I Taste Tested Unpopular Plant-Based Milks, And Here's What We're All Missing Out On

Sure, you've heard of soy, almond, and oat — but have you heard of barley milk or pea milk?!

Hi, all, I'm Farrah! Recently, I taste-tested different brands of oat milk to determine the best one. Not long after, I discovered that there is a whole other world of plant-based milk out there, ranging from barley to pea milk. Yes, you read that right. PEA MILK. So I decided to once again taste them all so you don't have to in order to figure out which might be the best.

Warner Bros.

Full disclosure: These companies did send me their products to try. However, I'm bringing you full honesty. All thoughts are my own. Also, this is not an ad; nor am I obligated to review these products. 

Here's the lineup, folks. Although I tried Chobani last time, I did a taste test this time around of their sugar-free oat milk. The other brands include Good Karma, Take Two, Minor Figures, This PKN, and Sproud.

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

Good Karma: A blend of oat, flax, and peas. Claims to have five times the protein of almond milk. This brand is certified vegan, certified glyphosate-residue free, non-GMO, and made without major allergens. (I could not find this anywhere online near me, but the flax milk version retails for $4.79.)

Take Two (barley milk): Made with upcycled barley — specifically, rescued barley from the beer-brewing process. Claims to prevent unnecessary filling of landfills, conserving millions of gallons of water, and avoids tons of greenhouse gas emissions. ($5.49)

Sproud (pea milk): Powered by peas, developed in Sweden using the yellow split pea protein, and is vegan. ($4.89)

Chobani (sugar-free): Chobani offers its oat milk with 0 grams of sugar. ($4.89)

Minor Figures: Plant-based, 100% vegan oat milk and a carbon-neutral company. (By the case: $27)

This PKN (Pecan milk): Claims they produce fewer negative environmental impacts than other dairy-free plant-based alternative milks. (By the case: $29)

I typically drink oat milk in my coffee and cereal on a weekly basis, so I'm including a pass/fail coffee and cereal taste on top of a straightforward taste test. Let's get started.

First: Good Karma Plantmilk

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

Thoughts: At first pour, the color and consistency seemed to be really similar to cow's milk. When I took a sip, I was surprised. It's super sweet. You know how some parents try their baby's own milk just because, and then claim it has a really sweet flavor? This is what I imagine that's like. The texture is pleasantly smooth, but there's a subtle almost-tangy aftertaste that is a bit strange. This is probably best used in smoothies and sweeter cereals, but I wouldn't add it to savory recipes.

Cereal/coffee test: Failed — unless you want it on the sweeter side ❌

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(2.5/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 100; sugar: 5 grams; protein: 5 grams

Next Up: Take Two Barley Milk

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Thoughts: I didn't know what to expect with this one. To be perfectly honest, I was a little grossed out when I poured it into the cup and saw...little chunks of something? I shook the carton WELL before pouring, but anyway. I wasn't thrilled by the color, either. It almost looks like chocolate milk! With these very low expectations, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the taste. It was creamy, crisp, and refreshing without any sweetness. There is a very subtle aftertaste that's similar to oat milk, but it isn't as potent.

Cereal/coffee test: Passed ✅

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 70; sugar: 5 grams; protein: 5 grams

Next: Sproud Pea Milk

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

Thoughts: Like the barley milk, Sproud's coloring was very off-white. There was an unexpected sweet smell to it, and with that came a very sweet taste. The texture was creamy and similar to cow's milk, but I think this may have been the sweetest-tasting milk of the bunch. Since I'm someone who doesn't love almond milk, which also has a sweeter taste, this wasn't for me. However, I wouldn't hesitate to use it in smoothies.

Cereal/coffee test: Failed ❌

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 90; sugar: 6 grams; protein: 5 grams

Next up: Chobani Sugar Free Oat Milk

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

Thoughts: You may have seen me taste-test this brand in my last review, but Chobani reached out and asked if they could send over the sugar-free kind, and I said, "Why not!" First, the coloring is the whitest I've seen! Both the texture and color make it look like a glass of cow's milk, which is wild. The taste is SUPER creamy and has a milk-like mouthfeel. But there is a not-so-subtle oaty aftertaste that isn't unpleasant but also wasn't something I expected.

Cereal/coffee test: Passed ✅

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 80; sugar: 0 grams; protein: 1 gram

Minor Figures Organic Oat Milk

Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

Thoughts: I'd never heard of this brand until they asked if I'd like to try it, so I did! It's made for baristas, and the coloring is pretty white and the consistency is deliciously creamy, but there is a pretty blatant sweetness to the flavoring, almost as if you're drinking Fruity Pebbles cereal milk. Again, if that's your vibe, you'll like it! It wasn't for me, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it in coffee.

Cereal/coffee test: Passed ✅

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 150; sugar: 8 grams; protein: 2 grams

This PKN Pecan Milk:

Farrah Penn / Buzzfeed, glass of pecan milk

Thoughts: I've never heard of pecan milk before, so I was eager to give it a try. The coloring is pretty dark, almost like chocolate milk. You first get hit with a creamy and refreshingly cool taste, but then there is a very sweet aftertaste. It's not a real surprise you can taste the pecans! However, I love the smooth texture of this milk out of all of these options.

Cereal/coffee test: Passed ✅

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5 stars)

Calories per serving (1 cup): 80; sugar: 0 grams; protein: 1 gram

Listen, I think it's worth trying all of these for yourself. Everyone has different tastes! For me, the clear winner was (surprisingly!) Take Two Barley Milk. Refreshing, crisp, and on the neutral side, this is what I personally look for in plant-based milk.

Let us know if you've tried any of these in the comments below!