Almond Milk: What Does it Really Taste Like?
Those of us who are not vegan or lactose intolerant rarely have reason to search for alternative milk, and if we do, we probably stop at soy. But almond milk is also pretty widely available—Whole Foods markets its own brand by the gallon. If you’ve never had it, here’s a (completely subjective) verdict from a non vegan.
My opinion? Almond milk tastes like the milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl after eating Grape Nuts.
Specific, I know. But it has a hint of sweetness, obviously a little nuttiness, and no matter how long it has been in the refrigerator, it doesn’t seem as cold as cow’s milk. As weird as it sounds, it just tastes the tiniest bit warm.
Because almond milk is made from ground almonds mixed with water, there is a watered-down quality to it. But it’s still got body. In fact, as a lover of cow’s milk, I might rank this higher than grey, flimsy skim milk. Compared to 2 percent, though, I’ll take cow.
So, if your dietary restrictions or convictions don’t dictate that you drink almond milk instead of cow’s milk, is there any reason to buy it? I say maybe. If you make a lot of milkshakes or smoothies, it would be a good thing to have around. Its natural sweetness and silky texture would blend well, and it’s lower in calories but has the same amount of calcium (although not protein) as whole milk.
I was actually interested in comparing almond milk to cashew milk but couldn’t find any. Anyone out there a cashew milk devotee?
Do you have suggestions about using almond milk? Any brands better than others?