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The amount of almond milk brands in grocery stores have exploded the past decade. As we buy more plant-based products, grocery stores continue to add more options. With the help of my awesome friends, I compiled an in-depth review on the best almond milk brands you can buy in stores and online.
If you find this helpful, check out my Coconut Milk Brand Guide and Oat Milk Brand Guide
Rating System for Almond Milk Brands
As you’ll see from the scoresheet below, 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. Our blind taste test helped us focus on flavor without a bias. We also dug into the actual ingredients and nutritional panel to decide what was really going on, too.
Here’s the main factors I used to rank the best store-bought almond milk brands:
- Ingredients: Just because the branding looks clean, attractive and healthy, it doesn’t mean the ingredients tell the same story. We compared ingredient lists and raised flags when gums and super long ingredients were listed.
- Taste: Does it have a pleasing and rich flavor that is appropriate for almond milk? Blind taste-testing was a game-changer when it came to comparing the taste of a variety of milk. Some were dry and bitter, others were sweet and smooth. And some were just funky. We took all this into account when rating each brand.
- Texture: Is its smooth or gritty? Does the texture change with each sip or coat your mouth?
- Packing: 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.
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Best Almond Milk Brands Results
With the scoring system, 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 quality of ingredients, taste, texture and sustainable packaging. Here’s the top 10 brands I recommend:
Califia Farms Almondmilk
score: 79/100 | cost: $3.97
I’m sorry– I know many people love Califia BUT it’s not exactly top-tier almond milk when it comes to taste (yet it’s fortified). The taste and texture can be a little thin and slightly off putting. It’ll work for basic uses like smoothies or baked goods, but if you’re looking for a rich and creamy almond milk with a legit almond flavor, there are better options out there.
Pacific Foods Organic Almond
score: 80/100 | cost: $2.59
A decent, widely available option, but the flavor is not there. I wouldn’t drink this alone– ever. On the plus side, it’s organic and you can find it in most grocery stores, making it convenient. The texture is okay, though sometimes it can be a bit thin.
Better Goods Almondmilk Original
score: 80/100 | cost: $2.44
A decent, no-frills almond milk option. It’s the affordable Walmart option. It’s a pretty basic almond milk – the flavor is mild, and the texture is okay, not super creamy but not watery either. It works fine for everyday uses like adding to cereal or using in recipes, but it’s not going to be the star of the show.
Sprouts Organic Original Almond
score: 81/100 | cost: $3.99
A pretty solid, middle-of-the-road option. It’s organic, which is a plus, and it’s usually reasonably priced, especially if you catch it on sale at Sprouts. The flavor is not great, but the texture is okay. It’s a good, high-quality choice for everyday use in things like coffee or smoothies, but it’s not going to blow you away with its flavor or creaminess.
Good & Gather Unsweetened Almond Milk
score: 82/100 | cost: $2.59
A decent, budget-friendly option if you’re shopping at Target. It’s not the most flavorful or creamy almond milk out there – it’s a bit thinner and the almond taste is pretty mild – but it works fine for things like smoothies or cereal.
365 Organic Original Almond
score: 84/100 | cost: $3.29
A great organic milk that has a nice, mild almond flavor that works well in just about anything – cereal, coffee, baking, you name it. While it might not be as fancy as some other brands, it’s a solid, reliable option that’s easy on the wallet, especially if you’re already shopping at Whole Foods.
Silk Organic Almond
score: 85/100 | cost: $5.49
This is a great everyday option, made with organic almonds and has a smooth, creamy texture that works perfectly in everything from coffee to smoothies. It’s widely available in most grocery stores, making it super convenient to pick up. While it might not be as “clean” ingredient-wise as some smaller brands, it’s still a good organic choice that’s consistently good and readily accessible.
Three Trees Organic Almond
score: 86/100 | cost: $7.49
They use just a few simple, organic ingredients, and you can really taste the difference – it’s so pure and subtly sweet. The texture is amazing too, really creamy and not watery like some other brands. It’s a bit pricier, but if you’re looking for a high-quality, clean, and incredibly tasty almond milk, Three Trees is totally worth it.
Thrive Market Organic Almond
score: 87/100 | cost: $3.39
Made with simple, organic ingredients at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s super creamy and has a naturally delicious almond flavor without any added sugars or weird stuff. Since it’s from Thrive Market, you can get it delivered right to your door, which is super convenient.
Elmhurst Milked Almonds
score: 88/100 | cost: $6.49
Elmhurst only uses almonds and water – no weird gums or thickeners – and their special way of making it (something called HydroRelease) makes it super creamy and flavorful without any extra stuff. Plus, they use a ton of almonds, so it’s actually nutritious and tastes way richer than other brands.
Find these Brands Near You!
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Common Questions
The healthiest almond milks on the market are the ones with the most limited ingredient list. Elmhurst and Three Trees really stand out with their super clean ingredients.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 22 brands, we determined that Silk Almond Unsweetened milk is the best tasting one on the market. Yes— it beat everyone with taste. It doesn’t not have the highest-quality ingredient list yet we all gave it highest marks for flavor and texture.
More Almond Milk Brands to Buy
If your favorite almond milk didn’t make my top 10, tell me in the comments! We tested 22 brands from Tampa Bay stores and online. These are the winners—but I’m always open to more. Help me update the Top 10 Best Almond Milk list for next year!
We used to use almond milk but since learning about the environmental impact (e.g. Commercial almond production in California requires diverting ground and surface waters from the state’s aqueduct system for irrigation. As cited in an article in the New York Times, it takes approximately 15 gallons of water to produce just 16 almonds, ) have decided to switch to either Soy or Oat milk instead. What do you think of the environmental impact as a factor in choosing a dairy alternative?
Hey Robyn. I think Almond milk is a good option for someone stepping into a more plant=based diet. Of course making it at home is the best option, yet a busy life often gets the best of our day. We did take the environmental impact of the packaging into consideration with this report and scored the more eco-friendly packaging higher because that’s important to us (and you too!). I saw the environmental impact report you mentioned as well and we hope to do Rawkstar Reports for other milks as well— esp Oat Milk and Coconut Milk. Exciting times when we have so many options and resources to dig deeper into everything we do and eat!
Wow! I’m also surprised that the Califia was low scoring! That’s what I mostly get. I guess I’ll be trying the so delicious and elmhurst!
Solomon, it seems like a lot of people are saying the same thing as you (me included)! We’d love to hear what you think of So Delicious and Elmhurst after you give them a try.
This report was super helpful. Thank you for taking the time to taste all of these! I’ll def be giving Elmhurst a try this week.
Thanks, Beverly! So glad you found it helpful. Let us know what you think of Elmhurst!
I loved this!! I always get califia cuz I like the taste and thought it was one of the best nurtrituonally. Guess I’ll start looking at so delicious (no Trader Joe’s near me)
Kelly, I thought the same also! Really glad you liked this and it helped you. Let us know what you think of So Delicious once you try it.
Thank-You for the study on almond milks..!!! I think this information for us Health Hawks are Very Valuable……
Now i know which ones i can buy and I Trust your Testing…., I will be passing this info on to my Friends and family.
I know about Trader Joes’ but is it possible you can list where the Elmhurst and Malk Almond milks are found.?
Thank-You.
Debra, thank you for your feedback! They got Elmhurst from Publix, a regional supermarket that you may not have, depending on where you live. But, you can also buy Elmhurst online. And they got Malk at Whole Foods.
I have Califia Farms in the fridge right now mostly because I love the packaging! I shop at Publix, looking forward to trying Elmhurst.
I love Publix, Michelle! I always shop there when I’m in Florida (I know it’s in other states but that’s where I’ve seen it 🙂 ). Let us know what you think of Elmhurst after you give it a try!
I loved this. Thank you so much. My mom is lactose intolerant and so we switched to almond milk when I started my first green smoothie chalkenege and then after that cleanse. I didn’t know there was such variety and can’t wait to try the winners!
Isn’t it crazy how many there are! And we honestly only hit the southern part of the US. I’m certain there are prob 10+ other brands across the US that we could test at some point too. Yet it really was eye opening for us to compare like this.
This is an awesome report! I really appreciate that the testing wasn’t sponsored. I would love to see more of this kind of comparison reporting!!!
I’m glad you liked this (esp that it isn’t sponsored. Gotta keep the integrity!). I do hope we can do more so thank you for letting me know you’d like that too. I’m thinking oat milk might be next.
Can you list where the different brands can be found?
This is where we shopped (some stores carried multiple brands so you can get more of them there): Costco (Silk), Whole Foods (365, Malk, So Delicious), Sprouts, Trader Joes, Walmart (almond Breeze, Great Value), Target (Good & Gather), Aldi (Friendly Farms), Publix (Calafia, Elmhurst, Silk, Almond Breeze)
Thanks for this. I’m surprised you didn’t include Thrive Market.
You’re welcome, Brett! Glad you found this helpful. Jen loves Thrive Market but I believe she didn’t include it since it’s an online store and she was focusing on the brick and mortar grocery stores in her area. She did mention the possibility of doing a similar review for all the shelf-stable almond milks and I think the products that can be purchased online would fall into that category. So stay tuned!
I found Califia Farms to be the best tasting, in my opinion, out of all the almond milks I’ve tried. I love that you guys did a blind taste test and I’m excited to try the Elmhurst brand.
Thanks for weighing in, Sommer! Glad you enjoyed this report. If you can’t find Elmhurst at your local grocery store, you can actually order it online (it doesn’t have to be refrigerated, even though they sell it in the refrigerated section). Come back and let us know what you think of Elmhurst after you give it a try!
Very much appreciate your research. Will now read labels even more carefully, eg I did not know the difference between the gums. Some of the tested brands are not available in Toronto, but I have seen So delicious (we enjoy the coconut milk beverage) and have actually bought 365.
Thanks, Dieta, glad this could help you! Are there any not on this list that you’ve tried in Canada? Once you give some new ones a try, come back and let us know what you think of them.