The most developed category in the plant-based space is alternative dairy, which is estimated to be worth around $2.5 billion. There is so much development in the sector that it feels like a new type of alternative milk such as Táche’s pistachio milk or Take Two Foods‘ barley milk, pops up every week. You can now add Blume to that list as this week, the Vancouver-based superfood company launched a new concentrated nut milk paste filled with adaptogenic ingredients.
Blume’s Adaptogenic Milk Blend has a similar texture to smooth nut butter, and it comes packaged in a glass jar. The base ingredients include almonds, cashews, coconut, and oats. The concentrate is considered adaptogenic because it contains Reishi, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, and Chaga mushrooms, which are supposed to help the body modulate its stress response and increase focus. Adaptogenic ingredients are defined as being able to increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote normal physiological functioning.
Many other plant-based milks contain some type of oil that acts as an emulsifier that ensures the milk won’t separate, and also helps it foam. The Adaptogenic Milk Blend does not contain added oil, but according to the company, still has the capacity to foam when used to create a latte. It is recommended to store the concentrate in the fridge after opening, where it will last three to four months.
Blume sent me a jar of their Adaptogenic Milk Blend to test out. To make milk, I followed the directions and blended one tablespoon of the concentrate with one cup of water for 20-30 seconds. The result was fresh milk that had a thick foam, and was an interesting light brown color. I took a sip and was immediately disappointed by the off-flavor and lack of creaminess. I tasted nothing like milk, or any type of plant-based milk I had before. Despite the thick foam on top, the rest of the liquid tasted closer to water. Separation occurred almost immediately after blending, and gritty sediment settled at the bottom.
A few other companies have products similar to Blume. JOI and Modest Mylk use various bases of coconut, almond, oat, and cashew to produce a similar nut milk concentrate. Daily Harvest now sells frozen almond milk cubes that can be blended into fresh milk. We have not tried the concentrates from other brands, so cannot attest to how these are.
I like the idea of these concentrated nut milk pastes, and see some of the benefits they offer over plant-based milks that come in cartons. However, if it doesn’t taste good, then it’s not worth it. On top of this, it is more money upfront: $24 for one jar of Blume’s concentrate versus a $4-$5 half-gallon carton of plant-based milk. A jar of Adaptogenic Milk Blend includes 20 servings, which equates to about $1.20 per serving. It’s also an extra step to blend the milk, and I (like most other consumers) are already accustomed to just reaching in the fridge for ready-to-drink milk.
I’ll personally be sticking to prepared plant-based milk for now. If you’re interested in trying out Blume’s Adaptogenic Milk Concentrate for yourself, it is now available for purchase on the company’s website. The company plans on selling it direct-to-consumer for the time being.
Leave a Reply