Need a new pastime? Introducing: oatspotting
If you’re a film buff, you may be familiar with Trainspotting. But how much do you know about trainspotting? The 1996 film takes its name from a niche hobby in which train enthusiasts keep track of train sightings. Also known as “railfanning,” trainspotting often involves photographing locomotives, logging engine IDs and times of departure, and visiting popular railyards.
The pastime has inspired several derivatives. Aircraft enthusiasts geek out over planespotting, listening in on air traffic control and photographing takeoff routes from the tarmac. Shipspotting, then, tracks marine vessels’ whereabouts.
If you have a penchant for puppers, you’re more likely to be into dogspotting. More than two million people post to dogspotting fora on social media, posting photos of random dogs they’ve encountered while out and about. The headline-grabbing Facebook group goes so far as to define dogspotting as a sport.
We’d like to introduce a new term into the world: oatspotting.
Oatmilk has emerged as the trendiest plant-based milk in recent years. Since 2017, sales have increased more than tenfold, and cultural references are everywhere. There’s oatmilk merch, oatmilk art, and oatmilk memes.
Oatmilk has wide appeal. With a low environmental footprint, creamy texture, and barista-friendly foaming power, people from all walks of life have embraced oatmilk as their preferred milk, especially in coffee drinks. One survey found that 72% of UK consumers had tried a plant-based milk, with almost as many (60%) trying them in coffee.
With so many people drinking oatmilk, you’re bound to recognize some of the faces…
Jennie from Blackpink stocks Oatly in her fridge,
but she’s not the only kpop idol on Team Oat. Girls Generation’s Im Yoon-A did a “What’s in my bag?” video with Vogue Korea, and she had a chocolate Oatly tetrapak in there. She says she drinks one every other day.
More of a fan than a stan? The Philly Flyers’ Owen Tippett reportedly likes a toasted vanilla oatmilk shaken espresso before games.
Maisie Williams drank oatmilk during her time on Hot Ones,
and actress Allegra Edwards keeps it stocked in her fridge.
You never know where you’ll spot it next. Oatmilk can be found everywhere from music festivals…
to major league baseball stadiums.
Even the fine dining community has embraced it, with the king of beef Wellingtons himself, Gordon Ramsay, promoting oatmilk.
Athletes, actors, chefs, singers, sports fans–everyone’s raving about oatmilk! It’s such a phenomenon that some businesses are transitioning to use oatmilk by default. What’s more, new oatmilk products are being introduced all the time as the beverage continues to gain popularity. You’re bound to spot it somewhere.
Maybe you’ll spot oatmilk in a commercial, a grocery store display, or a restaurant’s seasonal menu. Maybe oatmilk will be at the airport, at the skating rink, or at the Times Square ball drop. Wherever you see it, snap a pic and post it!
If you see one of your fave celebs drinking oatmilk, make it known. Use the #oatspotting hashtag when you see oatmilk in the wild — and feel free to tag us (@defaultveg).
On February 1st, we’ll randomly choose three winners from Instagram and Twitter, who will receive their choice of prize:
Like what you see? Then get oat there and start spotting!
Mikhala Kaseweter is Content Manager for the Better Food Foundation.
