4 ms·

We've been using "soy milk" for the better part of a century and we all know what it means. I don't see how this isn't more like "root beer" now, even if the et

We've been using "soy milk" for the better part of a century and we all know what it means. I don't see how this isn't more like "root beer" now, even if the etymological story isn't quite the same. (edit: see below, attested for many centuries -- 'milk' as non-animal milks.)

rsynnott 5y ago
And “almond milk” for almost a thousand years (it was big in the Middle Ages because it was then not acceptable amongst many Christian and Muslim communities to use milk during fasting periods).
- caturopath 5y ago
  It was called 'almond milk' (or the equivalent in Old English) at the time?
  - technothrasher 5y ago
    Yep. Here's a medieval recipe for butter made from almond milk (from http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans54.html http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans54.html): Botere of almand melk. Tak þikke almound melk & boyle it, & as it boyleth cast yn a litel wyn or vynegre, & þan do it on a caneuas & lat þe whey renne out. & þan gadere it vp with þyn hondes & hang it vp a myle wey, & ley it after in cold water, & serue it forth.
  - AlotOfReading 5y ago
    Yes, almond milk was a popular substitute for regular milk in recipes and meals on days when dairy consumption was forbidden. [1] has a modern cook recreating some of these recipes, but I've seen similar recipes in older (~10-11th century) stuff from the Islamic world, where it wasn't merely a substitute. The word milk in general could refer to any dairy-like liquid though. According to [2] that usage is attested from as early as ~1200. [1] https://historydollop.com/2016/11/09/almond-milk-the-medieval-way/ https://historydollop.com/2016/11/09/almond-milk-the-medieva... [2] https://www.etymonline.com/word/milk#etymonline_v_16158 https://www.etymonline.com/word/milk#etymonline_v_16158
  - rsynnott 5y ago
    Here's an example in what I think is Middle English: https://www.reddit.com/r/medieval/comments/gu70rh/the_recipe_for_the_rice_pudding/ https://www.reddit.com/r/medieval/comments/gu70rh/the_recipe... Almond milk seems to have shown up by the 12th century, but Old English was mostly dying by then.
yissp 5y ago
Much longer than a century apparently https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_milk#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_milk#History
- caturopath 5y ago
  > "Soy milk" entered the English language (as "soy-bean milk") in an 1897 USDA report.

rsynnott 5y ago

And “almond milk” for almost a thousand years (it was big in the Middle Ages because it was then not acceptable amongst many Christian and Muslim communities to use milk during fasting periods).

caturopath 5y ago
It was called 'almond milk' (or the equivalent in Old English) at the time?
- technothrasher 5y ago
  Yep. Here's a medieval recipe for butter made from almond milk (from http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans54.html http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans54.html): Botere of almand melk. Tak þikke almound melk & boyle it, & as it boyleth cast yn a litel wyn or vynegre, & þan do it on a caneuas & lat þe whey renne out. & þan gadere it vp with þyn hondes & hang it vp a myle wey, & ley it after in cold water, & serue it forth.
- AlotOfReading 5y ago
  Yes, almond milk was a popular substitute for regular milk in recipes and meals on days when dairy consumption was forbidden. [1] has a modern cook recreating some of these recipes, but I've seen similar recipes in older (~10-11th century) stuff from the Islamic world, where it wasn't merely a substitute. The word milk in general could refer to any dairy-like liquid though. According to [2] that usage is attested from as early as ~1200. [1] https://historydollop.com/2016/11/09/almond-milk-the-medieval-way/ https://historydollop.com/2016/11/09/almond-milk-the-medieva... [2] https://www.etymonline.com/word/milk#etymonline_v_16158 https://www.etymonline.com/word/milk#etymonline_v_16158
- rsynnott 5y ago
  Here's an example in what I think is Middle English: https://www.reddit.com/r/medieval/comments/gu70rh/the_recipe_for_the_rice_pudding/ https://www.reddit.com/r/medieval/comments/gu70rh/the_recipe... Almond milk seems to have shown up by the 12th century, but Old English was mostly dying by then.

yissp 5y ago

Much longer than a century apparently https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_milk#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_milk#History

caturopath 5y ago
> "Soy milk" entered the English language (as "soy-bean milk") in an 1897 USDA report.