Oat to joy: Singapore’s own dairy alternative is as nutty as it is sustainable

A new Singapore grain contender has entered the market to put cow udders to rest.

Oatside, developed during the pandemic by Singaporean Benedict Lim, launched online this week with three flavors promising a sustainable dairy alternative from brewing to packaging. 

“We hope to contribute to a growing stable of plant-based products where picking the sustainable option no longer tastes of ‘doing your part,’” Lim said.

The former financial chief for Indonesia’s Kraft Heinz said taste is a “barrier” for some hesitant to switch to sustainable alternatives, something his brand aims to overcome.

Oatside says its special blend has eliminated “all the nasties” (artificial flavors, gums, emulsifiers, preservatives or coloring) and includes only ingredients that one can actually pronounce. The milk contains heart-smart beta glucans said to reduce cholesterol, boost immunity, and – everyone’s favorite – cut the fat.

The sustainability checklist goes on with the production of the milk that uses 90% less land and water and produces 70% less emissions than what it takes to produce cow’s milk. Even the packaging is made from recyclable paperboard.

It comes in three flavors. The Barista Blend (S$6) adds creaminess to coffees and teas and still works for latte art, the Chocolate (S$6) is on the darker and richer side with a blend of Indonesian-African cacao beans, while the Chocolate Hazelnut (S$8) adds dark roasted hazelnuts from Turkey. 

The brand promises that it’s all made with Australian oats and natural spring water, and is Halal-certified. They also have complete control over its sourcing and production process. 

The oat milk is now available on Redmart and Shopee and at restaurants such as Baker & Cook, PPP Coffee, Chye Seng Huat Hardware, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Oatside is aiming to hit supermarket shelves soon.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated that Oatside manufactures its milk in Singapore. In fact, it is produced in their factory in Bandung, Indonesia.

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