This beverage is typically referred to as bean broth in China and served hot with salt and other seasonings. The global market in 2018 was valued at $7.30 billion. Hong Kong tops the list consumers with 17 liters per year, followed by Singapore, Thailand, China, and Malaysia. 

Some of the top brands in the US are:

• Edensoy 
• Pacific Natural Foods 
• Silk 
• So Delicious 
• Soy Dream 
• Trader Joe’s 
• WestSoy 
• ZenSoy 
• 365 Everyday Value

Origin of soy milk

This milk originated in China and Chinese legend has it that it was invented in 2 BC by Liu An. The earliest reference to the beverage was in a text written in 82 AD, called ‘Four Taboos’, where soy milk makers feared their product would be spoilt by thunder. Another early reference occurred in 1500 AD in a poem called ‘Ode to Tofu’. The first reference to soybeans in Europe was by Frenchman Paul Champion, writing about Chinese people taking cups to tofu shops for hot soy milk. The first American reference was the very next year in an article comparing the nutritional qualities of soy milk and cow’s milk.

Nutrition

This beverage does have some calcium, provides a number of health benefits, and is a complete source of dietary protein. This milk also contains essential amino acids and isoflavones, which may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, as well as treat menopausal symptoms. This milk also contains decent levels of micronutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, iron, and zinc.

It contains phytoestrogens, which studies have shown may lead to cancer in certain people. It may also increase the risk of hypothyroidism. While there are some benefits associated with this beverage, it may not be suitable for everyone.

Commercial production

There are two types of soy milk. One is the Chinese type with a bean-flavor, which is prepared by soaking soybeans and then blending them together with hot water. The second type is a Western product, which is fermented and ultra-pasteurized. This process removes its bean-like flavor and makes it more palatable to European tastes. Clear or yellow hilum soybeans with large seeds are generally used for the productio.

Soy milk recipes

This is a very popular substitute for dairy milk. Here are a few recipes:

• Soy Milk
• Pancakes
• Custard
• Espresso Soy Milk Shake
• Soya Curry
• Milk Cake
• Porridge
• Vegan Crepes
• South Indian Rice Pudding 
• Cinnamon Buns

FDA regulations

This milk is technically not classified as ‘milk’ in the US since only the lacteal secretion from cows that are free of colostrum can be labeled as such. Serious attempts have been made by the FDA to rule out any non-dairy products as milk, which has left alternative milk products, including soy, undefined, and unclear. Soybean standards are regulated by the USDA. Yellow soybeans are typically used in this beverage’s production. They are defined as having yellow or green seed coats and may not include more than 10 percent of soybeans of other colors.

References

William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi, History of Soymilk and Dairy-like Soymilk Products, A Chapter from the Unpublished Manuscript, History of Soybeans and Soyfoods, 1100 B.C. to the 1980s, Soy Info Center, https://www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/soymilk1.php

Nadia Berenstein, A Brief History of Soy Milk, the Future Food of Yesterday, Serious Eats, https://www.seriouseats.com/2018/06/a-brief-history-of-soy-milk-the-future-food-of-yesterday.html

Soy (Soya) Beans | Processing for the Food Industry H.E. Snyder, L.A. Wilson, in Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (Second Edition), 2003, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012227055X01110X

Barrett, Julia R. “The science of soy: what do we really know?.” Environmental health perspectives vol. 114,6 (2006): A352-8. doi:10.1289/ehp.114-a352, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480510/