Barley Milk vs Cashew Milk: What’s The Difference?

In this article, we are going to compare barley milk and cashew milk to see how they compare in many aspects including calories, nutritional content, taste, usage, effects on weight loss, and environment.

To make this comparison as fair as possible and get a realistic picture of how barley and cashew milk compare, we’ve used USDA’s date on products that are unsweetened and that aren’t fortified or that are minimally fortified if the completely unfortified product isn’t available.

Both barley and cashew milk are dairy-free, and therefore suitable for vegans and people that stick to a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons, but there are also many differences between these plant-based drinks.

Let’s see what barley and cashew drinks are, how they are produced, and finally how they compare in various ways.

What is Barley Milk and How It’s Made?

Barley is a type of grain. It is one of the most consumed grains in America.

It is very rich in nutrients. It contains many vitamins and minerals and is associated with a number of health benefits.

Another plant-based milk option made using barley is barley milk. It is frequently on the shelves and can reach many consumers thanks to both its taste and composition.

The nutritional value of barley is high due to its high content of vitamins, minerals, and other useful plant elements.

Pearl barley is the only kind of barley that does not utilize the whole grain; this type of barley has been polished, which removes part or all of the exterior bran layer as well as the husk. Nearly all other types of barley do use the complete grain.

When ingested in its whole-grain form, barley is a very rich source of fiber, selenium, molybdenum, and manganese. In addition, it has a respectable quantity of copper, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus, and niacin.

During the barley milk preparation process, however, the fiber and pulp are separated, so this is a crucial consideration to keep in mind. Because it is not ingested in its whole, it is unable to give all of the health advantages that are associated with consuming whole barley.

What is Cashew Milk and How It’s Made?

The market for substitute milk is growing day by day. This sector, which was formerly dominated by almond, oat, and soy products, now has a range of plant-based milk, which each offers a different taste and unique nutritional advantages.

Cashew milk seems to be an ideal compromise, offering a low-calorie alternative with a creamier texture than most nut milk. It also is packed with minerals, healthy fats, vitamins, and other plant-based elements.

Cashew milk, which is available in sweetened and unsweetened variants, may substitute for cow’s milk in the majority of recipes.

Cashew milk has a range of beneficial lipids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, including cashews themselves.

This incredibly nutritious beverage gets the majority of its content from unsaturated fatty acids, which are known to improve heart health and give a variety of other advantages.

In comparison to handmade cashew milk, commercial varieties are often enriched with additional minerals and vitamins and they contain greater quantities of certain components overall.

Barley vs Cashew Milk Nutrition and Calories

In this section, we’ll analyze the similarities and differences between barley milk and cashew milk based on nutritional information provided by USDA.

Macronutrients

Plant-based milks mostly consist of water, and barley and cashew milks are no exceptions.

3.5 oz or 100 g of barley milk contains 29 calories, and consists mostly of protein (2.08 g), followed by fat (2.08 g) and carbs (1.25 g).

Speaking of cashew milk, the same amount contains 54 calories, and consists mostly of fat (4.17 g), followed by carbs (2.92 g) and protein (1.67 g).

The table below compares the nutrition of a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of barley milk to the same amount of cashew milk.

Fiber

Fiber is important for our health as it keeps us feeling full, prevents constipation, lowers sugar spikes and regulates sugar levels, lowers total and LDL cholesterol, and provides many other benefits.

When it comes to dietary fiber, barley milk is a better choice. It contains 0.4 g per 3.5oz (100g), while cashew milk is lower in dietary fiber with 0 g.

Micronutrients

What about micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in barley and cashew milk?

The table below shows the most important vitamins and minerals in unfortified or minimally fortified plant-based drinks available in the market. Some of these nutrients are hard to get on a vegan diet.

Weight Loss

If you’re trying to lose weight, you probably want to know whether barley or cashew milk is better for you.

With 54 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), cashew milk is higher in calories than barley milk which contains 29 calories.

Barley vs Cashew Milk Taste and Uses

Barley milk is creamy and has a slightly earthy-grainy aftertaste.

Like other plant-based milk, you can use barley milk in coffee, tea, and smoothies. You can use it in your baked items for its earthy smell.

Barley milk can add to the taste of chocolate-based dishes.

It can enhance the flavor of chocolate fudge cake and brownies. You can use it in pasta sauces to add a grainy taste.

Cashew milk is a nut-based milk alternative similar to almond milk. Cashew milk is a little creamier than almond milk.

Most people prefer cashew milk to almond milk because of its thick consistency and mild taste. It has a subtle nutty flavor that may complement your baked items.

Cashew milk can be used to make creamy smoothies, soups, and pasta sauces. You can use it as a cream alternative with oat milk in a cream-based sauce.

You can add cashew milk to puddings and even use it to make vegan ice cream. Cashew milk with less water can give a cheesy consistency. You can use it for your vegan mac and cheese.

It can be also used as a salad dressing as well. You can add cashew milk to your breakfast cereals and oatmeal.

Conclusion

Barley milk and cashew milk are both plant-based, non-dairy beverages, suitable for vegans.

Barley milk and cashew milk have their similarities and differences, but both are nutritious and a healthful addition to your diet. When available, always choose unsweetened, fortified products or try making them at home.

Plant milks, including barley and cashew milks are easy to add to a diet, and can be used in varieties of recipes and dishes.

Fortified products will help get different nutrients, including micronutrients that are usually hard to get on a plant-based diet, such as vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium and others.

If you’re willing to learn more about these non-dairy milks, read our articles about them: Barley Milk and Cashew Milk.

Other Barley Milk Comparisons

• Almond vs Barley
• Barley vs Coconut
• Barley vs Macadamia
• Barley vs Oat
• Barley vs Pea
• Barley vs Rice
• Barley vs Soy

Other Cashew Milk Comparisons

• Almond Milk vs Cashew Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Coconut Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Macadamia Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Oat Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Pea Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Rice Milk
• Cashew Milk vs Soy Milk