15 Most Popular Almond Milk Brands, Ranked
Whether you’re lactose intolerant, vegan, or just don’t like the taste of dairy milk, almond milk is a top milk alternative. Despite its newish popularity in the US, almond milk has actually been around for hundreds of years, with the first mention of it from a 13th century Baghdadi cookbook.
In the mid-2010s, the market for almond milk exploded in the US; even Starbucks added almond milk to its menu as non-dairy milk in 2016. Almond milk is not only great for lattes but is a beautiful addition to smoothies and a replacement for dairy milk in every instance you can think of (in cereal, in cream-based soups, in creamy sauces, etc.). Its creamy texture and nutty flavoring make it a versatile ingredient.
Finding the best-tasting almond milk can be difficult, especially with many almond milk brands available. The ones that made the top of my list have a great ingredient list, are creamy in texture, taste amazing and are slightly nutty and versatile. You may have to do a taste test of a few of these yourself to determine which one you prefer.
But with the popularity of almond milk comes an explosion of almond milk brands. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of 15 of the best almond milk brands to try. Keep reading to find the best one for you!
Best Almond Milk Brands
- Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
- Elmhurst Milked Almonds
- Pacific Organic Almond Milk
- Three Trees
- Califia Farms Almondmilk
- Silk Original Almondmilk
- Trader Joe’s Almondmilk
- So Delicious Almondmilk
- Orgain Unsweetened Almondmilk
- 365 Organic Almondmilk
- Malk Vanilla Almond Milk
- Almond Dream
- Simply Nature Almond Beverage
- Natura Almond Milk
- Friendly Farms Almondmilk Original
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze almond milk is our top pick for best tasting almond milk. The leading US almond milk brand, not only does it come with a taste guarantee, but it is also fortified with excellent vitamins and minerals. Blue Diamond Almond Breeze is an excellent source of calcium, with 50% more calcium than dairy milk.
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze is carrageenan-free, making it a winner for me. Carrageenan is a food additive that increases the shelf life of drinks. However, carrageenan is also inflammatory and questionable safety-wise, although more research needs to be done to learn more about this ingredient. Either way, I personally avoid drinks with this ingredient.
Another pro of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze is that it is widely available, you can find it in most grocery stores, and it is affordable! What’s not to love about that?
Elmhurst Milked Almonds
Elmhurst Milked Almonds is our runner-up. Made from simple ingredients, just almonds and water, this drink packs a punch with 5g of protein per serving. Like Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Elmhurst Milked Almonds is also carrageenan-free.
Despite having only two ingredients, they’ve somehow managed to perfect the milking process because they’ve created thick and flavorful almond milk. Elmhurst Milked Almonds tastes tremendous and goes exceptionally well in your morning cup of coffee. It has a balanced flavor with a creaminess comparable to cow’s milk. Simple, delicious, and healthy, Elmhurst Milked Almonds is guilt-free!
The only downside is that Elmhurst Milked Almonds can be hard to find in your local grocery store, but you can purchase almond milk directly from their website.
Pacific Organic Almond Milk
What’s excellent about Pacific Organic Almond Milk is its almond taste. Still, it isn’t overpowering or distracting, making it perfect for those who want a milk substitute but don’t like a nutty flavor. Pacific Foods takes almonds and roasts them before “milking,” creating their subtle, smooth flavored milk. It is also carrageenan-free, which means a stamp of approval from me!
Its subtle almond taste makes Pacific Organic Almond Milk perfect as a dairy substitute in more savory dishes such as mac and cheese, creamy soups, or sauces. With its versatile use, Pacific Organic Almond Milk is the perfect addition to your fridge!
Three Trees
Three Trees almond milk feels just like homemade almond milk. Be warned that you should shake vigorously before pouring, as it needs some stimulation to become smooth. Otherwise, your almond milk may come out clumpy.
The high-fat content in their milk allows the milk to froth and foam ideally, making them an excellent choice for baristas and coffee lovers. Those who enjoy that will love the almond cream inside. With only two ingredients, Three Trees is top of the list for simple, healthy dairy milk alternatives. It is a bit plain, but that simpleness allows you to customize it for your own taste buds. Some people enjoy adding cinnamon, vanilla, and/or stevia to make their own delicious drink.
With a clean, refreshing taste, Three Trees is perfect for those who prefer the simpler pleasures in life.
Califia Farms Almondmilk
Califia Farms Almondmilk is probably the closest to good ole cow’s milk. With less of an almond, nutty taste and more of a creamy, delicious richness to it, Califia Farms goes great with your favorite cookie.
Artinsally crafted in Florida, Califia Farms is the definition of home-grown. Their almond milk is mild, subtle, and thick, without a ton of added sugar or any at all for the unsweetened variety. With a short number of ingredients and only 35 calories per serving, this almond milk is a winner for taste, texture, and health!
However, Califia Farms Almondmilk may have a weird color to it (it’s oddly grey, not white), but I promise you, it tastes better than it looks! Taste is what matters, right?
Silk Original Almondmilk
Silk is the almond milk brand that Starbucks uses in their stores, so you know it must be good! Silk Original Almondmilk has a silky smooth texture (get it?) and just a hint of almond flavor. It’s subtle and not overbearing. Silk Original Almondmilk is perfect for your latte or even in a bowl of cereal.
Unsweetened but still with great flavor, Silk Original Almondmilk is high in calcium, with 30% of your daily intake in just one glass. So go enjoy that Starbucks latte and know that you’re one step closer to getting enough calcium for the day!
Trader Joe’s Almondmilk
Trader Joe’s is one of my absolute favorite grocery stores of all time, and let me tell you, their almond milk does not disappoint! TJ’s Almond Beverage is creamy and has a subtle sweetness to it. This smooth, balanced drink is vegan, dairy-free (expected, but not always a given), and unsweetened.
However, some may consider this drink a bit watery, as can sometimes be the case with almond milk brands. Some tasters have also mentioned its saltiness, but I didn’t notice that. It’s really up to your personal preference, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!
So Delicious Almondmilk
Is it actually so delicious? I can confirm that yes, it is! I love using this over granola or in a smoothie.
Made from a moderately short list of ingredients, So Delicious Almondmilk is quite tasty and full of nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. It is carrageenan-free; however, it does have additional gum ingredients added that help make it shelf-stable and to protect freshness.
This brand is a great pantry staple for many who don’t use up almond milk quickly enough for the truly fresh, just milked ingredients. If you don’t consume almond milk every day and use it sparingly, this is the perfect almond milk brand for you!
Orgain Unsweetened Almondmilk
If you’re looking for a protein-filled almond milk drink, do I have a brand for you! Orgain Unsweetened Almondmilk boasts ten, I repeat TEN, grams of protein per serving. I think that is the largest amount of protein I’ve ever seen in almond milk.
Now, this amount of protein isn’t entirely all-natural since they add organic pea protein to get that protein count up, but it is an excellent addition to anyone’s diet as a vegan protein source.
Similar to a few other almond milk brands, Orgain Unsweetened Almondmilk isn’t just almonds and water; it does have different vitamins and minerals added and some other ingredients to help increase shelf-life.
365 Organic Almondmilk
The child of organic supermarket giant Whole Foods, the 365 Organic Almondmilk is a light, organic almond beverage. Since it doesn’t have much flavor, especially almond or nutty flavor, and I would call it more of a watery almond milk, it is better used in recipes rather than drinking straight.
It’s a perfectly okay, somewhat bland almond milk. I’d skip it if you have other options available or if you are looking for a more flavorful almond milk brand.
Malk Vanilla Almond Milk
Malk Vanilla Almond Milk is probably hands down the best vanilla-flavored almond milk out there. With a richness and perfect amount of vanilla that just tantalizes your tastebuds, Malk’s Vanilla Almond Milk is a great addition to fruit smoothies and even desserts!
With simple ingredients, water, almonds, and sea salt Malk is a healthy dairy milk alternative. Interestingly, Malk sprouts its almonds before using them, which makes them easier to digest.
However, it can be a bit pricey, so that’s why it is lower down on the list. But if you like vanilla flavor and don’t mind splurging, Malk Vanilla could be considered the best-tasting almond milk.
Almond Dream
Almond Dream is a delicious almond beverage that’s creamy and sweet, especially if you opt for the almond hazelnut flavor. The best part about Almond Dream is that it’s got no added sugars, so you can enjoy a nice cold glass of tasty almond milk totally guilt-free.
Simply Nature Almond Beverage
An Aldi-exclusive, Simply Nature Almond Beverage is 100% vegan and USDA organic. It tastes delicious. However, it is greatly lacking in vitamin D, calcium, and protein. There are plenty of other almond milk brands that not only taste great but have better ingredients and also have excellent levels of these nutrients so that you also feel your best when consuming them.
Natura Almond Milk
Another fortified almond beverage, Natura Almond Milk is a good source of calcium, vitamin D, and B12. A Canadian brand, Natura Almond Milk contains vitamin A palmitate and three kinds of gum stabilizers. While vitamin A palmitate doesn’t cause digestive issues like gum stabilizers, it is a bit controversial because it may come from palm plantations, which can damage the ecosystems around them.
In addition, I’ve found that Natura Almond Milk tends to have a bit of a bitter aftertaste. That makes it a less enjoyable drink for me and my sweet tooth.
Friendly Farms Almondmilk Original
Friendly Farms Almondmilk Original is another grocery store brand product. Aldi’s version of almond milk is nothing spectacular. Similar to other brands mentioned above, Friendly Farms Almondmilk contains many ingredients, some of which I’d argue are unnecessary but is lacking in the addition of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin D.
It also has added 7g of added sugars in the form of evaporated cane juice with only 1g of protein.
Taste-wise, it is similar to 2% dairy milk. Friendly Farms Almondmilk will do if you’re in a pinch, but once again, I’d skip this almond milk brand if you have better alternatives available.
Final Thoughts
In terms of dairy milk alternatives, almond milk is one of the top plant milks. With hundreds of brands to choose from, from those with a more nutty flavor to those with a creamier texture and more reminiscent of cow’s milk, there’s something for everyone. The options for best-tasting almond milk brands are endless.
Depending on your preference and your intended use for that almond milk, be it for smoothies, baking, cooking a savory dish, or just sipping, you’ll find an almond milk brand to fit your needs.
Which brand of almond milk is your favorite? Let us know in a comment down below and we’ll take a look!
The post 15 Most Popular Almond Milk Brands, Ranked appeared first on Restaurant Clicks.
https://restaurantclicks.com/best-almond-milk-brands/
Comments
Post a Comment