Q: What makes The Alternative milks different from other UHT milks?

They're specifically made to work with your morning brew . They balance acidity, texture beautifully, and create tight microfoam with a creamy mouthfeel—plus they have a slight natural sweetness like dairy milk – although with less total sugar than dairy milk.

Question 1

Can I buy The Alternative in the supermarket?

Accepted Answer

We’re made for café – but you can take us home. Find us at participating cafés across Australia and New Zealand, throughout Asia (including Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam), and the UAE.

Can’t spot us? Ask your local barista or use our café finder to track us down.

View Take Me Home Map.

Question 2

Want to stock our milks in your café or venue?

Accepted Answer

Reach out via our Contact Us form – our crew will be in touch.

Question 3

Are The Alternative Dairy Co. cartons recyclable?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our cartons are recyclable including the cap if you leave it on the empty pack – but not all councils accept long-life cartons just yet. Recycling options can vary depending on where you live. Check with your local council here.

Question 4

Why do we use Tetra Pak™?

Accepted Answer

It’s all about doing better with less.

When it comes to plant-based milk packaging, sustainability matters. That’s why we use Tetra Pak™.

Tetra Pak™ cartons have one of the lowest carbon footprints among common packaging types in Australia*. They’re made from 65% renewable paperboard sourced from wood fibre, and their lightweight, space-efficient design helps cut down transport emissions.

Our Barista range is shelf-stable—so it doesn’t need refrigeration until it’s opened. That means less energy use and a lower environmental impact. Plus, the carton protects the taste, colour and nutrients of every pour, helping reduce food waste.

*Source: Based on a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Aseptic Polymer Coated Paperboard, conducted by thinkstep-ANZ on behalf of Tetra Pak

Question 5

Are The Alternative milks vegan and vegetarian?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. They’re dairy-free and 100% plant-based. Making it a suitable plant-based alternative for vegans and vegetarians.

Question 6

Are your Barista milks suitable for gluten free diets?

Accepted Answer

Almond, Soy and Coconut variants are tested and have no detectable gluten—suitable for gluten free diets. Our Barista Oat is not gluten free as oats cannot be labelled as gluten free in Australia and New Zealand.

Nutrition, ingredient, and allergen information can be found for specific products by heading to our product pages. We always recommend checking allergen information on product before use.

Question 7

What makes The Alternative milks different from other UHT milks?

Accepted Answer

They're specifically made to work with your morning brew. They balance acidity, texture beautifully, and create tight microfoam with a creamy mouthfeel—plus they have a slight natural sweetness like dairy milk – although with less total sugar than dairy milk.

Question 8

Is there cross-contamination between soy, nuts and oats?

Accepted Answer

We’ve got strict protocols in place under our HACCP-certified food safety program.

We’re committed to being clear about the allergens in our products. To prevent cross-contact, especially when different allergens are handled in the same facility, we have strict measures in place.

Question 9

Are your milks made in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Yes - they’re proudly crafted on the Central Coast, NSW.

We’re committed to keeping things local wherever we can. That means sourcing Aussie ingredients first and reducing our environmental impact along the way.

Question 10

Where do your ingredients come from?

Accepted Answer

Our almonds and oats are grown right here in Australia.

Question 11

Any preservatives or artificial colours?

Accepted Answer

None. We use heat treatment to keep things safe and shelf-stable – no preservatives or artificial colours needed.

Question 12

Do your milks contain palm oil?

Accepted Answer

No palm oil here. None of our Barista range contains palm-derived ingredients.

Question 13

How long do your milks last?

Accepted Answer

Unopened, they’ll last until the best before date. Once opened, pop them in the fridge and enjoy within 4–5 days.

Question 14

How should I heat The Alternative milks?

Accepted Answer

For best results:

Chill first
For best texture: stretch to 40°C
Then heat to 55–60°C (Stop stretching once you hit 40°C.)

Question 15

Can I freeze The Alternative milks?

Accepted Answer

No. Freezing affects the consistency and messes with the texture causing separation.

Question 16

Can I cook with it?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. While our milks are crafted specifically for brews, our milks work beautifully in recipes too.

Question 17

Help. My order hasn’t arrived.

Accepted Answer

We're sorry to hear that! First, please check your inbox for a tracking number — and don’t forget to look in your spam or junk folder, as emails can sometimes end up there.

Still can't find it? Reach out to us here. Please note: Some items may ship from separate warehouses and could arrive at different times.

Question 18

I'm not sure what size to buy.

Accepted Answer

We feel you. Please check the size guide for your pick of merch which can be found on individual item pages.

Question 19

Do you have a physical store?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, so all our goodies are online exclusives.

Question 20

Which payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept payment via VISA, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal. There’ll be more options soon. Watch this space.

Question 21

Can I modify or cancel my order after it has been placed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as the order hasn’t been processed. Please give our friendly customer service team a call asap and we’ll do our best.

Question 22

What are my shipping options?

Accepted Answer

We currently offer standard shipping from our warehouse in Sydney NSW.

Shipping cost is $9.95 AUD flat rate Australia wide. Shipping is free for all orders over $80 AUD.

Question 23

When will my order be shipped?

Accepted Answer

We aim to ship all orders within 48 hours from when the order is placed. Our products are shipped from Sydney, NSW via Australia Post. Once your order is packed and dispatched, you will receive an email with a tracking number to track your parcel. Depending on postage carrier restrictions, it may take up to 7 business days to receive your order.

Please note some items may come from different warehouses and thus are shipped separately.

Question 24

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. We currently ship to Australia and New Zealand.

Question 25

What is your returns and exchange policy?

Accepted Answer

We want you to love your purchase from The Alternative store. If you're not satisfied with your order, we’re here to help.

We are happy to provide a refund or exchange if:

The product is faulty or is not of acceptable quality;
The product is not fit for its intended purpose;
The product does not match the sample or our description; or

To be eligible for a refund or exchange, the product:

must be unused, unworn, and in its original condition with all garment tags still attached (for clothing);
must be returned in its original packaging;
be accompanied by a proof of purchase (invoice or order confirmation);
must not be misused by you so as to cause a problem with the product; or was not known by you, before you bought it, to have a problem with it.

Non-Returnable Items

Certain items (listed below) cannot be returned or exchanged:

Final sale items.
Personalised or custom-made products.
Items that have been worn, washed, or altered.

Refunds

Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used when purchasing the product.
Shipping fees are non-refundable unless the return is due to a problem with the product and entitles you to a refund or exchange.

Exchanges

If you need a different size clothing item, we will send a new item once we receive notification of the return (via the link below) including details of the new size and receipt of the returned item.

Exchanges are subject to product availability.

If you meet the conditions above, reach out to us here.

Returns of items that do not meet these conditions may result in a refund or exchange not being issued.

Please note that online orders can only be returned through this online process, so hold onto your items in case we require them to be sent back to our team.

Question 26

Where do I find sizing guides?

Accepted Answer

Our sizing guides are available on individual product pages where applicable.

FAQs

Where to Find Us

Packaging & Recycling

Allergens & Dietary Suitability

Ingredients & Sourcing

Storage & Usage

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