Cashew milk is in the top 5 of the most popular plant-based milcs in the UK. It’s creamy and rich and has become popular for its health benefits and delicious taste and texture.

Cashew milk is made from blending cashews and water, and often fortified with lots of minerals and nutrients, including vitamins B2, B12, E and D2.

Some cashew milks have a rich and creamy taste, whilst others can taste a little salty. Some are almost confused with almond milk, with others having a slightly sour, yet strangely pleasant taste.

Cashew milk has a lot going for it nutritionally. Here are a few of the health benefits:

• Can boost heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Cashew milk is rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, helping to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Boost eye health. Cashews are packed full of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, preventing cellular damage to your eyes.
• May help control blood sugar levels. Although more research is needed, studies have found that the anacardic acid found in cashews can stimulate the absorption of circulating blood sugar.

Research on cashew milk’s environmental impact is scarce. However, there are a few key takeaways.

Pros

• Growing cashews requires minimal amounts of land
• Cashews can grow in areas that aren’t already plagued by drought

Cons

• As cashews are nuts, and nuts require more water to grow compared to other plant-based non-nut milcs. Although they require far less than cow’s milk, if you’re primarily concerned about water use, we’d recommend staying away from nut milcs.