Barley Milk vs Pea Milk: How To Choose?

In this article, we are going to compare barley milk and pea 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 pea 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 pea 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 pea 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 Pea Milk and How It’s Made?

Pea milk is an alternative to dairy milk that is made from peas.

It is, on the other hand, often considered by industry professionals to be the product that most closely resembles cow’s milk.

According to recent findings, the level of micronutrients in pea milk is comparable to that found in cow’s milk.

In contrast to other plant-based alternatives, has a quantity of calcium, protein, and vitamin D that is comparable to that of dairy milk.

Individuals who are following a plant-based diet, are lactose intolerant, or are allergic to dairy products, have a wonderful alternative in the form of common non-dairy milk drinks, such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.

However, for some individuals, particularly children, milk replacements may not provide enough quantity of protein, calories, or other necessary elements.

But still, pea milk contains at least 8 g of protein per 240 ml serving and is enriched to also include 150% higher calcium than cow’s milk does.

Barley vs Pea Milk Nutrition and Calories

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

Macronutrients

Plant-based milks mostly consist of water, and barley and pea 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 pea milk, the same amount contains 29 calories, and consists mostly of protein (3.33 g), followed by fat (1.88 g) and carbs (0 g).

The table below compares the nutrition of a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of barley milk to the same amount of pea 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 pea milk is lower in dietary fiber with 0 g.

Micronutrients

What about micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in barley and pea 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 pea milk is better for you.

Barley and barley are very similar in calories.

Both have 29 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g).

Barley vs Pea 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.

Pea milk works well in several dishes, from tea to porridge. It has a velvety texture and a slightly sweet flavor like oat milk.

You can use pea milk on its own or as an ingredient in several sweet and savory dishes. Like all other plant-based milk, you can use pea milk in smoothies, baked items, breakfast cereals, and soups.

The high nutritional value of pea milk distinguishes it from other plant-based milk options. Its high protein content can add to the nutritional composition of other food products.

Along with oat milk, pea milk is one of the top choices by coffee lovers and baristas, and one of the best dairy-free alternative for coffee.

Conclusion

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

Barley milk and pea 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 pea 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 Pea Milk.

Other Barley Milk Comparisons

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

Other Pea Milk Comparisons

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