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Almond milk is one of the most popular non-dairy alternatives on the market. It’s affordable, has a mild taste and is widely available in most grocery stores. Yet choosing which brand to buy can be confusing. With the help of the Simple Green Smoothies Team, we shopped and blind taste-tested all the almond milk brands we could find online and in grocery stores.
Best Almond Milk Brands Results
In our very own rawkstar report, you can see how almond milk brands stack up when tested side by side. We focused on unsweetened and unflavored varieties, which I recommend using all the time. We rated them based on the quality of ingredients, taste (and texture) and sustainable packaging.
Elmhurst Milked Almonds
Thrive Market Organic Almond Beverage
Silk Almond Organic
Silk Almond Unsweetened
365 Organic Original Almondmilk
Three Trees Organic Original Almondmilk
Simply Almond Original
discontinued
Good & Gather Original Almond (refrigerated)
Sprouts Organic Almondmilk Original
Great Value Almondmilk Original
Pacific Foods Organic Almond
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk Original
Califia Farms Almondmilk
ALDI’s Friendly Farms Almond Original Almondmilk
Publix Original Almond Milk
Trader Joe’s Almond Beverage Original
Kirkland’s Almond Milk
Good & Gather Original Almond (shelf-stable)
Factors To Determine the Best Brands
As you’ll see from the ratings above, almond milk is not all the same. Many brands add fillers, gum, fortify with vitamins, and alter taste with “natural flavors” to modify the true flavor.
Always read labels when shopping; you never know what you’ll get if you don’t. The best quality you will ever find is homemade almond milk. Yet if that’s not a possibility for you, then let this list be your guide to getting the very best brand.
High-Quality Ingredients
Just because the branding looks clean, attractive and healthy, it doesn’t mean the ingredients tell the same story. While we know taste and texture are huge buying factors, we also compared ingredient lists to give our best recommendations:
- Elmhurst Milked Almonds
- Organic Almond Malk
- Unsweetened Three Trees Organic Almond Milk
Taste + Texture
Blind taste-testing was a game-changer when it came to comparing the taste of a variety of milk. Some were gritty, others were smooth. Some had a bitter taste. Others had a smooth sweetness. We took all this into account when rating each brand.
- Silk Almond Unsweetened
- Friendly Farms Original Unsweetened Almond
- Good & Gather Original Almond, refrigerated
Silk Unsweetened Almond was the top-tasting winner hands down (and the only was to get a “green pass” for its taste score). Overall, we realized that every brand of store bought almond beverage isn’t that tasty, especially when you compare it to oat milk or coconut milk.
Eco-Conscious Packaging
Eco-friendly packaging also gave certain brands a boost. If a brand used recyclable materials or had B-Corp status then they got bonus points.
- Elmhurst Milked Almonds
- Silk Almond Organic + Silk Almond Unsweetened
- Thrive Market Organic Almond Beverage
Where to Buy Almond Milk
Erin spent a day driving around Tampa Bay, so that she could buy every brand available. She purchased every almond beverage brand available at Costco, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target, Aldi, Publix, The Fresh Market, and NutritionSmart. We also purchased online from Thrive Market and Amazon to get everything we could. You can pretty much find it in every grocery store in 2024.
- Elmhurst Milked Almonds: Publix, Amazon, Elmhurst.com, Wegman’s, Thrive Market, Whole Foods, etc.
- Thrive Market Almond: ThriveMarket.com is the online grocery story loved by many, including myself. They make their products at an affordable price too.
Health Benefits of Almond Milk
Almond milk has exploded on the market in recent years. Consumers are buying more plant-based products and grocery stores are listening. Dairy also happens to be one of the most common food sensitivities, which makes this milk, oat milk and coconut milk great options. Whether you choose to buy one of the best brands above or make homemade almond milk, you can enjoy some wonderful health benefits.
If you’re concerned with almond milk production with regard to water use and pesticide use then check out my reviews for Oat Milk Brands and Coconut Milk Brands.
Here’s how one cup of almond milk stacks up to one cup of dairy:
Unsweetened Almond Milk (on average)
- 50 calories
- 2 grams of carbs
- 35% daily Vitamin E
- 35% daily Calcium (manufacturers enrich most almond milks to compete with dairy milk)
Low Fat Dairy Milk (on average)
- 103 calories
- 12 grams of carbs (mostly sugar)
- 28% daily Calcium
How to Use Almond Milk
We love using almond beverages as a recipe base to create a creamy, protein-enriched meal, so here are a few of our favorites:
- Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie: an ultra creamy, filling shake to drink before or after a workout.
- Maple Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl: a delightfully sweet smoothie bowl recipe.
- Spiced Almond Drink: my go-to bedtime beverage to help stabilize blood sugar.
- Chocolate Fiber Smoothie Cubes: an easy blender bomb recipe to add to smoothies for extra fiber.
- Almond Milk Smoothie: a nutty smoothie with berries that is super filling.
Almond Milk Brands FAQs
The healthiest almond milks on the market are the ones with the most limited ingredient list. There are several brands that contain just almonds and water without any extra gums or fillers. Make sure to always read the nutrition label so you know exactly what ingredients are in your preferred brand.
As with any food, you can have too much of a good thing! Almond milk is not a great source of protein and can be filled with lots of gums and other additives to help with the flavor and texture. In recent years, the public has been made increasingly aware of the farming and processing practices of almonds and there has been much discussion and debate on the amount of water and pesticides used. If this is a concern for you, definitely do your homework to determine which milk brand most closely aligns with your beliefs.
Based on our blind review of over 20 brands, we determined that Silk Almond Unsweetened milk is the best tasting one on the market. It might not have the most quality ingredient list yet we all gave it highest marks for flavor and texture.
Leave a comment letting us know if this report was helpful and if there are any almond milk brands we can test next! We’re here to do the work for you, and then give you the inside scoop. If your favorite isn’t listed, then we’d love to know which brand you think has the best-tasting milk because we want to try it, too!
I have wanted to make my own nut milk; however, I do like that the almond milk I use is fortified with calcium. Having osteoporosis, I need all the calcium I can get! I rate my milks based on calcium content and ingredients. Since it is mainly used in a smoothie, the taste plain isn’t a huge factor.
Informative article! I always make my own! It’s very easy, fast, economical, and you add what you like. I only make two cups at a time to keep fresh. Organic almonds, filtered water, and your choice of sweetener. I really like using a good quality maple syrup as it is a natural binder and keeps the milk smooth and creamy! I like to control my own ingredients.
We do too, Kay. Love that you’re already a DIY almond milk rawkstar! Homemade is the very best – we agree. 🙂
Greetings.
I use alternative milks in my smoothies. I don’t like all of the fillers in diary and alternative beverages that are used in commercial brands. So, I appreciate the above breakdown of your research. I usually make my own oat and almond milks. So economical.
I haven’t tried all the above-mentioned brands, but last year I did try the Elmhurst. I grew up in New York, and I’m familiar with the brand. I ordered their sample box, and I really liked the quality, texture, and taste of the almond, oat, and cashew milks. They are a little expensive but I think it is worth it! Elmhurst is excellent!! Give it a try if it’s available in your area.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Have a nice day.
Love that you go for your own plant based milk options Deborah! We’re big fans of Elmhurst around here too, so we totally agree with you! 🙂
I like my milk to have the same consistency as 2% Lactaid. Is there an almond milk like that?
I didn’t know that shelf stable and refrigerated brands were practically the same. This is helpful! Thanks for updating this every year.
Very helpful..Thank you!
I am curious why you didn’t rate on actual ingredients? Some plant based mills have many ingredients in addition to almonds and water.
You’re totally right Kristina! Since the actual ingredients in almond milk vary wildly from brand to brand, we decided to focus on rating them based on what was common amongst them – taste, quality and packaging. We advocate for everyone to read labels for sure and check to see if a particular brand’s ingredients work for your needs.
Lab coat Jen cracks me up! Thanks for the updated lists and info.
This is so helpful! I honestly thought Mylk would be the best because it’s so expensive! Good to know it’s not worth the price!
Love Elmhurst! Thanks for sharing!!