Buyer protection
Contents
What milk alternatives are there?
Oat, soy, almond, goat or sheep: The selection is large. But which alternative suits your taste, your everyday life and your nutritional goals?
Find my alternative →A comparison with practical decision-making help and a lesser-known milk variant.
It depends on what you want to replace.
Those who want to replace cow's milk have two basic options: plant-based drinks or milk from other animal species. The right choice depends on whether taste, nutrients, vegan diet, use or an intolerance is the priority.
Without animal milk components. Nutritional values and added vitamins vary depending on the product.
Other types of milk with their own taste, but still with milk proteins and natural lactose.
For regular milk replacement, protein, calcium, iodine and certain vitamins are important selection criteria.
Six alternatives at a glance.
Each variant has its own properties. There is no universally best milk alternative.
Oat drink
Often slightly grainy in taste. Popular for coffee, muesli and everyday use. The protein content is usually rather low.
Pay attention to sugar, calcium, nutrient enrichment and, if necessary, the gluten labeling.Soy drink
Among the common plant-based drinks, it is often a higher-protein option. The taste varies depending on the recipe.
Pay attention to soy allergy, protein per 100 ml and added nutrients.Almond drink
Often with a nutty note and a rather low protein content. The almond content can vary greatly.
Pay attention to nut allergies, almond content and nutrient enrichment.Pea drink
Another plant-based option. Some products provide a comparatively high amount of protein, others less.
Pay attention to the actual protein content, the ingredients list and calcium.Goat milk
Animal milk with its own distinct taste. It contains lactose and milk proteins.
Not a generally safe alternative in the case of cow's milk protein allergy.Sheep milk
Another animal milk variant, often with a higher fat and protein content than cow's milk.
Pay attention to nutritional values, lactose, pasteurization and use.Which properties are important?
The table provides an initial orientation. Especially with plant-based drinks, the nutritional values differ from brand to brand. The packaging information remains crucial.
| Alternative | Vegan | Lactose-free | Protein | Pay special attention to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oat drink | Yes | Yes | Usually rather low | Calcium, iodine, vitamins, sugar |
| Soy drink | Yes | Yes | Often relatively high | Soy allergy, enrichment |
| Almond drink | Yes | Yes | Usually low | Nut allergy, almond content |
| Pea drink | Yes | Yes | Product-dependent | Protein value and additives |
| Goat milk | No | No | Contains milk protein | Allergies and lactose |
| Sheep milk | No | No | Contains milk protein | Fat, allergies and lactose |
| Donkey milk | No | No | On average less than cow's milk | Raw milk safety, lactose, price |
The information provided represents typical classifications, not batch-specific laboratory values.
Which alternative suits your priorities?
Choose your most important criterion. You will receive an initial orientation on which milk alternatives you should compare in more detail.
This decision-making aid is not a medical tolerance test.
What is most important to you?
Oat, soy, almond and pea drinks are suitable. When regularly replacing cow's milk, pay special attention to appropriate nutrient enrichment.
Four questions before purchase.
For coffee or muesli?
For coffee, test a small amount first. Taste, foaming behavior and stability can vary. For muesli, personal taste often decides.
Taste or complete replacement?
Those who regularly replace cow's milk should pay attention to protein, calcium, iodine, vitamin B₂ and vitamin B₁₂. Not every plant-based drink provides comparable amounts.
Lactose or milk protein?
In the case of lactose intolerance, it is about milk sugar. A milk protein allergy, on the other hand, affects the protein. Other animal milk is not automatically safe in the case of an allergy.
Fresh or shelf-stable?
Check the storage conditions before and after opening, the package size and the amount you actually consume.
Have you ever heard of donkey milk?
In addition to well-known milk types, there are also lesser-known variants. One of them is donkey milk. It comes from female donkeys and has its own nutrient composition.
Scientific review articles describe, among other things, a comparatively low fat and protein content as well as a relatively high lactose content.
Those who want to get to know new animal milk varieties can discover donkey milk as a special delicacy. However, it is neither vegan nor lactose-free and is not automatically a suitable replacement in the case of milk protein allergies.
Get to know donkey milk →DONKEY'S® DONKEY MILK
Natural donkey milk and heat treatment.
Our fresh donkey milk is delivered unadulterated and frozen. After gentle thawing, it should be continuously refrigerated and used as soon as possible.
The heat treatment is also scientifically investigated: Yvon et al. (2019) identified 72 °C for two minutes as a suitable compromise between microbial reduction and the preservation of lysozyme activity under the tested conditions.
Discover the scientific study →For context: The study describes specific experimental conditions. The preservation of a certain enzyme activity is not proof of health effects in humans. The results do not replace a general recommendation for the safe preparation of raw milk. For consumption, raw milk should be sufficiently heated.
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to important questions when choosing.
Which milk alternative contains a lot of protein?
Among the common plant-based drinks, soy drinks are often relatively high in protein. Some pea drinks also contain a lot of protein. Compare the information per 100 ml.
Which milk alternative is lactose-free?
Plant-based drinks naturally contain no lactose. Specially treated lactose-free cow's milk is also available. Goat, sheep and donkey milk, on the other hand, contain lactose.
Is goat milk suitable for cow's milk allergy?
Not generally. Cross-reactions can occur between the milk proteins of different animal species. In the case of a diagnosed allergy, a medical clarification is required.
Which alternative is suitable for coffee?
This depends on taste and the desired foaming behavior. Special barista drinks are tailored to coffee preparation. A small sample pack makes comparison easier.
Is donkey milk plant-based?
No. Donkey milk is an animal milk and contains, among other things, lactose and milk proteins.
Are these alternatives suitable for infants?
Regular plant-based drinks and donkey milk are not a replacement for suitable infant formula.
Curious about a special milk variant?
Would you like to get to know donkey milk without immediately ordering a large supply? Discover our small introductory sizes.
Discover small bottles. One-time new customer discounts may apply to selected sizes.
Discover milk →Freeze-dried donkey milk, preparable in portions. Directly at the regular offer price.
Discover powder →100 ml liquid donkey milk and 20 g donkey milk powder in a compact introductory set.
View assortment →The products are offered as food. You can find prices and promotional conditions on the respective product pages.
The professional basics.
The information is for general orientation. Individual products may deviate from typical nutritional ranges.
- German Society for Nutrition: Nutrition and milk alternatives .
- Consumer Center: Consumer information on plant-based drinks .
- Max Rubner Institute: Research on food and nutrients .
- Yvon et al. (2019): Thermized donkey milk, heat treatment and lysozyme .
- Frontiers in Nutrition: Scientific review article on donkey milk .
