Soya Milk

[aspernpapers]

Does anyone make their own Soya Milk? I've seen some gadgets on the net approx £60 wondered if any of you used one or made it from the soya beans. any advice gratefully received thanks

[Andy Hamilton]

£60 that seems an awful lot. I had a mate that used to make his own hemp seed milk, that did not involve spending £60.

[Muddypause]

I picked up a book at a jumble sale a few years ago called 'The Secrets Of Tofu'. As well as a lot of recipes, it describes how to make tofu from soya beans, which naturally involves making the milk first. There seems little more to it that puréeing the rehydrated beans in a blender with boiling water, then straining and simmering for a while. I'm wondering if the gadgets are really anything more than just heavy duty blenders.

I've never done it myself, mind (it's one of those books that I think 'I'll try it one day..'). I could write up the instructions for soya milk and post them here, if you like.

[Shirley]

Hello aspernpapers

Welcome to the site.

I've not made it myself... but actually did buy some beans a few weeks ago with a view to doing so... so much plastic waste from the milk that we drink gave me the encouragement....

Just found this on the net... http://www.soya.be/how-to-make-soy-milk.php which might answer some questions.

If you try it before I do please feedback - might as well learn from each other's mistakes don't you think!!

[Shirley]

I'm wondering if the gadgets are really anything more than just heavy duty blenders.

I've never done it myself, mind (it's one of those books that I think 'I'll try it one day..'). I could write up the instructions for soya milk and post them here, if you like.

Muddy - that's what I was thinking!! I haven't got £60 to spend on one anyway, and I've got a blender already so will give it a whirl with the seeds I bought.

Only thing is.. I'm not 100% sure I even LIKE soya milk - last time I tried it (over 10 years ago) I seem to recall not liking the taste.

I guess we could use our other plan which is to buy a nanny goat :D

[Muddypause]

Only thing is.. I'm not 100% sure I even LIKE soya milk - last time I tried it (over 10 years ago) I seem to recall not liking the taste.

I've had an on/off relationship with soya milk over the years. I do quite like the nutty taste it gives to tea and coffee, and other things. But I've also found there is a big difference in brands (maybe even between varieties of bean). I think the truth is that it needs salt and/or sweeteners to make it acceptable as a drink on its own. Like most soya products, without the right approach it can end up somewhere between bland and cardboard.

[Shirley]

Like most soya products, without the right approach it can end up somewhere between bland and cardboard.

Too true Muddy... but so long as it isn't wrapped in cardboard... or plastic... it's got to be worth a shot...

[Andy Hamilton]

without the right approach it can end up somewhere between bland and cardboard.

Isn't that the truth. Have you tried that soya cheese I think it is called heese or something. I don't see how it can dare call itself cheese.

I mentioned hemp seed milk as I think this is a better alternative, some rain forest gets cut down to grow soya. Also how many people do you know that grow soya in the UK? - not exactly local food I foundthis recipe

might have to do a taste test, although anyone know how you deshell hemp seeds? Perhaps just soaking them.

[Martin]

never understood the whole soya thing myself - horrid little beans, imported, often gm contaminated making a manufactured ersatz "milk".....
In the depths of my allergies I've spent long periods "off" dairy, and came to the conclusion that all the substitutes were utterly revolting - to have to resort to it when poorly is one thing, but to do it from choice????????
I get so fed up with people mucking about with food - I think all soya products are singularly awful, usually imported, encourage gm, and the sooner we see the back of them the better!

[aspernpapers]

I drink about a litre of shop bought soya milk a week.So perhaps the £60 gadget isn't the wisest investment.I will give the manual method a try, though Ive some hemp seeds in the cupboard the hemp milk might be a better alternative.

[Shirley]

might have to do a taste test, although anyone know how you deshell hemp seeds? Perhaps just soaking them.

I buy mine deshelled.... not desperately cheaply though... boots do the organic gillian mckeith ones for (if I recall correctly) under £3 for a tub.

Good point about the soya - the gm bit does worry me. We use it in large amounts in the chook feed though.. but always GM free from reputable place.

Looking forward to the results of your taste test Andy!!

Edited to add... I've tried hemp ice cream.. and that was somewhat scrummy

[Millymollymandy]

Soya ice cream is lovely - had some in Australia during the health food craze of the 80s.

I also absolutely adore soya blancmange type pudding (I call it Soya Glop). It is to die for! Trouble is I eat the whole carton in one go - and it is so calorie laden there can't be anything 'good' about it!

[Wombat]

G'Day All,

I used to make my own soy milk, tofu etc. and only stopped because of lack of time. Strange as it seems, while not being wrapt in soy milk initally, the more I made, the better I found I liked it. Depending on who you read, it is better for you and if you don't have enough land to keep a dairy animal you can still make your own milk.

It really does come back to personal choice, but we do grow a lot of soy beans here (in Aus) and you can buy bags of organic ones. The process is messy but quite simple and does not require any special tools or equipment, so I suspect that the "soy milk maker" is designed to take in those just starting out.

In summary the process is -

Soak beans overnight
Whiz soaked beans in a blender - result is a soybean smoothie
Strain out the "Go" or soy bean bits - I use a pillowcase (Shhh, Linda's coming!)
The boil up up the soy milk (you must do this to inactivate an enzyme that prevents you digesting it)

Let it cool and.....................enjoy!

I wrote articles on this for Grass Roots, I'll see if I can dig 'em out for Andy!

Nev

[Shirley]

Nice one Nev...

LOL at using a pillow case to strain it!!

How long does it keep once you've made it??

[Wombat]

Keeps a few days in the fridge, Shirl, but I never kept much of it that long, mostly converted it all through to tofu.

I found the articles and am reworking it to send it through to Andy to go up on the site.

Nev