Cheap Soy Milk?

Hi,

I've been allergic to milk for a while, and when I was first allergic to it I didn't think there was much soy milk, it seemed like Rice Dream was the king and I didn't like it at all, far too oily.

Then I learned about the hormones of soy (estrogen), and didn't want it then, but now I need it.....

So I try Silk, and boy, it's yummy, and boy, it's expensive! Holy Cow!

But in my decision to leave Costcto for Sam's (and with my local Sam's being much larger and much better selection) - Kirkland Vanilla Soy Milk - 12 One quart containers for between $10-$11!!!!

I went to Food Harbor in Addison to see if they had a good deal on Tetra-Brik (non-refrigerated) - they had some Vita-Soy stuff for $1.99 a quart - and they have the cheapest price I can find on Silk besides the Costco and Sam's club.

Another part - I honestly like the Kirkland Soy Milk better than Silk. The reason surprises me, but the Kirkland is a bit sweeter and I like it. Mostly I think products are way too sweet, so to say the Kirkland is sweeter than Silk is true, but it does not comes off sweet.

Honestly, I'd switch to Sam's because of the SELECTION - mostly - and my local Sam's just happens to about 1.5 the size of my local Costco, but Sam's has no soy milk deal, and that can be my new Costco cow deal.

Hey, as for the battle, it's still dubious. Prices are comparable. Costco seems more oriented to the "business" people, particulary restaurant business, whereas Sam's has selection that more appeals to ordinary people.

And I guess I can make a personal lower octane gas that my car runs fine on at Costco (My Sam's no gas station and my car only needs a little above basic unleaded).

Nancy

If you drink a lot of soy milk, it might make sense to buy a soy milk maker. They cost about $100-$150, but the cost of the soybeans is only about 10 cents per quart.

Fujisan wrote:If you drink a lot of soy milk, it might make sense to buy a soy milk maker. They cost about $100-$150, but the cost of the soybeans is only about 10 cents per quart.

from what i've heard the soy milk machines tend to break down al ot/require lots of upkeep. never had one though.

Fujisan wrote

If you drink a lot of soy milk, it might make sense to buy a soy milk maker. They cost about $100-$150, but the cost of the soybeans is only about 10 cents per quart.

This might be the answer indeed. I tried making it with a blender, a pot, a homemade muslin cloth straining bag, but it was yucky sour and I've never managed not to boil it over.

Nancy

Maybe in Asian markets?

I don't drink or buy soy milk but I know they sell sweetened and perhaps unsweetened in Chinese and other Asian markets. But I'd guess it's just sugar, not the other flavorings (vanilla etc) you have in other versions. Probably for a decent price although possibly not as low as Costco.

trader joe's and whole foods both have store brands that go for about $1.50 a quart. i normally drink the unsweetened organic plain (TJ) and organic regular stuff (WF) and i've been pretty happy with it. although, you're right, the kirkland stuff is cheap!

I just think soy milk prices are highway robbery.

It'll only take me 5 months to recap my Costco Kirkland soy milk price (not counting membership fees) if the machine works out.

I checked out Food Harbor in Addison as they are WAY Asian and seem to have very low prices - like I said, cheaper on Silk than anybody but a wholesale club. Not much soy milk selection though.

I checked Caputo's in Bloomingdale today, they had a huge selection of both soy and rice milk, and none were below $2 a quart.

I guess if I want a discussion on soy milk machines I'd better find a more global forum.

I am also a Silk addict. I usually buy it at Wild Oats (People's Market) in Evanston. They seem to have the best price. I think there is also a Wild Oats in Hinsdale. On occasion, Jewel will have a sale on the double half gallon packs, and I stock up. Silk keeps for a long time in the fridge if it is unopened. My mother makes her own soy milk. She adds carrageen to it to get the creamy texture of Silk. It does not take very much carrageen to thicken it up.

Interestingly enough the Kirkland soymilk is actually manufactured by Silk for Costco. We used to drink the Silk from Costco (3pk) until I realized early on that Silk makes the Kirkland soymilk AND you don't have to refrigerate it until opened (which saved a lot of fridge space considering we used to have to store 3 cartons of the Silk when purchased at Costco.

Secondly, having drank Asian soymilk since childhood until switching to American soymilk in gradschool, I realized that the benefit of American soymilk is that it really IS a substitute for milk in that it contains calcium and vit D which is supplemented into the soymilk. So aside from the phytoestrogens, you also get your same calcium and vit D supplementation as if drinking cow's milk. Asian soymilks and "homemade" soymilks do not have the same supplemental calcium or vit D, therefore you're not getting as much nutrition and will have to get your calcium elsewhere.

I've grown accustomed to the taste of Silk/Kirkland Silk in cereal, coffee, iced coffee, green tea lattes and just plain drinking it. In actuality I've never tried using Asian soymilk in the same respect, but I'd probably find it strange tasting. I buy the occasional carton of Chinese sweetened soymilk just to relive childhood memories from time to time, but American soymilk's where the nutrition lies.

Finally, you're correct- I've never found a better deal per fluid oz on soymilk than Costco's Kirkland soymilk.

When Dean foods bought White Wave in 2002, it merged its existing Sun Soy brand with the newly aquired Silk brand. Now Sun Soy, which does not require refrigeration before opening, is labeled as Silk. However, I find it to be very different in flavor and texture from the original (refrigerated) Silk. If Dean foods (White Wave) makes the Kirkland brand, and it comes in the small boxes that do not require refrigeration, it likely that it is the beverage formerly known as Sun Soy.

d4v3 wrote:When Dean foods bought White Wave in 2002, it merged its existing Sun Soy brand with the newly aquired Silk brand. Now Sun Soy, which does not require refrigeration before opening, is labeled as Silk. However, I find it to be very different in flavor and texture from the original (refrigerated) Silk. If Dean foods (White Wave) makes the Kirkland brand, and it comes in the small boxes that do not require refrigeration, it likely that it is the beverage formerly known as Sun Soy.

Interesting info re: Dean's acquisition of White Wave. I find the taste and texture difference moderate and not THAT bothersome; At least not enough to outweigh the advantages in portability, storage and cost. Very interesting FYI though... In the end I simply need a decent tasting, economical substitute for the nutrition I find in milk (which I find I can no longer tolerate straight up - can still eat ice cream thank goodness).

Jay K wrote:Interesting info re: Dean's acquisition of White Wave. I find the taste and texture difference moderate and not THAT bothersome; At least not enough to outweigh the advantages in portability, storage and cost. Very interesting FYI though... In the end I simply need a decent tasting, economical substitute for the nutrition I find in milk

Before White Wave's Silk was available locally, Sun Soy was the brand I drank. It came in both refrigerator and shelf versions. There is nothing wrong with it. It is just not actually Silk. I totally agree with you about the convenience issue, though. All those Silk cartons really clutter up the fridge, and it is much easier to bring the unrefrigerated cartons on a trip.

Eventhough I generally dislike oligopolies like Dean, you have to give them credit for using their power to get soy milk into many more grocery stores. Dean now garners a majority of all soy milk sales, along with their total domination of the moo juice marketplace. However, with less competition comes higher prices.

It was after I left Dean that they bought White Wave, but the philosophy of the company at that time was to grow by buying companies and then leaving them alone, keeping previous management in place to continue doing what had made the compay successful in the first place (of course, if the company didn't make its numbers, it might get a little corporate "help"). So any changes in formula at the the time of the purchase would have probably been decided by existing management.

Since Suiza took over, I have no idea whether the corporation still practices that "hands off" policy.

nr706 wrote:It was after I left Dean that they bought White Wave, but the philosophy of the company at that time was to grow by buying companies and then leaving them alone, keeping previous management in place to continue doing what had made the compay successful in the first place. So any changes in formula at the the time of the purchase would have probably been decided by existing management.

When Dean aquired White Wave, I noticed absolutely no difference in the product, except it was more widely available. I'll bet most Silk drinkers were unaware of the aquisition. I think Dean did leave White Wave intact, they just gave them control over the Sun Soy product line and facilities. Now Dean has 75% of a growing market, so they must have done something right.

I still think even the Kirkland prices are way too high....

I think I will get a soy milk machine, seems the only way to add "competition".

Wow, I am allergic to milk (funny, also can't drink it straight up but can eat cheese and ice cream so long as I don't every darn day).

When I realized my allergy some 10-15 years ago, I really just started taking calcium pills and eating totally different kinds of foods.

Right now, soy seems good for me and I just like the milk more than the tofu.

Nancy

I'm always on the search for good and cheap soymilk, but have run into a bump because I have to check for Carrageenan, which so many soymilks (and other foods) use. From everything I've read (and you know, if it's on the internet, it must be true!) it's starts out as harmless seaweed, and gets processed into some nasty stuff. It's added to make the soymilk "silkier."

I've had pretty good luck with Westsoy organics.