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Macadamia Milk vs Pea Milk: How To Choose?

Trying to decide between macadamia milk and pea milk? Both popular dairy alternatives have their pros and cons. Read on to discover which one is better for you.
Esther Bumpus, Health Writer

Written by Esther Bumpus, Health Writer. Updated on December 13, 2022.

In this article, we are going to compare macadamia 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 macadamia 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 macadamia 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 macadamia and pea drinks are, how they are produced, and finally how they compare in various ways.

What is Macadamia Milk and How It’s Made?

Macadamia milk is another plant-based milk product that has gained popularity in recent years and is appreciated by many individuals.

Sugar-free versions are low-calorie, low-carb, and gluten-free.

It’s also loaded with a host of properties, such as it can support your vitamin D intake, its calcium content is even higher than cow’s milk, and it’s non-GMO.

Unsweetened macadamia milk is keto-friendly. It is one of the milk with the lowest carbohydrate content of all plant milk.

Along with unsweetened pea milk, they contain less than 1 gram of carbohydrates and no sugar at all.

Instead, they’re rich in heart-friendly healthy fats thanks to the composition of macadamia nuts. However, it is worth noting that since they are made into milk, they contain less than 4% macadamia and mostly contain water.

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.

Macadamia vs Pea Milk Nutrition and Calories

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

Macronutrients

Plant-based milks mostly consist of water, and macadamia and pea milks are no exceptions.

3.5 oz or 100 g of macadamia milk contains 21 calories, and consists mostly of fat (2.08 g), followed by protein (0.42 g) and carbs (0.42 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 macadamia 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, macadamia 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.

Macadamia MilkPea Milk
Energy21 kcal29 kcal
Total Fat2.08 g1.88 g
Carbs0.42 g0 g
Fiber0.4 g0 g
Sugars0 g0 g
Protein0.42 g3.33 g

Micronutrients

What about micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in macadamia 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.

MacadamiaPea
Vitamin B-121.25 mcg0 mcg
Calcium188 mg188 mg
Vitamin D42 IU (1.25 mcg)50 IU (1.25 mcg)
Iron0.15 mg1.12 mg
Magnesium0 mg0 mg
Phosphorus0 mg0 mg
Potassium0 mg188 mg
Vitamin A62.4 mcg62.4 mcg
Sodium188 mg54 mg

Weight Loss

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

Macadamia and macadamia are very similar in calories.

Macadamia milk has 21 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), while pea milk has 29 calories, so speaking strictly about calories, there’s no much difference.

Macadamia vs Pea Milk Taste and Uses

Macadamia milk has a perfect balance of flavor and texture. It is creamy, sweet, and slightly nutty.

Many people may get a vanilla-like aftertaste when using it.

Macadamia milk is the perfect plant-based milk choice for coffee and chai.

It pairs well with both hot and cold drinks. It goes well with iced tea and hot chocolate. Macadamia milk can be poured over any breakfast cereal or used as a base for vegan ice-creams.

You can use macadamia milk as an ingredient when baking cakes and bread. You can also use it to complement vegetable curries.

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

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

Macadamia 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 macadamia 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: Macadamia Milk and Pea Milk.

Did you know that we’ve compared all nine most popular non-dairy milk alternatives? Check out our plant milks comparison page.

Other Macadamia Milk Comparisons

Other Pea Milk Comparisons

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