After an eye-opening realization about just how much I was spending at my local coffee shop, I vowed to make my daily lattes at home. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t compare, no matter how many speciality syrups and barista-blend milks I tried. Then a coffee-shop employee shared the secret ingredient that made their beverages so good: sweetened condensed milk.
On my quest for a non-dairy alternative, I found Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk — and instantly added it to my virtual cart. As it turned out, this was definitely the ingredient my otherwise lackluster homemade lattes have been missing.
Adding sweetened condensed milk to coffee is actually super common in many cultures. In Spain, you’ll find many people caffeinating with a Café Bombón — a blend of equal parts espresso and sweetened condensed milk. Traditional Vietnamese Iced Coffee is made by slowly dripping dark-roast hot coffee through a phin filter directly onto sweetened condensed milk, before pouring the mixture over ice after stirring.
Sweetened condensed milk tastes like liquid candy, so it’s not hard to see why it’s a popular addition to coffee. But if, like me, you can’t consume dairy, you’ll be glad to know that Nature’s Charm developed the world’s first oat milk alternative.
What’s So Great About Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk?
When I first tried Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk, I was skeptical about how this non-dairy version might compare. Surprisingly, it has the same thick, velvety, viscous texture and caramelized flavors.
The first thing I noticed about the Nature’s Charm product is that it has just six simple ingredients, and there are no artificial flavors. Instead, it’s mainly made up of oat milk, cane sugar, and coconut oil.
Sweetened condensed milk is notorious for being high in sugar, and the Nature’s Charm version has 21 grams in 8 teaspoons. The good news is that a little goes a long way: I only really need to use about 2 or 3 teaspoons, which translates to a reasonable 5 to 8 grams of sugar in my latte. The sweetness really helps to offset any bitterness in espresso or coffee, and I don’t have to add as much milk to my beverages when I use this, thanks to the subtle creaminess it imparts.
Another perk? This product is shelf-stable, which means I can keep a few cans on hand in my pantry for months. Once I open them, I just pour the remaining sweetened condensed oat milk into an airtight container and store it in my fridge for up to two weeks.
What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk?
Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk dissolves beautifully into hot coffee and lattes using just a quick stir with a spoon.
But like any other self-respecting New Englander, I drink iced coffee year-round. (Yes, even in the dead of January, when temperatures reach sub-zero.) I learned the hard way that adding the sweetened condensed oat milk to cold drinks doesn’t work all that well — it’s a little too thick to dissolve, so instead it hardens and sinks to the bottom of the drink.
One of the best ways to use this in iced coffee drinks is to mix it with a dash of hot water first — this turns it into a syrup that melts more easily. (Note: This is also a great technique to use with any leftover sweetened condensed oat milk, as it tends to harden further in the fridge.)
I also strongly advise whipping out your blender if you have one. Add chilled espresso or cold brew to the blender with the sweetened condensed oat milk, and any other desired milks or flavorings, and you’ll get an extra-frothy latte to pour over ice.
Or, you can make your own coffee creamer by mixing equal parts sweetened condensed oat milk with your milk of choice (or half-and-half) and a tablespoon of vanilla, almond, coconut, or maple extract.
Not a coffee drinker? This sweetened condensed oat milk is equally tasty in tea — especially masala chai and rooibos.
