You don’t have to be vegan to try oat milk! This super creamy healthy milk with a yummy oat-y taste is perfect for adding in your regular coffee or tea, ice cream, cold beverages, and even in baking desserts. Ditch the store-bought cartons, and follow this homemade recipe to make your own velvety smooth oats milk with minimal equipment and 5 minutes of time.

Ingredients:

• Whole rolled oats, ½ cup • Filtered water, 3 cups • Maple Syrup/Honey, 2 teaspoons • Vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon • Sea salt, 1/8 teaspoon

Method

• Add oats and water into a powerful blender and blend it for 30 seconds. The water should look white and creamy.

• Next, take a large bowl and place a fine-mesh strainer over it. Pour the blended oat milk through it. A small amount of the liquid may pool at the bottom of the strainer, but that’s absolutely fine! Discard this liquid and any remaining oat pulp below it.

• This step is optional, so you can skip it if in a hurry. But if you wish for extra-smooth milk, this simple step is necessary. Just strain the liquid once again, and discard any leftover pulp this time too. This double straining will give the ultimate smoothest silkiest texture to your oat milk.

• Sweeten up the milk with a pinch of salt, a dash of maple syrup or honey, and a splash of vanilla extract. For best taste, chill it in the fridge, and savor at your will.

Notes of Caution

• Do not over-blend, lest you compromise the texture.

• Don’t press out the liquid a lot like almond milk or other plant-based milk. Here the trick is to apply less pressure and discard the remaining pulp. Otherwise, the milk will become slimy and gritty.

• When sitting in the fridge, natural separation will occur in the oat milk. You can shake it like other kinds of milk before use. But to enjoy the velvety smooth texture, it’s better to leave the pulp at the bottom and pour the creamy milk off the top.

Set to the shore of the lapping Caribbean Sea, the little dot of French West Indies St. Barts is the perfect hideaway for the jet setters. Surrounded by rugged mountain cliffs and pristine unspoiled nature, there are postcard-perfect stretches of velvety white beach splashing with clear turquoise seawater. This is also the land of Swish fine-dining and French haute cuisine, bubbling beach clubs and alluring cocktail joints, luxury hotels and upmarket stores, and of course whitewashed cruise ships and celebrity yachts. Touch down to this luxe-land to experience the following treats.

Go for a Retail Therapy in Gustavia

The undisputed shopping capital of St. Barts Gustavia is lined with flagship fashion stores and bespoke design outlets, on almost its every lane and alley. The high-end shopping hotspot is home to iconic Quai de la Republique, offering desirable designers and exclusive limited-edition collections from Hermes, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabanna, and many other upmarket brands. You might get lucky to rub shoulders with one or two celebrities while shopping!

Enjoy the Architectural Treats

Away from posh shopping malls and outlets, St. Barts capital Gustavia also offers architectural treasures. A melting pot of English, Swedish, Carib, and of course French culture, the town features winding alleyways, cobblestone streets, bright red-bricked roofs, and Scandinavian-style old mansions. High above the town, there is a looming spire of a Gothic church overlooking the villages of little England. The sun-splashed harbor-side is obviously the popular spot for people watching, or yacht watching to locate a few known figures.

Savor Freshly-made Delicacies at Maya’s

Maya’s restaurant is little and welcoming and has a special reputation for bringing out a different menu each time. That’s because the chefs of this eatery have an ardent passion for the freshest local produces. They source their material each day across the entire island, forging new seasonal flavors and dishes. Run by an island of Martinique-based French-Caribbean locals, the kitchen of this casual bistro has been serving its colorful cuisine since 1984. Head to the diner to enjoy flavorful Fish Carpaccio or Vegetable Ceviche, served in a tempting rustic style.