Is it just us or is the world finally coming round to the joys of plant milk? More and more people are embracing the vegan lifestyle, and even those of us who aren't total converts are making small changes. Recent research into dairy-free alternatives has shown that while almond, soy, coconut and rice milk have some environmental side effects, oat milk is a hero.
Sustainable, nutritious, and often organic, oat milk is a great addition to your morning cereal and coffee, frothing into a barista style latte, or in dessert recipes like smoothies, pancakes, and ice cream. We've picked our ten favourites from loved brands like Alpro and Oatly across UK supermarkets, and ranked the best tasting buys with top health benefits. We'll also hear advice from nutritionist Jenna Hope on the benefits oat milk in your diet.
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of oat milks available and understand how our ranking was determined.
Image | 1 ![]() Minor Figures | 2 ![]() Oatly | 3 ![]() Glebe Farm | 4 ![]() Moma | 5 ![]() Alpro | 6 ![]() Oatly | 7 ![]() Alpro | 8 ![]() Plenish | 9 ![]() Oatly | 10 ![]() Innocent |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Oat M*lk Barista | Oat Drink Barista Edition | Pure Oaty Gluten-Free Oat Drink | Oat Drink Barista Edition | Barista Oat Drink | Organic Longlife Oat Drink | Oat Unsweetened | Organic Oat Drink | Chocolate Oat Drink | Dairy Free Unsweetened Oat Drink |
Features | Hipster-Approved, Barista-Style Milk From London | Wonderfully Creamy and Suitable for All Kinds of Recipes | A Gluten-Free and Organic Barista Blend | UK-Made Oat Milk That's Suitable for Both Coffee and Cooking | Protein-Rich and Perfect for Lattes | Organic Oats, Water, Sea Salt and Not a Thing More! | A Calcium-Rich Oat Milk With Added Vitamins | Organic Gluten-Free Oat Milk Packed With Flavour | An After School Treat, the Vegan Way | An Opulent 5-Ingredient Milk |
Price | £12.00 | £1.80 | £26.29 | £1.48 | £1.80 | £1.70 | £1.70 | £2.10 | £1.50 | £1.75 |
Style (regular/barista) | Barista | Barista | Barista | Barista | Barista | Organic | Regular | Regular | Chocolate | Regular |
Calcium Per 100ml | 120mg | 120 mg | - | 300 mg | - | - | 120 mg | 120mg | ||
Added Vitamins | - | D2, riboflavin, B12 | - | D, B2, B12 | B2, B12, D | None | B2, B12, D2 | D2, riboflavin and B12 | - | |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.2g | 3 g/0.3 g | 0.2g | 0.2g | 0.3g | 0.5g | 1.5g/0.2g | 0.1g | 1.5g | 0.8 g |
Oil-Free | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Calories Per 100ml | 48 | 59 | 45 | 62 | 59 | 37 | 40 | 41 | 61 | 28 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.3g | 1g | 0.5g | 1.0g | 0.8g | 1g | 0.2g | 0.9g | 1.2g | 0.5g |
Gluten-Free | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | - | No |
Country of Origin | UK | Sweden | UK | UK | Belgium | Sweden | Belgium | UK | Sweden | UK |
Volume | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 1 litre | 750 ml |
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Jenna Hope has an undergraduate and a master's degree in nutrition. She is registered with the Association for Nutrition and is hugely passionate about ensuring that products which claim to be healthy really are as they say. Jenna works with individuals, brands, corporate clients, and the media to help people with the smart ways nutrition can change their life.
Keep up-to-date with Jenna through her website and Instagram page where she shares her advice on not only nutrition, but also mental wellness and some absolutely delicious, yet healthy recipe ideas for you to try at home!
Some oat milks are now available in a 'barista edition' or 'foamable' variety, meaning they're specifically aimed at replicating a frothy cappuccino or luxurious latte. Whereas regular oat milks are suitable for most recipes including things like pancakes, cereal and baking.
While there isn't often a huge variation, many barista blends have a higher fat content which means they're much creamier in texture and taste. Some also add an 'acidity regulator', which helps to, well, regulate the acidity levels in your drink, as it's coffee's high acidity that causes curdling and splitting when mixed with lower-pH plant milks. So, pick this variety for high-quality drinks that rival your favourite coffee shop.
If you are making vegan pancakes or you're doing a spot of baking, check out our favourite vegan cookbooks here.
Traditionally we drank cow's milk as a source of calcium which famously strengthens our bones and teeth, and is also vital to healthy heart function and muscle regeneration. The NHS recommends adults get approximately 700 grams of calcium daily.
Children generally need a little less (the required intake starts at 350 g and rises to 550 g between one and ten years old), but if you are feeding oat milk to youngsters between 11 and 18 then 800 grams is the target intake. Lots of oat milks on the market today are fortified with extra calcium, so keep an eye on the label.
Naysayers often accuse plant milks in general of lacking the vitamins that cow's milk contains, but in fact almost all oat milks you can buy online in the UK have been enriched with vitamins (on top of those naturally occurring in oats!) Check out our spec tables to see what vitamins have been added to your oats.
Oats are a great source of fibre and vitamins but do have a higher fat content than some other grains used to produce plant milk. They're largely the healthy kind – polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats – which actually aid healthy brain function and promotes glowing skin.
The fat you need to look out for is the saturated stuff, which among other things can lead to excessive weight gain and poor heart health. According to the NHS we should limit our intake of saturated fat to 20 g a day (women) and 30g a day (men), and less than this for children.
Many oat milks contain either rapeseed oil or sunflower oil, both of which have a neutral taste, bring the milk's fat content up to the desired level and also help create the thick, creamy texture many of us love. But be careful because it means some milks are higher in fat than others.
For a subtler taste, or for anyone following a calorie controlled diet, there are some smashing oat milks made without added oil. Take a glance at our handy spec tables to see both fat contents, and which are oil-free, too.
Many plant-based milks are available for people with lactose intolerance, as some people can't consume soy or any nut-based milks due to allergies, intolerances or health concerns. Therefore, oat milks with added pea protein are a good way of getting some plant-based goodness into them with no downsides.
Oats in themselves are gluten-free, but mass-produced oat products often risk contamination if the oats are prepared or packed alongside gluten-rich grains such as rye, barley and, of course, wheat.
Double-check that your oat milk is free from gluten if you live with coeliac disease or suffer adverse reactions to gluten-heavy foods, because even a trace of gluten can disrupt a gluten free diet.
Have a look at the origin of your oat milk and consider supporting UK-based businesses while you shop. Locally sourced food always has a lower carbon footprint compared with those imported and that's always best for the planet.
There are some wonderful – and seriously moreish – oat milks produced across Europe and the world, but if you're interested in keeping smaller business afloat closer to home, your weekly or monthly stock of oat milk could be the way to do that!
Oat milk is of course dairy free, and for the best Dairy-Free Cheeses check out our guide.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Pack of 6
£12.00
Style (regular/barista) | Barista |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | 120mg |
Added Vitamins | - |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.2g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 48 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.3g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | UK |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.80
Style (regular/barista) | Barista |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | 120 mg |
Added Vitamins | D2, riboflavin, B12 |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 3 g/0.3 g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 59 |
Protein Per 100ml | 1g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | Sweden |
Volume | 1 litre |
Pack of 10
£26.29
Style (regular/barista) | Barista |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | - |
Added Vitamins | - |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.2g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 45 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.5g |
Gluten-Free | Yes |
Country of Origin | UK |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.48
Style (regular/barista) | Barista |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | 300 mg |
Added Vitamins | D, B2, B12 |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.2g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 62 |
Protein Per 100ml | 1.0g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | UK |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.80
Style (regular/barista) | Barista |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | - |
Added Vitamins | B2, B12, D |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.3g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 59 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.8g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | Belgium |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.70
Style (regular/barista) | Organic |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | - |
Added Vitamins | None |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.5g |
Oil-Free | Yes |
Calories Per 100ml | 37 |
Protein Per 100ml | 1g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | Sweden |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.70
Style (regular/barista) | Regular |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | 120 mg |
Added Vitamins | B2, B12, D2 |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 1.5g/0.2g |
Oil-Free | Yes |
Calories Per 100ml | 40 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.2g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | Belgium |
Volume | 1 litre |
£2.10
Style (regular/barista) | Regular |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | |
Added Vitamins | |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.1g |
Oil-Free | Yes |
Calories Per 100ml | 41 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.9g |
Gluten-Free | Yes |
Country of Origin | UK |
Volume | 1 litre |
Long Life
£1.50
Style (regular/barista) | Chocolate |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | 120mg |
Added Vitamins | D2, riboflavin and B12 |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 1.5g |
Oil-Free | No |
Calories Per 100ml | 61 |
Protein Per 100ml | 1.2g |
Gluten-Free | - |
Country of Origin | Sweden |
Volume | 1 litre |
£1.75
Style (regular/barista) | Regular |
---|---|
Calcium Per 100ml | |
Added Vitamins | - |
Saturated Fat Per 100ml | 0.8 g |
Oil-Free | Yes |
Calories Per 100ml | 28 |
Protein Per 100ml | 0.5g |
Gluten-Free | No |
Country of Origin | UK |
Volume | 750 ml |
"Oat milk can be used in a variety of recipes from stews, curries, baked goods, porridge, custard and more! Get creative with your oat milk, as it's sweeter than dairy milk and some of the other milk alternatives it can be a great way to increase sweetness in baked goods without increasing the sugar content."
Waiting impatiently for your delivery and need a quick fix for your cereal? Here's Minimalist Baker's easy recipe, which only uses a couple of ingredients and has lots of helpful tips. Plus, you can sweeten or flavour it however you prefer!
Here are the ingredients:
1. Add oats, water, salt, and any additional add-ins (optional) to a high-speed blender. Top with lid and cover with a towel to ensure it doesn't splash. Blend for about 30 seconds - 1 minute or until the mixture seems well combined. It doesn't have to be 100% pulverised. In fact, over-blending can make the oat milk slimy in texture.How to Make Oat Milk (Perfect Every Time!) | Minimalist Baker Recipes
2. Scoop out a small sample with a spoon to test flavour/sweetness. If it's not sweet enough, add more dates.
3. Pour the mixture over a large mixing bowl or pitcher covered with a very thin towel or a clean T-shirt. In my experience, it benefits from a double strain through a very fine towel to remove any oat remnants. A nut milk bag seemed to let too much residue through.
4. Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. Will keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days (sometimes more). Shake well and enjoy cold. DO NOT HEAT or it will thicken and become gelatinous in texture. It's delicious as is or added to granola, smoothies, or baked goods!
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
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