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The best almond milks, tried and tested
Try our winning almond milk in Rude Health’s bircher muesli recipe
Whether you want to create your own barista-style coffee at home, or are looking to whizz up the creamiest plant-based smoothie, we’ve found the best-tasting almond milk to use.
Suitable for those following a vegan lifestyle, almond milk is rich in calcium and vitamin E, and free from soy, lactose and gluten. Low in calories and with a delicate fresh taste, it’s also one of the most versatile milk alternatives — so you’re able to use it in much the same way as you would traditional dairy.
We love using almond milk to soak oats overnight, waking up to a creamy, nutty breakfast. Try this bircher muesli recipe from Rude Health, winners of our almond milk taste test.
Rude Health Bircher Muesli
Serves two
Time: Overnight + 5 mins prep
Ingredients
- 150ml Almond Milk
- 1 apple
- 90g oats
- 60ml apple juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 150g blueberries
Method
Grate the apple and mix with the almond milk, oats, apple juice and cinnamon.
Cover and place in the fridge overnight.
Chop the walnuts and mix with the pumpkin seeds.
Serve the overnight Bircher Muesli with the sesame seeds and blueberries.
How we test
Our panel of taste testers tried 23 dairy-free milk drinks — trying each alone, as well as in hot drinks, smoothies and over cereal. These were the creamiest, nuttiest concoctions you can buy.
Prefer coconut, soya or oat milk? The Good Housekeeping Institute has reviewed all the dairy-free milk alternatives for 2021.
Score: 77/100
London-based brand Rude Health makes a range of drinks, breakfast cereals and snacks to get your morning off to a bright start. Made from organic almonds, this smooth, beautifully balanced drink is a great cow’s milk alternative. There’s just a hint at the nutty ingredients within, with a natural sweetness that adds volume.
Score: 72/100
Containing more organic almonds than our winning milk (6% vs 1% in Rude Health), as well as filtered water and a pinch of sea salt, this is about as close to homemade almond milk as you can get. It smells and looks very natural, with a fresh flavour. However, due to the high nut content, our panel detected a slightly coarse texture — making it better suited for using in smoothies.
Score: 70/100
Enriched with added iodine, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium, this vegan-friendly milk is a great fortified option. It’s gently sweetened with coconut sugar and tastes smooth, fresh and creamy, although there was a little sediment visible at the end of our glass.
Score: 70/100
Watching the calories? This unsweetened almond drink contains just 16 calories per 100ml — the least of all brands tested. It’s made using Californian whole blanched almonds, and the bright white liquid looked just like cow’s milk. Refreshing and light, it’s ideal for both hot and cold beverages.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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