POLL- Favorite Soymilk

[Robin]

What's your favorite brand of soymilk?

[Katharina]

Mine is Provamel organic sweetened with apple juice.

The taste is great and it foames just like cow's milk so it is perfect for making cappuccino! :)

[Beth B]

We use Vitasoy and it doesnt taste very good. Its okay on cereal but plain its pretty unpleasant. I will try some other brands!

[GranolaMommy]

Soy Dream. Mmmmmmmmm is it good. Not as good as Wildwood soymilk, but it is cheaper!!!

[karen]

We have been drinking Westsoy for a few years now and it's really good. But my store gave me 2 coupons for a free quart of Silk and I*really*liked that.

[Robin]

Wow! I guess my poll didn't really cover all the options! I didn't even realize there were so many brands of soymilk. I always buy the refrigerated kind and the only two brands I have seen there are Sunsoy and Silk. I haven't really browsed the non-refrig kind but I just knew a couple other brands as I had seen them advertised in Vegetarian Times and similar mags. Any opinions of whether buying refrig or non-refrig (I don't know if "non-refrig" is what it's called but I didn't know what else to call it!) is better? What are the advantages/disadvantages?

[nooly]

mine is provamel unsweetened with added vitamins and calcium (it has an orange carton), the plain kind is too 'beany'-tasting and i try to avoid the extra calories in the sweetened.
i did use granose for a while but i didn't like the flavour at all.

[nooly]

if you're an incurable constant tea-drinker like me one advantage is that when you're going out and need to bring your own milk to friends' houses etc you can just stick some in your bag and not worry about it going bad too quickly (although once opened it will in a few days). also you can bring it with you to festivals - the ecotopia festival is in ireland this year (a community of bleeding hearts and hippies living self-sufficiently in the wilderness for 2 weeks) so i'll be bringing a few cartons of provamel......you do need to refrigerate it once opened though so am i even talking about the right thing here at all?? d'oh.

[momof3]

Kinda late on this poll:(

Anyways we use Sammi's Best. It is powdered, (not like most powders that don't mix). It is good.

www.bestlifeint.com

I haven't heard any bad things about it either. So if you do, let me know please

[VeggieGirl]

Vitasoy Enriched Vanilla

(in morning coffee, White Wave soy creamer)

I want to switch to using more nutmilks though, & am planning to try my hand at making these too.

I think they are more healthful, will be better for me personally, and I'd like to keep my total soy foods intake limited/moderate.

VeggieGirl

[Maggie]

Silk is my favorite. When I was in England, though, I became addicted to Provamel strawberry flavored smilk. Yum!
FYI, SunSoy and Eighth Continent smilks aren't vegan. They contain Vitamin D3, which is derived from lanolin.
Peace,
Maggie

[kapoentje]

I like the Trader Joe's label soymilk, the plain kind. :D

[inkiepoo]

We like Soy Good which is produced in the Pacific Northwest by a small company. But I probably use tofu milk more and also a brand called Soyagen, made by Worthington.

[sammie]

White Wave plain silk is my favorite. Trader Joe's unrefrigerated plain (regular, not non-fat, which is too watered down), Whole Foods brand plain refrigerated, and Pacific Foods are also great tasting, and not too chalky.

[healing~lisa]

Blessings to everyone!

My favourite soya milk is Provamel Organic, both of the sweetened and unsweetened variety.

Simply delicious!

:p

Take care everyone :)

Lisa.

[Will]

Soymilk is new to me because we never used dairy subs growing up, but I really love white wave, and so does my gf's dd. My favorite 'milk' is rice dream though. I'm going to start making the stuff since it is so expensive -- hope it turns out well!

[Blinky]

I like Rice Dream

[frenchie]

My fave is Silk....I also use the Trader Joe's brand if I can't get to my usual market.

[duckie1978]

Sun Soy changed it's recipe and it is now vegan!! It is so good and cheaper (at least where I go) than any other kind. They chocolate is the best.

[Jenn_UCSB]

silk for chocolate
8th Continent for vanilla
Trader Joes for coffee
I hate plain, but if i had to pick, Westbrea

[duckie1978]

Hey Jenn

FYI 8th Continent isn't vegan because they use D3 which is derived from lanolin. Just thought you'd want to know. I never knew that until a year or so ago.

[alexis]

My favourite brands are So Good, Soyfresh and Nutri-soy reduced sugar soy milk and green tea soy milk. weird, i know but very nice.

[Butterflynjesus]

We've tried many over the years since our DD couldn't have dairy. Most of us didn't drink it though. As of now we difinetely prefer SILK and I like that it's organic. We get the vanilla at Sam's ($ 6.97 for 3) and the plain at our grocery store. I like almond milk too and am also hoping to try more nut milks.

~Melissa

[Dancer]

I discovered the joys of rice milk and haven't looked back! Rice Dream is sublime, but many others are good too. I make a "shake" of the rice milk, soy protein powder, flaxseed oil and some fresh berries..

I avoid the soy milks as I have so much soy in my diet already, and am wrestling with the conflicting evidence of soy for women regarding breast cancer, etc.

Dancer

[iris]

We use Vita Soy and the girls love it and it tastes pretty good in a cup of tea

[k0s]

I enjoy White Wave as well as SoNice Soy milk.. I usually get their vanilla flavoured milk.

[VOW]

IMHO, Edensoy is awful.



~VOW

[annie7]

I'm thinking about investing in a soy milk machine! Have an aquaintance who's willing to let me try her's first! Didn't even know she was interested in that! Gonna have to get to know HER a little better. I know she's into organics but I don't think she's a veggie..........YET..... hee hee, we'll see!

[BabyEguiluz]

Soy Dream... :p

[PikkuMyy]

I'm trying to cut down on my intake of soy in general, but here's my list:

Hot Chocolate - Vitasoy Vanilla Enriched
Chocolate Milk - Vitasoy Plain Enriched (the difference between vanilla and regular is quite apparent here!)
Cereal - a mixture of Vitasoy Plain Enriched and Rice Dream Plain Enriched
Cookies 'n' milk - Rice Dream Plain Enriched
Smoothies - Vitasoy Plain Enriched
Coffee liquer/White Russian, etc. liquor plus milk drinks - Silk Vanilla (like a dream! I couldn't tell it was vegan!)
Milkshakes - Vitasoy Vanilla Enriched

I prefer the taste of the soymilk but am often cutting it with Rice milk to have less soy.

Also, FYI - not all soy milks are vegan! I ran across a commercial brand (Can't think of the name) that had whey in it!
I think 8th Continent has some non-vegan ones, too.

[PikkuMyy]

Oh, and Silk Creamer is a dream in coffee drinks! I really like it.

Also, Belsoy makes a soy HEAVY CREAM! It's really thick and good for whipped cream or other recipies that call for heavy cream.

[PikkuMyy]

You'll think I'm mad for all these postings, but...

If I want to have chocolate milk without having to make it with syrup, then Silk's chocolate milk is really good. I also like their other drinks such as the Latte, Mocha, and Chai. But they're VERY sweet.

[Wanda]

I chose Eden because it's my families favorite. I personally don't like soymilk at all!
I'll use it in recipes, but never drink it straight or put it in my cereal.
I much prefer ricemilk!

[Zoesmama]

Other I prefer Silk.

But I must admit I have not tried some of those brands listed. :)

[Krista-Eliza]

Ive tried different brands but I pefer "Silk" ^^. Silky, Silky, Silky xD.

But I pefer Soy good ice cream products o.O
The strawberry goodness of ice cream xD

[Zoesmama]

Opps realize I probably messed up the vote. I didn't notice it was White Wave Silk. I only knew it as simply silk and when I read White Wave I move don to next one. LOL I'm so silly. :rolleyes: ;)

[MrsKey]

I really like Silk. My local grocery store just started carrying the plain Silk "Light" with a lot less fat. So I'm pretty happy about that.

I've tried other brands but I like Silk the best.

Though I have been toying with the idea of getting a soy milk maker and making my own.

[Christa]

I saw the Silk Light the other day, too. The only thing that concerned me was that it was made from soy flour or protein or something like that rather than whole soybeans. I am trying to eat whole foods as much as possible, but the light milk would be nice. Anyone know anything else about the Silk light?

[MrsKey]

Originally posted by Christa
I saw the Silk Light the other day, too. The only thing that concerned me was that it was made from soy flour or protein or something like that rather than whole soybeans. I am trying to eat whole foods as much as possible, but the light milk would be nice. Anyone know anything else about the Silk light?

I would rather it be from whole soybeans... but on this particular item I need the reduced fat and calories more than I want the whole soybeans.

And either way I got it is still waaaay better than cow's milk.

[Christa]

I agree that it's better than cow's milk & I didn't mean to say bad things about your food choices ;)! I am thinking that the use of a powdered soy product rather than whole beans was intentional b/c it would naturally make the milk lower fat.

I have put on 3 or 4 lbs in the past two years since my youngest was weaned, but I was quite thin when I was nursing & I'm really
not watching my fat nor caloric intake enough now to worry about a few extra calories here or there. At least not yet.

[MrsKey]

Originally posted by Christa
I agree that it's better than cow's milk & I didn't mean to say bad things about your food choices ;)! I am thinking that the use of a powdered soy product rather than whole beans was intentional b/c it would naturally make the milk lower fat.

I didn't think you were saying bad things about my food choices! :D I was just sort of thinkin' out loud. Better soy milk from defatted soy flour than cow's milk ... just an overall observation.

I wish I didn't need to worry about fat and calories - but unfortunately I have to really worry about them. :(

[Caitlin]

Silk! Rise and Shine

[Crimsonskies]

Silk<33

[r14stars]

it is actually better NOT to drink the light silk soy milk.... reduced fat soy product don't have the same benefits as regular soy products....some of the nutrients are missing. THAT being said, have you tried the new unsweetened Silk? I actually like it better, it doesn't have added sugar, and so there are less calories too. :)

[PikkuMyy]

I'm re-posting because I am now drinking mostly almond milk rather than soy or rice. I like the flavor better and it has less sugar than rice milk (although it's added sugar, I realize.) I have discovered the unsweetened Silk, which I am now buying a ton of because it's on sale for 1.29/quart at WFs. What I'm doing right now is to mix about 1/2 unsweetened Silk with 1/2 Almond Breeze. Less soy, less sugar, good taste.

[r14stars]

mm, that sounds yummy!

[NZ mum]

Vitasoy and So Good are my favourite brands. We buy rice milk too but i don't really like that much and find it too watery for a cup of tea!

[toefish]

I like Vitasoy :cool:

[Jergisen]

My favorite has always been Edensoy but we drink Silk since it's a lot less expensive.

[len811]

I saw one reference to Rice Dream in the thread. It is of course not soy. Protein content is very low.
I buy the lowest price based on protein per dollar. Until recently this meant large size box powdered.
However, over the last couple of years, Giant Food has been having regular sales on their house brand or Nature's Promise brand for $1 per quart non-refrigerator pkg. I stock up when it is on sale.
Best taste is probably Silk.
Although my favorite would be EdenSoy original.

[Jamie Wilson]

We are all about Archer Farms Vanilla Soymilk (SuperTarget brand)

Cheap, great, yum.

God Bless SuperTarget.

[len811]

Haven't seen it in this area.
Didn't find in on SuperTarget web page search
What did you pay?

[Astrophe]

I'll take Silk if I can't get others like if I'm out at a bookstore and want some in my coffee.

But at home where we consume more of it I prefer EdenSoy

It's one of the few that I liek the taste of that does not have carrageenan in it.

A.

[Jamie Wilson]

len--- Around here I get the archer farms brand (target) for $2.24/ half gallon (same size as the silk) for plain and vanilla, $2.59 for chocolate.

[len811]

Previous "on sale" price at Giant has been $0.99 and $1 (ten for ten dollargs). Current "on sale" prices is 4 for $5 which makes in higher than the Target price you found. However, have not found soy milk in area Target stores. Perhaps I should drop them a note.

[kjmckenzie]

I like Silk, but my hubby gets an upset stomach when he drinks it, so I usually buy So Nice, which I haven't seen in the U.S., only Canada. I like it as well, and I like the chocolate even better.

It's wierd that my husband gets stomach aches with some tofu and soymilk and not with others. For example: the silken soft Mori-Nu upsets his stomach, and the firm doesn't. Any ideas why this is? When they are cooked in something, both are fine, but there was a different brand of extra firm that even when cooked upset his stomach, and yet another one didn't. Very wierd.

[len811]

My understanding is that Silk is not vegan.

[Christa]

What?? I am pretty sure that Silk is vegan. I know that they specifically label the D as D2 to emphasize that point. What is in there that isn't vegan?

[Erin Pavlina]

Silk is as vegan as they come. Unless the world shifted into a new dimension recently and I didn't get the memo. ;)

[len811]

Not being a regular user of Silk, I did not have a label at hand to check.
Thanks for the confirmation that Silk is vegan.
I had read that D3 was used - just one of those pieces of mis-information on the Internet, I suppose. I'll back track and see if I can locate the source.

[Wanda]

I wrote to the company and this was their answer:

All of our products and flavors are completely vegan except for White WaveTM Baked Tofu Oriental Style and White Wave Vegetarian Stir Fry Strips, which contain honey. There are no animal derivatives in any of the other products or ingredients. This includes the lactic acid and live cultures used in our Silk® Cultured Soy as well as the vitamins and minerals we use to fortify our products. The calcium carbonate in our products is derived from limestone.

[gfgray]

Well, Whitewave has killed off SunSoy due to "limited demand". That is BS. It was always sold out at every store I went to.


Dear Gordon,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about Sun Soy Soymilk. As of November 1, 2005, this product was discontinued due to limited demand. We thank you for your loyalty and we hope you'll accept our sincere regrets.

Now for the GOOD NEWS! We also manufacture Silk Soymilk which is more widely available and preferred by most consumers. The major difference between the two products is that the soybeans used in most Silk Soymilk products, as well as many of the other ingredients, are certified to be organic and non-GMO. Sun Soy uses non-GMO soybeans; however it is not a certified organic product. You may be interested to know that consumers also find that Silk Enhanced (in the bright blue carton) tastes most like Sun Soy Creamy Original.

We are happy to send you a coupon to try our Silk Soymilk for free. Please look for the coupon in the mail in the next few weeks of this reply.

Best regards from the folks at WhiteWave

[neuromancer]

well seeing that i stay in south africa....

i've tried these soy milks

NutriBev
simply soy
so fresh
good hope (brand/manufacturer)

and then

soy sense
soy sun

and my cousins went to canada & the U.S. for holiday.
but i was only lucky enough to have tried

Rice Dream
ohh and soy pudding made by friendly foods
and dairy free Mac & Chreese made by Road's End Organics
(so many vegan food companies in the U.S. and canada!!)

[bazu]

Someone mentioned that they can only find So Nice in Canada, but here in Syracuse, I can find it at the local Wegmans. It is my vote for favorite regular soymilk, when I don't have access to Trader Joes. Which I don't. :( Both So Nice and Trader Joe's brand meet my requirement for soymilk: white (not brown), not too thick, and not too much of a soy flavor. Not that I hate soy flavor, but I just really want something not to interfere with my cereal or tea. Also, it has to have a little bit of sweetener in it, because then I can use my hand-held frother to make foam for 'capuccino'. Although for Lent I gave up sugar, so I drank unsweetened Westsoy, which was perfectly ok.

[bazu]

actually, I am pretty much of an equal-opportunity soymilk drinker. The only one I've ever tasted that I hated was Edensoy. Ack!! I also don't really like the texture and taste of ricemilk or almond milk. Once I tried Pacific's grain milk, which was ok. And hazelnut milk is ok. I'm sure if any of the above are fresh and homemade, it's a world of difference, but I've never been lucky to try any that way.

Just my WAY too long 2 cents!

[joie.de.vivre]

I like Silk very much, and while I can't definitively say whether it's my favorite, it's what we almost always buy due to the increasing rarity of brands available at a price-point of $1 per quart (USD). Soy milk is a staple for the majority of veg families, so a 25-50% difference in price is substantial.

In the US, one can still get WhiteWave Silk for about $1/qt by purchasing cartons by the case from warehouse stores like Sam's Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club (assuming you're willing to patronize such stores).

In my experience, the warehouse stores only stock Vanilla Flavor Silk, if anything. Also, WhiteWave has an impressively "green" track record, but I don't know if the same can be said of its parent company, Dean Foods (anyone know?).

Here's an abbreviated nutrition chart comparing several soy milk brands and varieties:
http://www.soyfoods.com/nutrition/CalciumChart.html

If it cost a little less, I would probably buy Soy Dream more often since it contains more protein without sacrificing calcium content--and it tastes good.

I definitely love the taste of sweetened almond milk, rice milk, vegetable milk, etc., but unfortunately they don't don't match the nutritional value of soy milk in most respects. I love milk products made from legumes, but when almond milk costs $3/qt, I have to consider it a luxury item!

Oh, and if anyone has tried deconstituted soy milk, I'd appreciate your opinions.

[len811]

Until recent years I always used powdered soy milk. Recenlty I have been using liquid because the local Giant stores have it on sale on a regular basis at $1/qt. That is the same I paid for powdered. I calculate cost based on protein content when comparing. At the Giant sale I buy the max they allow and stock up. Since I am close to the Giant store, and the limitation is per visit, I can easily stock up. Even better, they sometimes run out, then I can get rain checks good for a few months!

The last powdered product I used was Cedar Lake. Previously I had always used Worthington, up until they started adding a "real milk" flavor which I thought was really bad taste.
There have been a lot of product/company shifts in recent months, so I am not sure what is available at present.