Today’s beverage consumers have more options than ever. Whether you just don’t like the taste of dairy milk, are allergic, or want to try something different for your diet, there is a milk – or something drinkable out there for you. Almond milk is among more recent varieties of “milk” that add unique vitamins and minerals to your body.
But what difference is there? Does almond milk taste all that different from other drinks? Why?
Almond milk does indeed taste a little different than regular dairy milk. The great thing about almond milk is that its offered in a variety of flavors. Read on to hear more.
So, what does almond milk taste like?
Let’s first learn how almond milk is made. Almond milk at its base is pretty simple. It’s ground almonds mixed with water. Some brands and flavors are going to add vitamins and minerals for health benefits, in addition to starches and thickeners to make it more smooth.
The best thing to compare almond milk to is the milk after you eat a bowl of cereal. Typical almond milk is like slightly sweetened cow’s milk. This is in part because almonds have some natural sugar in them and that certainly comes out in the flavor. The sugar is mostly natural too, so it offers more health benefits (or less health negatives) than eating a cereal with corn syrup and other not so great sugars.
Almond milk is also often known for being very smooth. So smooth in fact that one popular brand of almond milk is “Silk” because the mixture of water, ground almond, and some starches is quite smooth.
Naturally, almond milk does taste a little nutty. It is made of almonds, after all. If you don’t like the taste of nuts, you should probably skip almond milk and find a different alternative.
What does it taste best in?
Before we start throwing food items out there that almond milk might pair well with it’s worth noting that almond milk, like dairy milk tastes pretty good on its own.
- Tea or coffee. Especially boba tea, due to the slight sweetness of almond milk and its smooth texture in boba. Most coffee shops offer almond milk amongst other kinds of milk as healthier alternatives to sugar, cream, and other attempts to make coffee less bitter
- Cereal. Since almond milk tastes like the milk at the bottom of a cereal bowl, it goes almost without saying that it tastes good in cereal. Almond milk can make a not overly sweet cereal really good without overpowering the eater with too much sugar.
- Smoothies and shakes. Almond milk can get thick and has some health benefits for those wishing to mix it with fruits, greens, and anything else you can throw into a blender for a pick me up shake. Almond milk doesn’t even add calories compared to dairy milk.
- Soups and sauces. Almond milk can slightly sweeten soup and add some thickness to your broth if you want to make it a bit heavier.
Why drink almond milk? What are the benefits
Almond milk is better for people who are a bit more health-conscious, and those who are allergic to the lactose in dairy milk.
Almond milk has fewer calories and some good vitamins, including
- Calcium – essential for strong bones and teeth
- Vitamin D – bone health, brain health, and immunity amongst others
- Fiber – helps keep your digestive system regular. Dairy milk does not have much fiber.
Almond milk could readily be apart of a weight less plan and one that supports the fight against aging bones or osteoporosis.
Naturally, almond milk doesn’t have the lactose that some people find intolerant. A person with an issue with lactose might get stomach cramps or worse after drinking a glass of milk, but now have almond milk amongst other kinds of milk available.
Does it come in varieties?
Just like traditional cow’s milk, almond milk comes in a couple of varieties.
The primary varities you will see out of cow’s milk are based more upon their fat content – and their chocolate content.
Almond milk doesn’t have specific fat contents, and often isn’t labeled as such. You can certainly find almond milk with a higher fat content to add a bit more flavor. Almond milk is available in sweetened, unsweetened and most grocers carry almond milk with chocolate flavoring too.
This is to say that most almond milk producers assume you want a lower fat, healthier drink when purchasing almond milk rather than having a wider range of fat contents like whole milk all the way down to skim.
Could I drink almond milk every day?
For a short answer, yes. Almond milk provides many of the same vitamins and minerals that people consider essential from dairy milk, with less fat. If you aren’t aiming to have a lower fat diet, the lack of fat probably won’t matter to you.
Othewrise, people generally like the taste enough to at least use it in addition to or in conjunction with traditional dairy milk. Fewer people who are not lactose intolerance use almond milk exclusively. Given it’s tasty addition to cereal and coffee, it’s most often used when making breakfast.
That said, you aren’t missing anything particularly crucial by replacing dairy milk with almond milk, unless you need the fat.
Conclusion
Most drinks made of food besides fruit or veggies are considered a form of milk – and almond milk does a pretty good job helping people find an alternative to dairy milk. The simple process for making almond milk makes it healthier since we are just talking about almonds, water, and maybe some thickener, vitamins, and minerals.
Typical milk drinkers might like the slightly sweet taste of almond milk. Almond milk might even help you find a healthier cereal if your current choice tends to be coated in sugar. In addition, it’s a great replacement for creamer in coffee for people who need their morning, afternoon, or even evening pickup with some caffeine.
