Don’t Drink Store Bought Almond Milk

While it seems so easy to buy almond milk in the store, you need to ask yourself if it’s the best thing to do. You owe it to yourself to do it right and do it easy!

The best almond milk brand is DIY- its you silly!

Homemade almond milk is very simple to make, all you need is water and almonds.

1.       Night before, soak 1 cup of almonds in water 8-12 hrs (they soak up a lot of water)

2.       Strain and rinse the almonds, discard old water

3.       Put in blender/or food processor

4.       Add 3-4 cups of fresh water, blend until creamy

5.       Strain the liquid through a mesh, cheesecloth or nut milk bag.

6.       You’re done, store in refrigerator, good for 2-4 days. Pinch of salt or honey if you really want.

7.       Discard or use leftover pulp for another use.- see our website recipes

You can buy unpasteurized raw almonds and almond butter directly from the California farmer at Capay Hills Orchard.  Order off the website, www.chorganicalmonds.com or by calling or texting 530-507-8222. Talk or text directly with the farmer, Brian Paddock. Alternatively email capayhillsorchard@gmail.com.

Capay Hills Orchard. We offer 3 varieties. Our in-house taste test discovered ½ nonpareil and ½ Monterey seem to provide the best combination for flavor and consistency.

The varietal taste test, look similar with slight flavor differences- 50/50 the winner

Almond Milk made from almond butter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplIv-K14aU

Why is homemade almond milk better?

-          It is richer, creamier, much more versatile and nutritious than any store-bought milk!

-          More pronounced flavor than store-bought versions

-          Fresher and creamier

-          Powerful antioxidants protect against heart disease and cancer

-          Homemade almond milk is raw and unpasteurized (if you buy it truly raw), preserving its natural nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.

-          Significantly cheaper than buying it pre-made

-          High in vitamin E which supports skin health, immune function

-          Contains calcium

-          Provides phosphorus

-          Lactose-free, making it suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance.

-          Low in carbs, calories and fat, making it a good option for weight management.

-          Customize your almond milk with honey, flavors, or other ingredients.

-          You can use it in coffee, oatmeal, or baking recipes

-          Have oxalate kidney stones?- By soaking almonds you can reduce oxalate concentration by 6.7-20.0%, likely higher

In its simplicity nut milk is simply a blend of soaked nuts and water. But when we introduce factors such as shelf life, consistency, the nature of how milk separates and of course the profitability of a product there are a few things to look out for. Store bought almond milk is often found on the shelf, sometime refrigerated. To do that the manufacture may use preservatives.  It varies by brand, but store-bought almond milk generally contains water, almonds, salt, added vitamins and minerals, and stabilizers and preservatives to improve its shelf life. Sweetened varieties also have sugar or another type of sweetener. Also, some brands may have gums and lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, and even vegetable oil to improve the milk's texture and keep it smooth. It is also pasteurized and sterilized at ultra-high temperature as required by federal regulations, degrading the nutritional quality of the milk.

Nutrients in a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of plain, unsweetened, almond milk include

•             Calories: 15

•             Carbs: 0.3 grams

•             Fiber: 0.3 grams

•             Sugar: 0 grams

•             Protein: 0.6 grams

•             Fat: 1.2 grams

•             Vitamin A: 6% of the Daily Value (DV)

•             Vitamin E: 22% of the DV

•             Vitamin D: 9% of the DV

•             Potassium: 1% of the DV

•             Calcium: 17% of the DV

•             Phosphorus: 4% of the DV

Use almond milk in many ways:

•             as a nutritious, refreshing drink

•             in cereal, muesli, or oats

•             in your tea, coffee, or hot chocolate

•             in smoothies

•             in cooking and baking, such as in recipes for muffins or pancakes

•             in soups, sauces, or dressings

•             in homemade ice cream https://thebigmansworld.com/almond-milk-ice-cream/,  https://lowcarbyum.com/homemade-almond-milk-ice-cream/

•             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T35OQKK3f6k- with almond butter

•             in homemade almond yogurt

Here are examples of ingredients in popular almond milk:

Silk ingredients Almond milk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Cane Sugar, Contains 2% or Less of: Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2), Sea Salt, Gellan Gum, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C To Protect Freshness), Natural Flavor.

Almond Breeze Almond milk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E).

Notice in the above ingredients, the added vitamins, because when you ultra-high heat pasteurize, need to replace what you cooked off.

Please share this post with your friends. Capay Hills Orchard is a small family farm growing the best raw almonds, raw almond butter and smoked almonds. Capay Hills Orchard is Veteran owned, Bee Friendly certified, and of-course Certified Organic using Regenerative farming practices.

Sheep eating down the cover crop in spring, fertilizer no charge