Almond milk

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Almond milk is a plant milk manufactured from almonds with a creamy texture and nutty flavor.

History

Almond milk was first invented in the Islamic Middle East and appears in cookbooks of the region from the 13th century onward, where it would later spread from the Levant to Europe.

In Persian cuisine, an almond milk based dessert called Harireh badam - حریره بادام (almond gruel) is traditionally served during Ramadan.

Commerce

Commercial almond milk comes in sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla and chocolate flavors, and is usually fortified with micronutrients.

In 2013, it surpassed soy milk as the most popular plant-based milk in the U.S. As of 2014 it comprised 60 percent of plant-milk sales and 4.1 percent of total milk sales in the US. Global almond milk sales in 2018 were US$5.8 billion, growing at 14% per year, and forecast to be a $13 billion global market by 2025.

In Europe it is usually more expensive than other types of plant milks, while in US prices are generally lower, making it quite a popular choice.

Lawsuit

In July 2015, a class action lawsuit was placed in New York against two American manufacturers, "Blue Diamond Growers" and "White Wave Foods", for false advertising on the product label about the small amount of almonds (only 2%) actually in the final product. In October 2015, a judge denied the consumers' request for an injunction.

Common brands

  • Blue Diamond's Almond Breeze
  • Califia Farms
  • H‑E‑B
  • Silk, PureAlmond

Production

The general production method involves soaking and grinding the almonds in an excess of water. A milky white liquid is obtained after filtering the almond pulp (flesh). In commercial production, the almond milk is homogenised with high pressure and pasteurised for greater stability and shelf life.

See also

Links