The World's First Algae Milk Is Here—But Would You Drink It?

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Kristine Nguyen

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There are so many dairy alternatives out there that it's easy to lose track of them all. You've heard of oat milk. You've heard of rice milk. You've probably even heard of pea milk. But algae milk? Now that's a new one.

The algae-based milk—a first of its kind—was made by the Singapore-based sustainable food production technology company, Sophie's Bionutrients. According to the company, it's "the world's first-ever pure micro-algae-based milk replacement that promises to eliminate allergies." That's amazing news for lactose-intolerant folks out there—especially those with nut and soy allergies.

The process of creating it is also eco-friendly. According to Sophie's Bionutrients, it's a sustainable, circular method. As opposed to conventional ponds, the company cultivates its micro-algae in protected environments and "feeds" its algae with food waste, such as spent grains, okra, and molasses. The algae milk is made using their signature micro-algae protein flour that is then homogenized with water to create a milk with a texture that's similar to nut-based milks.

All of this sounds great, but how healthy is it? The company says the algae-based milk is actually comparable in nutrition to cow's milk. The protein value of the milk can even be elevated by up to 50 percent by altering ratios in the water-soluble micro-algae flour.

"We believe in harnessing the power of nature to build a sustainable, greener future through environmentally-friendly alternate food solutions. We believe that micro-algae is the best place to help us achieve this," said Eugene Wang, co-founder and CEO of Sophie's Bionutrients, in a press release. "It is the superfood of the future. Through further refinement with food and beverage producing partners developments like this one, the world's first allergen-free micro-algae milk, we believe we can transform the way we live, produce, and consume food for the better."

We all love a good plant-based milk. And even if you're a little skeptical about how algae milk would taste, there's no doubt that it has the potential to make an awesome, sustainable alternative.