Macadamia Milk vs Rice Milk: Which Is Better For You?

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

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

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 Rice Milk and How It’s Made?

Rice milk is a beverage that is frequently used as a plant-based substitute for milk made from dairy animals.

In spite of the fact that it is widely referred to as “rice milk,” the name “milk” may technically only be utilized to refer to a dairy beverage that originates from cows, in accordance with the requirements set by the FDA.

In the event that you go to the grocery in search of rice milk, you will most likely come across packets that are labeled as “rice non-dairy beverage” or “rice drink”.

Thanks to its composition, rice milk is not only a good option for vegans and lactose intolerant but also provides a rich mineral and nutritional supplement, while at the same time it has low fat and energy value.

Rice, either brown or white, combined with water may be used to manufacture one’s own rice milk.

Brown rice, sweeteners, brown rice syrup, plant-based oils, or flavorings like vanilla are often included in industrial ones. Brown rice may also be the primary ingredient.

The vast majority of varieties of rice milk are supplemented with additional minerals. Rice milk often has increased quantities of B vitamins, calcium, iron, vitamin D, and vitamin A in order to make it nearly similar to cow’s milk.

Macadamia vs Rice Milk Nutrition and Calories

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

Macronutrients

Plant-based milks mostly consist of water, and macadamia and rice 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 rice milk, the same amount contains 47 calories, and consists mostly of carbs (9.17 g), followed by fat (0.97 g) and protein (0.28 g).

The table below compares the nutrition of a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of macadamia milk to the same amount of rice 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 rice milk is lower in dietary fiber with 0.3 g.

Micronutrients

What about micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in macadamia and rice 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 macadamia or rice milk is better for you.

With 47 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), rice milk is higher in calories than macadamia milk which contains 21 calories.

Macadamia vs Rice 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.

Rice milk has a subtle rice-y and sweet aftertaste with a watery consistency.

The slightly sweet taste of rice milk is because of the fermentation process. Rice milk complements many sweet and savory dishes without overpowering them.

It is an excellent choice for baking, working with thickening agents like cornstarch. Its watery consistency makes it easier to mix it with cornstarch without lumping.

You can use rice milk to make light sauces and soups. You can also use it in fruit and vegetable smoothies.

Rice milk can be also used to make vegan ice-creams. You can also add it to coffee and oatmeal. Sweet and fruity flavors go well with rice milk.

Conclusion

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

Macadamia milk and rice 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 rice 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 Rice Milk.

Other Macadamia Milk Comparisons

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

Other Rice Milk Comparisons

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