I love a good cup of coffee, and oat milk is always my go-to when it comes to plant-based milks. But it can get pricey, so I decided to put three budget supermarket varieties to the test.
Which supermarket oat milk is the best?
While the plant-based diet may not be as trendy as it was a few years ago, it’s still a way of life for many. I avoided dairy for years, and even though that’s no longer the case, I still buy a very popular plant milk that tastes fantastic in coffee.
Oat milk is creamy, sweet, and tasty, so it’s no surprise that it’s a favourite coffee order for many. At home, it’s the same, and Oatly is always my go-to brand.
However, it’s well known that this can be a bit pricey, so I decided to test three budget supermarket oat milks to see if they could compete.
Since I only ever drink oat milk in coffee or tea, I always opt for a barista-style drink. These are often designed to froth up better when heated due to their higher fat content, making them ideal for your homemade latte or cappuccino.
I managed to get hold of three own-brand barista oat milks from Aldi, Lidl, and Asda. Both Aldi and Lidl’s versions were priced at £1.25, with Asda’s slightly more expensive at £1.45, reports the Express.
However, considering a litre of Oatly Barista costs £2.20 at Tesco and Sainsbury’s, it’s still a substantial saving. But how did they taste, and could they stand up to my favourite brand?
I made three cups of coffee and tasted each one to find out. Two of them I would probably never buy again, but one was delicious, giving Oatly a real run for its money.
Aldi
I kicked off with Aldi’s ActiLeaf oat milk, priced at a very reasonable £1.25 for one litre. It foamed up promisingly well, so I was hopeful when I took my first sip.
However, this is where the optimism ended. It had quite a bitter taste – not the sweet, creamy oat milk I’m used to.
It was also very thin, and had an unusual aftertaste that seemed to linger for ages.
I probably wouldn’t choose this one again, but I suppose for that low price it’s not the worst option in the world.
Rating: 2/5
Lidl
Next in the taste test was Lidl’s variety, which is the exact same price as Aldi’s at £1.25.
I’ve tried the regular oat milk from here before, and I quite liked it. However, for some reason the barista-style didn’t hit the mark at all.
It didn’t really foam up at all, which I’d say is a pretty crucial factor in a barista milk. It was also fairly watery, a lot more so than I remember the regular version being, and had a strange aftertaste not a million miles away from the Aldi one. Disappointing.
Rating: 1/5
Asda
Finally, Asda’s barista oat milk, coming in at £1.45 for one litre – so 20p more expensive than the others.
First impression was that the carton is the most visually appealing out of them all, which obviously doesn’t affect the taste, but definitely worth a mention. It had a promising pour, and frothed up nicely too.
In terms of flavour, this one was miles ahead of the rest. It was creamy and sweet, and very similar to Oatly. Perhaps even better, considering its lower price.
This is certainly worth a try if you’re looking to reduce your food shop spending. If I hadn’t purchased it myself, I honestly wouldn’t have known it was any different from my usual.
Rating: 5/5
