"'Tis the season for peppermint mochas, gingerbread hot chocolates, and, of course, tall glasses of eggnog. This holiday beverage can be as divisive as candy corn; some folks can't get enough of it, while others gag at the mere thought of egg-infused milk. If you can get past the essence of this beverage, though, you'll fall head over heels for its rich spices and occasional kick of alcohol."
"As I drove home with not one, not two, but three cartons of eggnog ice cream, I could hardly wait to get started. Alongside these frozen treats, I sampled eggnog-flavored Greek yogurt, cookies, coffee, creamer, and even a smoothie. To my surprise, four of these products were vegan, which just goes to show that eggnog is such a beloved holiday staple that the plant-based community will take great measures to mimic its flavors."
"It's no easy feat to craft a dairy-free creamer that lends a luscious texture and a complementary flavor to beverages like tea and coffee. I've been impressed by a few brands, including Ripple, Sown, and Oatly, and I've even enjoyed the hazelnut and toasted marshmallow flavors sold by Nutpods. Sadly, though, when I tried this brand's holiday nog dairy-free creamer in both coffee and matcha, I found it to be lackluster."
Seasonal eggnog flavors inspired a tasting and ranking of multiple grocery-store items. Purchased items included eggnog ice cream, Greek yogurt, cookies, coffee, creamer, and a smoothie. Four of the sampled products were vegan, highlighting plant-based attempts to replicate traditional eggnog flavors. Items were evaluated and ranked based on flavor vibrancy and creamy mouthfeel where applicable. Some dairy-free creamers and brand variations delivered pleasing textures, while at least one coconut-based dairy-free creamer produced an underwhelming result in coffee and matcha. Methodology and scoring criteria were documented for transparency in the evaluation process.
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