This New Dairy-Free Milk Tastes (Almost) Like the Real Thing

Alternative milks are having a moment — and rightfully so. Plant-based milk can do some pretty amazing things, like become a bowl of delicious chocolate ice cream or top a foamy latte. Although plant-based milks can be vegan-friendly and eco-friendly options, they haven’t exactly convinced dairy fans to grab a carton. That, however, is what the latest product from Silk is hoping to change. The brand known for its almond milk and other dairy-free alternatives just launched a new beverage that’s incredibly similar to traditional milk. And yes, I’m willing to vouch for it.

The product — which hit store shelves on January 19 — is called Nextmilk, and aims to nail it on texture and flavor. Unlike single-ingredient “milks” (think: oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk), Nextmilk is made with a combination of plant-based ingredients for an optimal creamy texture. The first three ingredients are as follows: “Oatmilk (Filtered Water, Oat Concentrate), Coconutmilk (Filtered Water, Coconut Cream), Coconut Oil.” Notably absent from the ingredient list are carrageenan and artificial flavors.

This unique blend is meant to approximate dairy milk in almost every way; not only does it pour thick and creamy, but it also has a similar rich sweetness and mouthfeel (no watery plant juice here!). I’m a fan of plant-based milks and dairy milk, so I was curious about how this would stack up and ordered a carton of whole-fat and reduced-fat (2%) Nextmilk.

Cutting to the chase, yes! Silk Nextmilk is amazing. I’m a fan of the whole-fat version (it’s uniquely creamy and sweet), which makes sense: That’s my favorite kind of traditional milk, too.

My first taste of Nextmilk had me scrambling for the label. I was sure there had to be some dairy in there. And to my surprise, nope — just plants! I also tried it in a bowl of Cinnamon Cheerios, a situation where I pretty much always reach for dairy milk (because watery cereal is just sad). I was seriously impressed by how the Nextmilk “behaved” in the bowl, coating the Cheerios just like my favorite local dairy milk. Not to mention, the flavored cereal milk at the bottom of the bowl tasted just like the real thing. 

Silk’s Nextmilk also gets nutritional gold stars; it’s lactose-free and has 75 percent less sugar than whole dairy milk. Personally, I’m more interested in the fact that Silk is an environmentally responsible, human-focused B Corp. I’m also eager to experiment with it in recipes where I’d normally reach for regular milk. So, if you’re not drinking dairy for whatever reason, I definitely recommend checking out Nextmilk.