Silk Non Dairy Yogurt
Q:John – I have a lactose problem, but I still want the probiotic help that comes in a good natural yogurt. Is there a soy yogurt that has similar probiotic benefit or do I have to stick with the real stuff?
A:Alisa – The short answer is yes, there are several non-dairy yogurts available that will offer probiotic benefits equivalent to dairy-based yogurt. In fact, for those who are lactose intolerant the non-dairy yogurts may have more noticeable benefits since you won’t be contending with lactose maldigestion symptoms from the yogurt too. I have included some soy yogurt options below and will also go into a bit more detail on this topic and address what a “natural yogurt” could be.
Probiotics Improve Digestion in Dairy or Non-Dairy Yogurt
It is not uncommon for someone with lactose intolerance to be tolerant of good quality dairy yogurt. This is because certain strains of probiotics have been found to aid in the digestion of lactose.
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Though L. acidophilus has long been recognized as the digestion hero, it was actually found in studies to have very little effect on the digestion of lactose. But another member of the Lactobacillus family, L. bulgaricus showed improvements for the hydrogen breath test (a basic lactose intolerance test) and symptoms. (Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) For more information on lactose intolerance and the tests available, see Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook.
L. bulgaricus is commonly used as a starter for yogurts, both dairy and non-dairy, so it is fairly easy to find. Also, based on the studies I read, it looks like you will get the same benefits from this probiotic no matter the medium (whether in a cow’s milk yogurt or a soy yogurt). The benefits of probiotics are created in the process of fermentation, so the medium is not necessarily what is important. This is why Kimchi, a fermented vegetable Korean dish, has been used for centuries as a tummy-tamer at meals.
Probiotic Preservation: Why Store-Bought Isn’t Always Best
What is important is the level of live active cultures in the finished product (those not destroyed in the production of the yogurt), and how well it is stored to avoid destruction of these cultures before they are able to reach your gut (chilled mediums are usually best for both supplements and foods).
Keep in mind, most commercial yogurts are pasteurized (killing off many of the live active cultures) and have probiotics added in after the fact. These may not have the same gut benefits as the cultures from the original fermentation. Check with the yogurt manufacturer to find out their processes and the live active cultures in their finished products.
Better yet, make your own yogurt at home! The definition of a “natural yogurt” can vary since it is not a regulated term – it may simply be one made with all natural ingredients, Greek-style yogurt, yogurt made from a prior batch of yogurt, or a plain unsweetened yogurt. The best way to qualify your non-dairy yogurt as “natural” by any of these standards is to make it yourself. You can easily prepare a batch of yogurt with your own makeshift apparatus or by using a relatively inexpensive yogurt maker.
Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook offers recipes for homemade Soy Yogurt, Coconut Yogurt, and Cashew Yogurt (the latter two also being soy-free options) and full instructions.
The Best Store-Bought Soy Yogurts Available
My favorite soy yogurt brand, Whole Soy & Co, went out of business. I’m still waiting for another option to emerge that is as healthy as that brand was! Nancy’s also discontinued their Organic Cultured Soy Yogurt, but they have replaced it with dairy-free Oat Milk Yogurt. Luckily, there are still a couple great brands on the market:
- Silk Dairy-Free Yogurt made with Soy – This is a delicious yogurt that’s very close to yogurts like Yoplait in taste and consistency. However, they don’t have an unsweetened version and the flavors are relatively high in sugars (like Yoplait!).
- Stonyfield Organic O’Soy Yogurt – There was a big uproar when people discovered this soy yogurt brand wasn’t actually dairy-free. They do now label their product as vegan, but I would still check on the growth medium if severe milk allergies are a concern since they also make dairy yogurt.
The above mentioned products can be found at Whole Foods and other natural food stores. However, I have also seen each of these brands in the natural food aisles (refrigerated) of my local mega-grocer. They are each widely distributed in the United States.
Not into soy? There are almond, coconut and many other types of dairy-free yogurt now available! See our Substitutes Review Section for information on several soy-free, dairy-free yogurt brands.
For more dairy-free Q&A topics, see our Ask Alisa Page.
Dairy-free no longer means giving up yogurt. There are now dozens of options on the market! But I must confess that some might not meet your expectations. So we taste-tested our way through every offering and product line we could find and identified the 10 best dairy-free yogurt brands on the market. They all happen to be plant-based, vegan, and carrageenan-free. And you will find many nut-free, soy-free, coconut-free, and even paleo options.
Enjoy our countdown below of coconut, almond, cashew, soy, and top allergen-free yogurts. Then comment with your favorite!
Our Top 10 List of Dairy-Free Yogurt Brands
We found well over 20 dairy-free yogurt brands (by individual product line) to taste test. But these are the ones that will make it into our shopping cart again.
For Low Sugar Needs: Please note that the nutrition facts and ingredients are one sample flavor. If they had a “Plain” we used that one. We purposely used a sweetened variety, if they have one, so that you could see what type of sweetener the brand uses, if any. Several of these do have no sugar added / unsweetened varieties, so be sure to read the details if you are looking for lower sugars!
#10 – Stonyfield’s Organic Dairy-Free Soy Yogurt
Formerly known as O’Soy, this yogurt line once had some confusing dairy labeling issues and later a recall. To shed their spotted past, Stonyfield is rebranding with a bolder “dairy-free” label (shown below) and without the O’Soy name. This yogurt brand isn’t quite as great as long lost WholeSoy, but it still covers organic soy yogurt needs with good flavors and a smooth consistency. And it’s a fun option for “fruit on the bottom” fans.
- Base: Organic Soymilk
- Favorite Flavor: Vanilla
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, coconut-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Vanilla Flavor): 130 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 20 grams carbs, 18 grams sugars, 6 grams protein, 10% calcium
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: They don’t currently have a plain or unsweetened flavor, which could really round out the mix.
Ingredients (Vanilla Flavor): cultured pasteurized organic soy milk, organic cane sugar, organic natural vanilla flavor, calcium carbonate, natural flavor, pectin, s. thermophilus, l. bulgaricus, l. acidophilus, and bifidus
#9 – Coconut Dream Non-Dairy Yogurt
Note: We just found out this line is discontinuing, but we expect new things from the Dream brand soon.
This dessert-worthy yogurt has a consistency that’s quite similar to “traditional” low-fat dairy-based yogurt, but with less tang, and more flavorful sweetness. I wanted to add Almond Dream to this top 10 list of dairy-free yogurt brands, too (it’s also sweet and flavorful). But the consistency of that product line is too inconsistent – sometimes creamy, sometimes gelatinous. Thus far, we haven’t seen any issues with Dream’s coconut line.
- Base: Coconut Cream
- Favorite Flavor: Vanilla
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 120 calories, 4 grams fat, 24 grams carbs, 14 grams sugars, 0 grams protein, 25% calcium
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: Even the plain is a little too indulgent for breakfast. We’d love it if they offered some lower sugar options and added a squeeze of lemon to help the flavors pop. Until they do, I recommend adding a little lemon yourself!
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): coconut base (water, coconut cream), evaporated cane syrup, stabilizer blend (corn starch, tapioca maltodextrin, pectin, locust bean gum), tapioca fiber, tricalcium phosphate, cultures (l. acidophilus, bifidobacterium lactis, s. thermophilus, l. delbrueckii), antimicrobial (from culture)
#8 – Good Karma Dairy-Free Yogurt
This is the best top allergen-free, coconut-free yogurt that we’ve tried. It’s tough to make yogurt without dairy, let alone nuts, soy, and coconut. But Good Karma pulled off a very “yogurt-y” consistency. It’s quite creamy instead of gelatinous. The flavor is a bit sweet, but this can be necessary to counteract protein bitterness. And the nice big fruit chunks made it feel a little more wholesome.
- Base: Flaxmilk
- Favorite Flavor: Strawberry
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, coconut-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 90 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 13 grams carbs, 7 grams sugars, 6 grams protein, 20% calcium, 15% vitamin D, 15% vitamin B12, 800 milligrams Omega-3
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: A bit more work on the Plain variety would be great. It had strange sour undertones and didn’t have as smooth a finish as the fruity flavors.
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): cultured pasteurized flaxmilk (filtered water, cold pressed flax oil), pea protein isolate, cane sugar, corn starch (unmodified, identity preserved), tapioca starch, agar, locust bean gum, citric acid, cultured dextrose, tricalcium phosphate, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d2, vitamin b12. contains 7 live and active cultures: streptococcus thermophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, bifidobacterium lactis, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus rhamnosus, lactobacillus lactis
#7 – Cocoyo Living Coconut Yogurt
This very virtuous brand disappeared several years ago, but it was purchased by GT’s and brought back to life! It’s the “cleanest” on the market and has a unique, but tasty, effervescence. And it boasts a whopping 25 billion probiotics per 1/2 cup serving with no added sugar. Watch insidious chapter 3.
- Base: Raw Coconut
- Favorite Flavor: Pure
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Pure Flavor): 110 calories, 8 grams fat, 6 grams carbs, 1 grams sugar, 1 gram protein
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: I know this can be challenging with high quality products, but a price reduction would be helpful. It’s on the indulgent side of the grocery budget.
Ingredients (Pure Flavor): raw young coconut, raw young coconut water, probiotic cultures (the flavored varieties are sweetened with a touch of stevia)
#6 – So Delicious Coconutmilk Yogurt Alternative
In recent years, So Delicious abandoned their other dairy-free yogurt brands to focus exclusively on their classic coconutmilk line. Now they have a plethora of flavors in single-serve cups and multi-serve tubs that can be found in grocers everywhere. I’m most loyal to their Unsweetened variety, which offers so much versatility in recipes and seems to work the best with their carrageenan-free formula (they removed the carrageenan a few years ago). Some of the fruit flavors can be a little lumpy depending on the batch.
- Base: Organic Coconutmilk
- Favorite Flavor: Unsweetened
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 170 calories, 7 grams fat, 25 grams carbs, 15 grams sugars, <1 grams protein, 40% calcium, 40% vitamin D, 40% vitamin B12
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: I hope they smooth out the consistency in all of the flavors.
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): organic coconutmilk (filtered water, organic coconut cream), organic cane sugar, rice starch, less than 2% of: calcium citrate, pectin, live and active cultures, vitamin d2, vitamin b12
#5 – Silk Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative Made with Soy
I believe this is the highest protein option on the market, and without any added protein. Consequently, it has a very smooth consistency that beckons to dairy yogurt. In fact, Tony exclaimed “Yoplait!” when he sampled one of the flavors. It’s satisfyingly sweet with a slight tang. The cups come only in flavors, but you can buy the lower sugar Plain variety in larger tubs.
- Base: Non-GMO Soymilk
- Favorite Flavors: Vanilla and Peach & Mango
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, coconut-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 140 calories, 5 grams fat, 13 grams carbs, 7 grams sugars, 9 grams protein, 40% calcium, 35% vitamin D
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: We’ve yet to find an unsweetened soy yogurt, and would love for Silk to emerge with one!
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): soymilk (filtered water, soybeans), cane sugar, contains 2% or less of: live and active cultures, corn starch, natural flavor, pectin, tricalcium phosphate, citric acid, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, mixed tocopherols (to protect flavor), vitamin c ester, vitamin d2
What Is Non Dairy Yogurt
#4 – Coyo Coconut Yogurt Alternative
Holy uncow! It’s straight up cultured coconut cream. This stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s so unbelievably thick and rich that I usually break one serving into three. It’s the perfect healthy dollop atop granola, fresh fruit, or even dessert! Coyo used to use stevia to sweeten, but it was cut from the formula. Now this flavor-on-the-bottom brand doesn’t use any added sweeteners.
- Base: Coconut Cream
- Favorite Flavors: Natural and Mango
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 390 calories, 38 grams fat, 10 grams carbs, 5 grams sugars, 3 grams protein
- Availability: United States, Australia, United Kingdom
- Remaining Wishes: Of course, a more affordable price would be great, but I know that coconut cream this rich doesn’t come cheap!
Ingredients (Natural Flavor): coconut cream (coconut extract, water), tapioca, pectin and probiotic cultures; b. bifidum, b. lactis, l. acidophilus, l. casei, l. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, l. rhamnosus, streptococcus thermophilus.
#3 – Forager Project Organic Coconut Cashewgurt
Forager’s original Cashewgurt line isn’t bad, but it lacks well-rounded flavors and a full-bodied consistency. This newer Coconut Cashewgurt line picks up where it left off. Both of their dairy-free yogurt brands are made with cashews and coconut, but the latter has a higher ratio of coconut cream for a richer finish that melds nicely with fruity flavors. Hindi video songs free download in hd.
- Base: Cashews and Coconut Cream
- Favorite Flavor: Lime
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Lime Flavor): 130 calories, 8 grams fat, 12 grams carbs, 7 grams sugars, 2 grams protein, 0% calcium
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: A versatile Unsweetened variety would be nice, and so would a larger serving size. You get just 4 ounces in this yogurt cup, compared to 5.3 ounces in your average yogurt brand.
Ingredients (Lime Flavor): coconut & cashewmilk (filtered water, coconut cream*, cashews*), cane sugar*, tapioca starch*, lemon*, pectin, natural flavor, locust bean gum*, fruit and vegetable juice (for color), agar, lemon juice concentrate*, live active cultures (s. thermophilus, l. bulgaricus, l. acidophilus, bifidus, l. lactis, l. plantarum) *organic
#2 – Coconut Collaborative
I had the chance to try this scrumptious fruit-on-the-bottom, no added sweetener yogurt at a tradeshow, and was reminded of it by a reader named Katie:
I found a DELICIOUS dairy free yogurt at Wegmans. It is from a company called The Coconut Collaborative. They have 3 or 4 flavors and by far has the most dairy-like tasting notes and texture without actually having dairy.
- Base: Coconut Milk
- Favorite Flavor: Mango & Passionfruit
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 150 calories, 12 grams fat, 8 grams carbs, 7 grams sugars (0 grams added sugars), 2 grams protein
- Availability: United States, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom
- Remaining Wishes: For the price, a slightly larger size would be great. These are on the smaller side for yogurt cups (about 4.23 ounces).
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): coconut milk (coconut extract, coconut water, water), tapioca starch, potato starch, pectin, non-dairy cultures (s.thermophilus + l.bulgaricus, lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium lactis)
#1 – Silk Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative
Silk struck the perfect balance between simple wholesome ingredients, creamy consistency, and delicious flavor with their almondmilk yogurt line. Unlike many dairy-free almond-based products, they use a good does of real almonds to provide richness and nutrition. In fact, it’s such good quality, that you can make amazing dairy-free yogurt cheese with it!
- Base: Almondmilk
- Favorite Flavor: Plain, Dark Chocolate Coconut, Peach … we can’t choose!
- Key Dietary Notes*: Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, coconut-free, carrageenan-free
- Basic Nutrition (Plain Flavor): 180 calories, 13 grams fat, 10 grams carbs, 6 grams sugars, 6 grams protein, 15% calcium, 20% vitamin D
- Availability: United States
- Remaining Wishes: I don’t want them to change the current flavors, but a lower sugar line to compliment these and an Unsweetened variety would be wonderful.
Ingredients (Plain Flavor): almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), cane sugar, contains 2% or less of: calcium citrate, pectin, live and active cultures, vitamin d2
Silk Non Dairy Yogurt Review
*Know Your Needs! By ingredients, all of the products listed above are dairy-free. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. All products are at some degree of risk for cross-contamination with allergens, but you must determine if the protocols are safe for your needs. Also processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
Other Dairy-Free Yogurt Brands that We Tried
Yogurt is a very personal thing. Many of you will like these other brands, and we think each one has merits. They just didn’t make the top 10 this time around with our taste-testers.
- Almond Dream Non-Dairy Yogurt – This used to be a favorite, but they changed the consistency to be a bit more gelatinous. (This line is discontinuing, but we expect new things from them soon).
- Daiya Greek Style Yogurt – This is a top allergen-free line that is pretty easy to find and usually quite thick.
- Forager Cashewgurt – I really like the unsweetened, but it’s missing the rounded out notes that their new coconut line has and that many other brands hit on.
- Kite Hill Artisan Almond Milk Yogurt – We had big consistency issues with the product in taste and texture – even between the same flavor. Hopefully they can fix the inconsistency issues.
- Kite Hill Almond Greek-Style Yogurt – This is a good option for high protein and lower sugar. Again, we just had some big consistency issues between flavors.
- Lavva Plant-Based Yogurt – This is a top allergen-free and very nutritious product that’s made with no sugar and a very unique base. But flavor kinks need to be worked out.
- Ripple Greek Yogurt Alternative – This top allergen-free brand is stocked with protein and is very thick. It just has bitterness from the protein itself.
- Trader Joe’s Coconut Yogurt – A great convenience for Trader Joe’s shoppers! It was just a big miss on taste for us.
- Vega Protein Cashewmilk Yogurt Alternative – This is a very high protein option. The functional aspects just got in the way of making it a top contender.
We weren’t able to access some regional brands and some brands that are only available outside of the U.S.
Which Dairy-Free Yogurt Brands Do You Love?
Don’t be shy! Do you love one that didn’t rank in our top 10? Did we hit the mark for you? Did we miss a good dairy-free yogurt that you can buy? Everyone wants to hear YOUR opinion too!