421276 Sun Jul 15 10:03:08 -0700 2007 14 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2751390 I just purchased a plastic jug of unsweetened soy milk for the first time from the 99 Ranch market, and I guess I didn't really expect it to taste so different from American soy milk (Silk, etc.). It tastes like tofu water to me - not really offensive, but not very tasty either. What can I do with this milk to make it tastier? Or can I use it in cooking? Sun Jul 15 10:03:08 -0700 2007 22761 sogi 1 2751448 Many American brands "fortify" and "enhance" soy milk to give it flavor. From the ingredients label of an American Organic soy milk: Organic Soymilk, Organic evaporated cane juice, tricalcium citrate, sea salt, Organic vanilla flavor, carrageenan, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin D2, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12. Most Asian soy milk in not enhanced or fortified - just plain soy milk. You could try vanilla flavoring with some sugar to get the "enhanced" flavor. For cooking - it will be fine in any recipe calling for natural soy milk. Sun Jul 15 10:26:14 -0700 2007 2751390 93805 hannaone 2 2752737 "Evaporated cane juice" is one of my favorite ingredient-list euphemisms. Evaporated cane juice! Ha! Excuse me while I smear some de-milkified cream on some toast. Sun Jul 15 21:39:19 -0700 2007 2751448 10465 hatless 1 2752193 just sweeten it. You can also serve it hot (sweetened or salted) and eat with fried dough sticks, Sun Jul 15 16:59:55 -0700 2007 2751390 10980 Blueicus 2 2752548 Thanks - I actually used the milk in iced coffee today with simple syrup and it was pretty tasty! Sun Jul 15 19:54:19 -0700 2007 2752193 22761 sogi 1 2752600 Um...it's fresh. Delivered hot (and I mean burn your hand through the plastic carton hot) at the 99Ranch about 9:30 a.m. daily and other Asian Markets in San Diego, made by LifeSoy on University Avenue. Once I had this, I learned what pure, fresh soy juice should taste like and I can't stand all those other brands. I do like it warm and fresh and will re-warm it when I want a cup of it, plain. My husband will use it cold on cereal and also mixes with fruit or fruit juice for a sort of 'smoothie'. The label shows same calorie count for the sweetened and unsweetened, so I only buy the one marked unsweetened. Sun Jul 15 20:15:03 -0700 2007 2751390 12123 Cathy 2 3973395 Unfortunately Lifesoy was just cited in an FDA inspection for having filthy conditions. You can read it here: http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/s6879c.htm My favorite of several was, "an employee was seen causing water used to clean the dirty processing room floor and the side of what appeared to be a refuse container to splash directly into a vat of in-process tofu curd." Wed Aug 20 16:02:09 -0700 2008 2752600 212546 MsMargo 3 3973541 Well, my comment was made 13 months ago. I craved the stuff. 99Ranch in San Diego has not carried the Lifesoy for a few months now. I have been looking for a similar substitute and have bought many unsweetened brands and warm them, but none have that flavor I crave. Interesting report. Wed Aug 20 16:56:38 -0700 2008 3973395 12123 Cathy 1 2752773 I find the sweetened version much better. If you are ever in the Westminster, you can buy the soy milk direclty from the company that supplies the 99 Ranch market and most other asian grocers. They also make their own fresh tofu and soy products. I always stop by when in the area. Sun Jul 15 22:02:01 -0700 2007 2751390 112049 koshie 2 2753805 Same in San Diego- that fresh, hot tofu is so different than the prepackaged stuff. Maybe I will try the sweetened one this week. The ingredient list and nutrition list do not show sugar/different ingredients nor a difference in calories, that was why I did not want to try the sweetened. Mon Jul 16 09:53:45 -0700 2007 2752773 12123 Cathy 2 2763192 I live near Westminster, where is the company? Thanks. Wed Jul 18 20:32:01 -0700 2007 2752773 71215 mlgb 3 2763256 Dong Phuong Tofu. 15022 Moran St. Westminster CA 92683 Its in the pink building next to the Asian Garden Mall. They also have soy vegetarian products which are also yummy. Also try the mini egg rolls if they are just freshly fried. Wed Jul 18 21:06:17 -0700 2007 2763192 112049 koshie 1 2763113 I like Chinese soy milk much better. It's refreshing. I've never been a fan of the American versions, but they'll do in a pinch. You can make rice porridge with scallions, pork floss, scrambled eggs and a fried Chinese crueller. Don't forget to add a little vinegar to curdle the milk. It basically turns into runny tofu! Wed Jul 18 19:54:20 -0700 2007 2751390 10886 thesu 1 2770691 I buy Silk brand "unsweetened" version. Still has some extra ingredients, yet isn't the sugar-bomb that most supermarket soy milks have become. That plastic jug intrigues me, but sadly, there's no 99 Ranch Market in South Florida (I've been to the one in Honolulu, and while there's better selection at other markets on the island, there's nothing comparable here at home). Sat Jul 21 11:16:15 -0700 2007 2751390 25928 canned applause 2 2771142 Soy Milk (Juice) is pretty easy to make at home. If you make it yourself you have total control over what goes in it. Sat Jul 21 15:11:31 -0700 2007 2770691 93805 hannaone