Banana Milk
What is Banana Milk?
Banana milk is a dairy-free alternative to milk. Although the main ingredients are bananas and water, the drink may also contain added flavorings such as seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, almonds, and chocolate.
- This beverage has a sweet taste due to the addition of the fruit, as well as a watery consistency.
- It is one of the various options available to vegans or lactose intolerant individuals as a milk substitute.
This fruit milk is often enjoyed with cereal, oatmeal, or porridge. It’s important to note that this milk is different from the dairy-based Korean fruit milk, which is basically a banana flavored milk, known as banana uyu.
A few popular brands on the market are:
- Mooala
- Banana Wave
- Almond Breeze
Origin of banana milk
This fruit milk was invented by Jeff Richards, the founder of Mooala Brands. When was diagnosed as lactose intolerant, he began to search for dairy-free alternatives. Since he was also allergic to nuts, he decided to use bananas to craft a milk substitute, because they are mostly free of allergens. In a project with the University of Minnesota, this milk was created and has slowly begun to gain momentum in the vegan and health food communities.
Nutrition
A single cup may contain around:
The beverage is rich in complex carbohydrates derived from bananas, but does not provide much in terms of proteins and fats. Also, this fruit milk is rich in potassium, which is good for regulating blood pressure. Some brands of milk may even come fortified with calcium.
Commercial production
This fruit milk is produced by blending together ripe bananas and water. Some brands may also add sweeteners, vanilla, dates, seeds, nut butter, and spices such as cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Bear in mind, this milk is best consumed immediately after opening the bottle or after preparation at home. However, it will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge, if kept in an airtight container.
Banana milk recipes
This milk may be used as a substitute for milk in preparing cereal, porridge, and oatmeal. It may also be used in baking. The drink can even be consumed on its own. Here are a few recipes:
FDA regulations
This fruits milk is technically not classified as ‘milk’ in the US, since only the lacteal secretion from cows that are free of colostrum can be labeled as such. Serious attempts have been made by the FDA to rule out any non-dairy product as milk, which has left alternative milk products undefined and unclear. Nonetheless, the FDA describes all fresh fruits, including bananas, as raw agricultural commodities and strictly regulates all aspects of their growing, harvesting, packing, and storage.
References
Megan Falk, What Is Banana Milk, and Is It Healthy?, Shape, https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/mooala-banana-milk-nutrition
Nieman, David C et al. “Bananas as an energy source during exercise: a metabolomics approach.” PloS one vol. 7,5 (2012): e37479. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037479, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3355124/