Dairy-free milk alternatives are one of many food substitute items to have exploded in popularity in recent years. You can walk into any grocery store today and find a relatively wide selection of almond, soy, or oat milks. Consumers would have had a much harder time finding any of these products a decade ago.
The rise in demand for these dairy-free products is part of a larger trend toward diversified dietary options. There are a myriad of reasons why people might seek alternatives to dairy. Vegan lifestyles restrict the consumption of animal products like dairy. Meanwhile, it is estimated that over half of adults experience some degree of lactose intolerance. Then there are also consumers who simply prefer the taste or texture of dairy milk substitutes. No matter the reasons, more people are interested in consuming these products than ever before.
With this increased demand comes increased competition on the market. Brands are working hard to create the best dairy-free product possible. Many of these products end up being quite unique. For instance, oat milk and almond milk have very distinct tastes from one another. This means that a consumer’s choice will sometimes come down to personal preference more than anything else. But there is a big demand for high quality and great tasting products which must be met.
In order to ensure a great tasting dairy-free product, many manufacturers rely on dairy-free milk and cream enhancers. These flavor enhancers use natural flavors to help give the beverages an authentic, rich milk flavor without relying on dairy.
Flavor enhancers have become an essential part of many food manufacturing processes. Dietary substitutes like dairy-free milk and meat alternatives often rely on flavor enhancers to provide them with natural flavoring. These enhancers can mask off tastes while also offering a pleasant, “authentic” flavor without sacrificing any dietary or nutritional demands.
With dairy-free cream and milk enhancers, the goal is to allow dairy milk alternatives to achieve milk flavor without dairy. While the goal is not always to create a product that tastes exactly like milk, it helps to be close. Manufacturers want their product to be functionally similar to milk in both flavor and texture.
Taste & Texture
Flavor is always crucial in food manufacturing. But the importance of texture cannot be overlooked in many products. This is uniquely true for non-dairy milk products. Milk is known for its signature thick texture. Dairy-free milk and cream products need to emulate this texture, just as they must match milk’s creamy flavor.
In many cases, dairy-free products use dairy-free milk enhancers to achieve the signature creamy flavor associated with milk. Soy, oats, and almonds are not naturally creamy in themselves, so achieving this texture without enhancers can be challenging. Flavor enhancers provide manufacturers with natural flavorings to achieve a creamy taste and texture in their products.
Milk’s texture is of special significance when it is mixed with other foods or beverages, like coffee. A common complaint about some dairy-free milk products is that they do not mix well with hot beverages. Given how widespread coffee and tea consumption is, this can be a major problem for many manufacturers of these products.
Dairy-free milk and cream enhancers can preserve the creamy milk flavor without interfering with the beverage’s texture. Other flavorings might pose a risk to the product’s texture, making them much less desirable for manufacturers.
To learn more about how dairy-free milk enhancers can benefit you, visit OSF Flavors. OSF are innovative flavor experts who use only all-natural ingredients in every uniquely crafted flavor. Visit OSF’s website to request a flavor sample today!