Rice Milk

Milk is something that we all know has an extremely important place in our daily diet. It gives us the essential calcium that is required for the body's growth and maintenance. But if you thought that cow's milk was the only healthy option for a daily intake of milk, think again.

Rice milk is quite a popular option and many people have begun to consume it all over the world. In this post, we'll tell you how it is made and what its health benefits are.

As the name very obviously suggests, rice milk is milk that is obtained from rice. For this, the most preferred variety is brown rice. Brown rice is made to undergo some severe processing (crushing), after which the chaff is separated and the final product is milk. Let us see what exactly this process is.

• The rice is collected in a container and made to go through a mill stream.
• In this mill stream, the rice is pressed thoroughly in order to extract the milk from the grains. This process is called diffusion.
• After the milk is extracted, it is either packaged or sweetened.

• If it needs to be sweetened, there are three options that are available and used by most manufacturers. The first one is to simply add sugarcane syrup. The second is any other form of sugar. The third option is using a natural process to convert some carbohydrates into sugar, preferably glucose, and mixing this with the milk.

• After the milk is sweetened, it needs to be packed. For this, again there are two most widely used methods. Some manufacturers use cartons, which are very similar to the standard milk cartons that are available in the market. These packs need to be refrigerated before being consumed.

• The other method of packaging this milk is using other forms of sterile containers that need not be refrigerated before consumption.

• First and foremost, since rice milk is extracted directly from grains of rice, it is lactose-free as opposed to cow's milk. This helps all those who are lactose intolerant.

• Secondly, it happens to contain a higher level of carbohydrates than cow's milk. So you're sure to have a higher level of energy after drinking it.
• Also, the level of cholesterol in this milk is as good as nil. This makes it very healthy, especially for people with heart conditions.

• Generally, it does not have a high protein count and hence, niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, iron, and vitamin D are often added to it to make it healthier for consumption.
• It is also very low in fat content, so all weight conscious people can drink it with no worries.

• Powdered rice milk is also used as a substitute for milk powder. It is also used to make dairy creamers and as a substitute for cow's milk in making ice cream.
• If you're a vegan or a pure vegetarian, then this milk is the best option for you.
• Remember, the shelf life of rice milk after opening the container is 1 to 2 weeks.

Given below is the most basic recipe for rice milk. Use it to make your own cup at home. You'll need

• Water (warm) - 4 cups
• Cooked Brown Rice (warm) - 1 cup
• Vanilla - 1 tsp

Here's how you make it.

• Use a blender to blend the rice, water, and vanilla until they form a smooth, milk-like liquid.

• Let this liquid set in the blender for at least half an hour.
• Then, remove the liquid slowly, leaving all the solid materials deposited at the bottom of the blender.
• Let it cool down for a while and then consume it. Refrigeration for sometime works best for taste.

There are no dangers of this milk known as yet. However, be careful that the chemicals and preservatives used in the milk that you buy are safe. Hence, it's always better to make it at home. For children, it is better to stick to natural cow's milk rather than rice milk. So, decide and drink what suits your needs best.