Almond Milk Delivery or Pickup

Almond milk is plant-based milk that is made from almond nuts. It is created by mixing almond nuts with water and sieving the mixture to remove the solids. It can also be made by adding water to almond butter.

Almond milk is a healthy non-dairy alternative to regular cow's milk. It is rich in several healthy nutrients, including thiamin, calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and riboflavin. Compared to whole almonds, almond milk doesn't contain fibers and is watered down. Hence, it is a less concentrated source of nutrients. It has a delightful nutty flavor and a texture similar to regular cow's milk. Almond milk is the most popular plant milk in the United States. It is primarily consumed by vegans, lactose-intolerant people, people with dairy allergies, or simply fans of non-dairy milk.

A popular misconception is that the healthiest almond milk should only contain almonds and water. The truth is that commercially manufactured almond milk is commonly made by combining several ingredients, including almond nuts, water, thickening agents, and additional minerals and vitamins, boosting the milk's nutrient content. 

Commercial almond milk comes in different varieties and flavors, including unsweetened, sweetened, chocolate, and vanilla. The nature of convenience, the significant amount of essential minerals and vitamins, and the variety of flavors that commercial almond milk provides make it a popular option in many households.

How do you pick the perfect almond milk from the shelf? It's crucial to keep in mind that almond milk is not manufactured the same way. Different brands include different ingredients in their milk.

Here is a list of factors you should look out for when choosing almond milk in the supermarket:

Non-dairy milk bought in the store varies in the number of nuts in the actual milk. This is because nuts are the most expensive ingredient. How will you tell how many almonds are in your almond milk? Unfortunately, on the ingredient list, almonds will not be included. Therefore, the easiest way to estimate the number of almond nuts is to check the protein, fat, and calorie amounts on the list. The higher all these numbers are per equivalent serving, the more almonds that were likely used.

Sweetened almond milk contains a lot of added sugar, which is not healthy. If you want to drink sweetened almond milk, it's better to buy unsweetened milk and add your preferred sweetener. 

To get value for your money, avoid brands that use high quantities of thickening agents. Gums and other thickening agents are usually used in plant-based beverages to enhance texture and product aesthetics and prolong shelf life. In almond milk, thickening agents thicken the milk and prevent separation. This can help to hide how few almonds have been used to make the milk.

Carrageenan is a thickener that is used to thicken certain foods and drinks and increase their shelf life. Although regarded as safe, research links the thickener to potential inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease. Most brands have removed the ingredient from their products due to this concern.  

It's better to pick almond milk with a shorter ingredient list than one with a longer one. A longer list often means more unnecessary thickening agents.

Besides being ultra-pasteurized, commercial almond milk is heated quickly at 280°F, cooled down, and packaged in sterile, sealed cartons to extend shelf life. The carton should be stored in the refrigerator, and once opened, should be used within 7-10 days. When almond milk goes bad, it smells a little sour, becomes thicker, and starts to clump up. Don't drink any milk if you notice a change in flavor from the first time you opened the container.