Tea & Oat Milk - A Cup of Good Choices

I went to Blue Bottle Coffee the other day and ordered a matcha latte. I noted that the store's default milk is oat milk and not whole milk, as would typically be expected. This gave me a slight pause. I know oat milk is currently very popular. Still, before this visit, I hadn't really considered that it might be the default milk in coffee shops and other similar establishments.

It's one thing to make an alternative milk option like oats readily available to those who prefer it, but to make it the actual default is a significant move. So, mulling over Blue Bottle Coffee's choice to take this path, I concluded that there must be more to oat milk than being a hot trend.

Millennial and Generation Z Status Symbol

Admittedly, oat milk has become the "it" milk, especially for people who are active on social media. It's one of the current markers of style and trendiness, frequently featured on Instagram and Tiktok posts by influencers and high-end restaurants. It has even replaced heavy cream and whole milk in all kinds of recipes in many dining hot spots. True enough, it isn't just Blue Bottle Coffee that uses oat milk as the default milk these days.

Such is the power and influence of oat milk that the Swedish brand and oat milk market pioneer Oatly has been backed by influential figures like Oprah Winfrey and Natalie Portman. But what is it about oat milk that appeals to many consumers?

Oat Milk's Story

As can be inferred from the name, oat milk is made from oats. Generally, it involves a process of blending steel-cut, pre-soaked oat groats and then straining the mixture with a special cloth. The liquid derived from this is oat milk. Since oats absorb water well, the resulting milk is full of macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as the creamy, sweet taste of the grains.

Its inception dates back to the late '90s at Lund University in Sweden. As a complete novelty back then, it didn't garner much interest. However, when the concept was introduced to the U.S. market in 2017 through the Oatly brand, it soon became a hit. Very characteristic of the times, much of its popularity can be attributed to the influence of social media. People have certainly seen oat milk in stores before. Still, they didn't pay it any mind until they started seeing it featured on Instagram, frequently presented in an artsy aesthetic that appealed to Millennials and Gen Z.

Oatly isn't the sole player in the oat milk market these days. There are also Nesquik, Chobani, Danone, and Califia Farms. Many who love oat milk but find its cost restricting have even found ways to make homemade oat milk. Now, they don't need to go to the shops. Instead, they just have to buy their preferred coffee or tea and then make their own concoction with oat milk at home.

Oat Milk for Tea

I can say that oat milk pairs well with tea in that cup of matcha latte. It doesn't have to be matcha, either. It also reportedly works well with English breakfast, Earl Gray, chai, black, herbal, etc. However, matcha and oat milk seem to make an ideal pairing. (Find out all about Matcha.)

According to research, Millennial and Gen Z consumers have a definitive preference for green tea, especially matcha. These age groups display just as much interest in the story and traditions behind the tea as in the tea itself. Green tea, with its slew of health benefits and its frequent categorization as a superfood, definitely appeals to these generations that are characteristically more health-conscious. Add the seeming mystique of the Japanese tea ceremony and general Japanese tea culture, and you've got a hooked demographic.

(Learn about the Japanese tea ceremony.)

Matcha has been an "it" drink for some time now. Oat milk is understandably more of a novelty, but it has quickly endeared itself to the trendy crowd. Baristas love oat milk and often recommend it for their customers' coffee and tea drinks, if only for the lovely, smooth microfoam it brings when steamed. Customers love it because its sweet, creamy taste is similar to the dairy milk they're familiar with. Of course, consumers everywhere love oat milk for the supposedly healthier and greener option it presents.

Delving more into the genius pairing of oat milk with tea, here is a more detailed explanation of why they work so well together.

• Oat milk balances the bitter notes of tea with its rich and creamy texture.
• Unlike regular milk, it does not curdle when added to hot tea. In fact, blending it into hot tea automatically achieves a latte-like feel.
• Added to hot, cold, or iced tea, oat milk, which has an earthy essence when drunk neat, takes on hints of caramel in its taste.
• The oat flavor is very subtle. It's highly likely that the drinker won't notice the switch from dairy.
• It doesn't compromise the health benefits of tea (or coffee, for that matter). Case in point: adding dairy milk may decrease the wholesomeness of green tea due to its fatty or allergenic content. Oat milk, on the other hand, only improves its nutritional value.

Oat Milk's Winning Qualities

The above points explain why tea is better with oat milk, but it's essential to understand why oat milk has become something of a status symbol. Indeed, its popularity would have fizzled out soon if it wasn't genuinely worthy. Instead, as time passes, its influence has only grown even more potent. So, what advantages does oat milk offer that regular daily milk doesn't? And what sets it apart from other milk alternatives?

Not a smidge of dairy

This means that it's lower in fat than cow's milk and doesn't have the allergens associated with dairy. It's an excellent choice for those who are lactose intolerant or who are following a casein-free diet for one reason or another. Casein is the chief protein in milk that gives it its white color. However, many people are sensitive, if not downright allergic, to it.

Millennials and Gen Z are generally very careful about what they eat. Having been raised by a more protective generation of parents, today's young people tend to be knowledgeable about sensitivities and are more vigilant about avoiding them.

That's why oat milk is steadily gaining ground. It has now edged soy milk out of second place among plant-based dairy milk alternatives. And, even though almond milk remains in the lead, it probably won't be long before oat milk takes its place since many have an allergic reaction to almonds.

Even though there is a debate on whether oats can be considered gluten-free or not (they are in most countries), it's important to note that they're not listed among the top allergens. In fact, according to gluten.org, most people with celiac disease can tolerate oats well.

All that fiber goodness

Although there is no fiber in cow’s milk, oat milk contains two grams of it per cup serving. This is significant because fiber does so much more than make your bowel movements regular. It has beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that not only aids in digestive functions but also boosts gut health, maintains the immune system, and improves the body's ability to self-heal. Beta-glucan also slows down carbohydrate absorption in the gut, resulting in a more even and stable supply of sugar into the bloodstream. This makes oat milk an excellent choice for those looking to regulate their blood sugar.

While there remains a debate on just how influential the gut microbiome is on a person's overall health, many health-conscious Millennials subscribe to the philosophy and take pains to ensure that good bacteria are thriving and dominant in their gut flora. Oat milk's beta-glucan fibers certainly help bolster positive activity in the gut.

Packed with nutrients

It contains the all-important B vitamins, which are essential in the breakdown of carbohydrates for energy and the function of red blood cells. It also has bone-strengthening minerals like magnesium, potassium, and zinc, as well as copper and manganese. Besides these, oat milk also contains trace amounts of vitamins A and D.

Since Millennials and Gen Z are usually more health-oriented, they gravitate toward oat milk for its nutritional value and general wholesomeness. As a result of this health consciousness, they make a mindful effort to eat and drink better, and oat milk presents itself as the best milk option for their consumption.

None of the bad fats

For those still unfamiliar with fat talk, saturated fats are generally considered unhealthy, while unsaturated fats are regarded as beneficial. Oat milk has a total of 2.5g of unsaturated fat per serving. Compared to the 5g of saturated fat per serving of whole milk, it is very low in calories, making it even more appealing to those watching their weight.

This again explains why oat milk is a favorite among Millennials. It's not only about eating and drinking right but also living better in general. This means making better choices, and that includes staying away from bad fats.

A cholesterol-free option

This is clearly not the case with dairy milk, the consumption of which could increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Reducing cholesterol intake is prudent since excessive LDL could lead to cardiovascular disease. Choosing oat milk over regular dairy milk means reducing cholesterol intake per serving by 24mg.

While Millennials are now all about seizing the day, considering their very representative hashtags of #YOLO (you only live once) and #FOMO (fear of missing out), they also care about living a long and quality life. Again, this means making good choices like keeping bad cholesterol, which is LDL, in check.

The greener choice

The land used for producing oat milk is 80 percent less than the land used for dairy milk. When it comes to the other vegan milk options, oat milk uses considerably less water than almond or soy milk. Since one of the aspirations of Millennials and Gen Z nowadays is a more sustainable world, many of them are very conscious of the products they use. When given a chance, they tend to opt for the environmentally friendly choice.

It seems the Millennials and Gen Z are determined not to copy the mistakes of older generations. In a way, they can't be blamed for their seemingly judgmental and self-righteous mindset. They are, after all, inheriting the effects of many poor and harmful choices. A lot of them were set on this path of awareness and self-care by their GenX parents, who had been striving to do better than their own Boomer parents. As it happens, these generational differences set the stage for the Millennial and Gen Z cultural touchstone that is oat milk.

Tea Recipes with Oat Milk

With all the wonderful attributes of oat milk, it's hard not to be convinced, or at least interested. So if you're curious and would like to try oat milk for the first time with your tea drink, or if you're a fan but would love to not rely on the pricey stores for your fix, here are a couple of simple oat milk and tea recipes you can follow. Both are vegan.

Final Thoughts

After learning about oat milk and its great points, Blue Bottle Coffee's decision to make it its default milk makes so much sense now. It's not merely pandering to the preferences of its customers; it's mainly an ethical decision that resulted in making the deemed best milk option the default. As it happens, that matcha latte did not only taste good; it also made me feel good about drinking something healthy and eco-friendly.

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