Date-Sweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

I love that grocery stores carry so many dairy alternatives nowadays. But are the popular brands of nut milk all they’re cracked up to be?

Many of you may be shocked to learn that most store-bought almond milk contains less than 2% of almonds.

In the past, I have been very outspoken about weird additives like guar gum and natural flavors, but now I figure I should share in-depth information about certain ingredients you should be actively avoiding.

Maybe that’ll be just enough motivation for you to soak some almonds at home over purchasing the mass-produced stuff (i.e. Silk, Almond Breeze, So Delicious, Califia Farms, etc).

The Other 98 Percent

Other than the obvious (almonds and filtered water), I have broken down some of the common ingredients to watch out for.

Sweeteners

Sugars like evaporated cane juice and pure cane sugar are basically different forms of the same thing. Processed sugars are going to destabilize energy levels and lead to an increase in mood swings. I honestly can’t stress enough how awful these unnatural forms of sugars are….

Thickeners

Nothing like a good old thickening agent to make a beverage seem unappetizing let alone unconsumable. Thickeners include carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, gellan gum, cellulose gum, locust bean gum, etc. Most of these gum additives are formed through a bacterial fermentation process which commonly causes bloating and diarrhea, and more serious issues for those with pre-existing conditions like IBS and gut flora.

Emulsifiers

This food additive stabilizes processed foods. Sunflower lecithin is the usual ingredient used in almond milk to prevent separation and lengthen shelf life. There is evidence that shows sunflower lectin has health benefits, but some believe if consumed regularly can lead to major digestive issues.

Natural flavoring

There is nothing natural about something created in a lab guys. Plus this flavoring is linked to anxiety and depression. I’ve been pretty careful about not consuming products with natural flavor and as a result seen a major improvement in my mental health.

Opt for Homemade

When it comes down to it I know it might seem like “milking” almonds will take all day, but I promise it’s actually pretty quick and easy. Essentially, the process of making any nut milk can be broken down into three simple steps. Soak, blend, and strain. It’s pretty straight forward, but I have included some tips in my recipe to help make the process go smoothly. Keep in mind there are other methods that work just as well, this is just mine.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup raw almonds (soaked in cold filtered water overnight or at least 8 hours and drained)
• 4 cups of filtered water
• 1-2 dates
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1/8 tsp Himalayan sea salt (optional)

TIPS:

• Add more water for a thinner consistency
• Add more dates for increased sweetness
• If dates are not already soft soak them in filtered water for at least 30 minutes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the soaked almonds, water, dates (pitted), and salt in a high-powered blender.
2. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes.
3. To open the vanilla bean, slice lengthwise. Scrape out the insides and add to blender. Add a pinch of sea salt. Blend again on high for 30 seconds.
4. Pour through a cheesecloth or strainer into a glass bottle. Lay the cloth over the glass bottle and pour over the almond milk, carefully gather the corners, and lift up. Then squeeze until all of the liquid is extracted.
5. Discard pulp, or save for other recipes.
6. Transfer milk to a jar or covered bottle and refrigerate. Keeps for up to a week, though best when fresh. Shake well before drinking, as it tends to separate.

In a Nutshell

Be wary about consuming almond milk from local grocery stores. At the very least the ingredients are sus. I suggest investing in a good cheesecloth and buying almonds, dates, and vanilla beans in bulk.

And if I still haven’t convinced you to make nut milk from scratch, at least consider purchasing the right brands. Yay for being a conscious consumer!

Here is a list of my personal favorites:

• Three Trees
• Malk Organics
• Elmhurst 1925
• New Barn Organics