biomass to intake water. The peanut plant also keeps water intake to a minimum through its vine's growth structure, allowing for a microclimate conserving water. [13]

The following is an illustrated graph, showing the water usage of the 4 most harvested nuts in America. [14]

Water usage [14]
Gallons of water per ozgrown in
Almonds28.7USA
Pistachios23.6USA
Walnuts26.7USA
Peanuts3.2USA

Carbon footprint

Peanuts have the lowest carbon emissions among popular USA nuts, allowing for sustainable farming. Peanuts are also unique compared to other nuts, as they improve soil composition and benefit other crops around them. [13]

Carbon Emissions of USA Grown Nuts [15]
(kg CO2-Ceqv per 1 kggrown in
Almonds3.56USA
Pistachios0.76USA
Pecans1.61USA
Walnuts2.00USA
Peanuts0.57USA

Nutritional value

Researchers developed a vitamin and mineral fortified infant formula that used peanut milk as a source of protein, fat and food energy. [16] When compared to other plant-based milks, peanut milk has one of the highest protein and fat contents, allowing for a creamier milk. The macro nutrients in a cup of peanut milk include the following:

Nutritional facts of peanut milk [ citation needed ]
Nut milk (1 cup)Peanut milk
Calories150 cal
Fat11 g
Protein6 g
Carbs6 g

Controversially, lectins, which are found in soy, peanuts, and other beans, may limit glucose absorption in the intestine, hence affecting total calorie consumption. [17]

Uses

Peanut milk is generally used as a dairy substitute for items such as coffee creamer, peanut soup, yogurt, parfait, or by itself. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dairy product</span> Food product made from milk

Dairy products or milk products, also known as lacticinia, are food products made from milk. The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food around the world such as yogurt, cheese, milk and butter. A facility that produces dairy products is a dairy. Dairy products are consumed worldwide to varying degrees. Some people avoid some or all dairy products because of lactose intolerance, veganism, environmental concerns, other health reasons or beliefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk</span> White liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals

Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulating components in milk contribute to milk immunity. Early-lactation milk, which is called colostrum, contains antibodies that strengthen the immune system and thus reduce the risk of many diseases. Milk contains many nutrients, including calcium and protein, but also lactose and saturated fat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegetarian cuisine</span> Food not including meat

Vegetarian cuisine is based on food that meets vegetarian standards by not including meat and animal tissue products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peanut</span> Legume cultivated as a grain and oil crop

The peanut, also known as the groundnut, goober (US), goober pea, pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics by small and large commercial producers, both as grain legume and as an oil crop. Atypically among legumes, peanut pods develop underground leading botanist Carl Linnaeus to name peanuts hypogaea, which means "under the earth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food pyramid (nutrition)</span> Visual representation of optimal servings from basic groups

A food pyramid is a representation of the optimal number of servings to be eaten each day from each of the basic food groups. The first pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The 1992 pyramid introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was called the "Food Guide Pyramid" or "Eating Right Pyramid". It was updated in 2005 to "MyPyramid", and then it was replaced by "MyPlate" in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nut (fruit)</span> In botany, type of dry indehiscent fruit

A nut is a fruit consisting of a hard or tough nutshell protecting a kernel which is usually edible. In general usage and in a culinary sense, many dry seeds are called nuts. In a botanical context, "nut" implies that the shell does not open to release the seed (indehiscent).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peanut butter</span> Paste made from ground peanuts

Peanut butter is a food paste or spread made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. It commonly contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners, or emulsifiers. Consumed in many countries, it is the most commonly used of the nut butters, a group that also includes cashew butter and almond butter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meat alternative</span> Plant-based food made to resemble meat

A meat alternative or meat substitute, is a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, eaten as a replacement for meat. Meat alternatives typically approximate qualities of specific types of meat, such as mouthfeel, flavor, appearance, or chemical characteristics. Plant- and fungus-based substitutes are frequently made with soy, but may also be made from wheat gluten as in seitan, pea protein as in the Beyond Burger, or mycoprotein as in Quorn. Alternative protein foods can also be made by precision fermentation, where single cell organisms such as yeast produce specific proteins using a carbon source; as well as cultivated or laboratory grown, based on tissue engineering techniques. The ingredients of meat alternative include 50–80% water, 10–25% textured vegetable proteins, 4–20% non-textured proteins, 0–15% fat and oil, 3-10% flavors/spices, 1-5% binding agents and 0-0.5% coloring agents. 

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice milk</span> Plant milk made from rice

Rice milk is a plant milk made from rice. Commercial rice milk is typically manufactured using brown rice and brown rice syrup, and may be sweetened using sugar or sugar substitutes, and flavored by common ingredients, such as vanilla. It is commonly fortified with protein and micronutrients, such as vitamin B12, calcium, iron, or vitamin D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegetarian nutrition</span> Nutritional and human health aspects of vegetarian diets

Vegetarian nutrition is the set of health-related challenges and advantages of vegetarian diets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plant milk</span> Milk-like drink made from plant-based ingredients

Plant milk is a non-dairy beverage made from a water-based plant extract for flavoring and aroma. Plant milks are consumed as alternatives to dairy milk, and may provide a creamy mouthfeel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk substitute</span> Alternative substance that resembles milk

A milk substitute is any substance that resembles milk and can be used in the same ways as milk. Such substances may be variously known as non-dairy beverage, nut milk, grain milk, legume milk, mock milk and alternative milk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almond butter</span> Nut butter made from almonds

Almond butter is a food paste made from grinding almonds into a nut butter. Almond butter may be "crunchy" or "smooth", and is generally "stir" or "no-stir" (emulsified). Almond butter may be either raw or roasted, but this describes the almonds themselves, prior to grinding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oat milk</span> Type of plant milk made from oats

Oat milk is a plant milk derived from whole oat grains by extracting the plant material with water. Oat milk has a creamy texture and mild oatmeal-like flavor, and is manufactured in various flavors, such as sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate.

Koh-Kae is a Thai brand of nut snacks manufacturing by Mae-Ruay Snack Food Factory Co., Ltd. and was first sold in 1976. In its early days, Koh-Kae only came in their original flavor, which is coconut cream coated peanuts, but they developed others flavor such as tom-yum and chicken flavor later on. By 2000, Mae-Ruay Snack Food Factory Co., Ltd. was awarded ISO 9001 certification by BVQI Institute, followed by the GMP and HACCP system certification by BVQI in 2002. In year 2019 Koh-Kae holds 50% of Thailand nut snacks market share.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plant cream</span> Vegan imitation of dairy cream

Plant cream is an imitation of dairy cream made without dairy products, and thus vegan. It is typically produced by grinding plant material into a thick liquid to which gums are added to imitate the viscosity and mouthfeel of cream. Common varieties are soy cream, coconut cream, and cashew cream. It is used as a dessert topping and in many other dishes and beverages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cashew butter</span> Food spread made from baked or roasted cashews

Cashew butter is a food spread made from baked or roasted cashews. It is rich and creamy in flavour and when stored the oils and solids separate easily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegan cheese</span> Cheese-like food item made without animal ingredients

Vegan cheese is a category of non-dairy, plant-based cheese analogues. Vegan cheeses range from soft fresh cheeses to aged and cultured hard grateable cheeses like plant-based Parmesan. The defining characteristic of vegan cheese is the exclusion of all animal products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmhurst 1925</span> Food and beverage company

Elmhurst 1925 is a plant-based food and beverage company located in Elma, New York. The company manufactures and sells non-dairy, plant-based milks made from nuts, grains, and seeds. The first four nutmilks – almond, cashew, hazelnut, and walnut – debuted at Natural Products Expo West in March 2017. A number of additional products have launched since, including their line of unsweetened plant milks made with only two or three ingredients, award winning barista editions, dairy-free creamers, and single serve ready-to-drink options.

References

  1. "Peanut Milk Benefits". LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. "Vitamin E". Linus Pauling Institute. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  3. "Vitamin B6". Linus Pauling Institute. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  4. quadri, zainab (2016-12-19). "Here is how to make Groundnut milk, a vegan alternative to cow milk". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  5. "George Washington Carver: A World-Famous Scientist, Inventor and Educator | National Peanut Board". nationalpeanutboard.org. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  6. Gray, LaVerne (2011-06-14). "The George Washington Carver Digital Collection2011243The George Washington Carver Digital Collection. URL: www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/gwc/home.html: Iowa State University Last visited February 2011. Gratis". Reference Reviews. 25 (5): 60. doi:10.1108/09504121111145591. ISSN   0950-4125.
  7. "Retail Sales Data". Plant Based Foods Association. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. "Retail sales data: Plant-based meat, eggs, dairy | GFI". gfi.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  9. 1 2 "DIY Peanut Milk | National Peanut Board". nationalpeanutboard.org. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  10. quadri, zainab (2016-12-30). "This Groundnut Milk and Rice Gruel combo is the best recipe on the Internet right now". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  11. "Peanut milk". ResearchGate.
  12. "Peanut Profile". www.agmrc.org. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  13. 1 2 "Peanuts are the Food of the Future. Here's why. | National Peanut Board". nationalpeanutboard.org. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  14. 1 2 "New Data Confirms Peanuts are More Water Efficient Than Ever | National Peanut Board". nationalpeanutboard.org. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  15. "How Eco-Friendly Are Nuts? | Which is the Most Eco-Friendly Nut?". Green Eco Friend. 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  16. Kane, Nimsate; Ahmedna, Mohamed; Yu, Jianmei (2010). "Development of a fortified peanut‐based infant formula for recovery of severely malnourished children". International Journal of Food Science and Technology. 45 (10): 1965–1972. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2010.02330.x.
  17. Chalupa-Krebzdak, Sebastian; Long, Chloe J.; Bohrer, Benjamin M. (December 2018). "Nutrient density and nutritional value of milk and plant-based milk alternatives". International Dairy Journal. 87: 84–92. doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2018.07.018. S2CID   91497320.

Further reading