Hosts serving guests who avoid dairy
If almond drink will be offered with tea or poured cold, plan the quantity first: three 1L cartons provide more than 4 UK pints. Check guests’ allergies as well as whether they avoid dairy.
Who is this for?
Hosts looking for an unsweetened fortified drink
Compare the sugars declaration and look for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine on the particular carton; these are not interchangeable with a short ingredient list.
Hosts planning tea and coffee service
Choose according to what will be poured: a straightforward almond drink, an almond-and-oat blend, or a barista product marketed for foaming coffee.
What should you check?
Work out the volume you need, then compare labels and intended uses against your menu and guests.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Four UK pints are approximately 2.273L. Check the number and size of cartons in a multipack; two 1L cartons fall short, while three provide 3L. | I need at least 4 pints available without mistaking a multipack listing for a single carton. |
| Sugars and flavour | Read the sugars value per 100ml and the ingredients. Alpro UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars; Sainsbury’s lists 5.5g per 100ml for Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic, from almonds and oats. | A no-sugars almond drink suits the serving I have in mind, or I would rather offer the different flavour of an almond-and-oat blend. |
| Fortification | Check the current carton for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine instead of assuming every almond drink includes them. The NHS identifies these as nutrients that need attention when planning a vegan diet. | If guests use plant drinks regularly as part of a vegan diet, I want to know which nutrients this particular carton lists. |
| Ingredients and use | Plenish lists water, organic almonds and salt for its standard Almond M*lk. Its separate Barista Almond M*lk is marketed by Plenish for foaming coffee; that claim is not a comparison of how the two perform in tea. | A short ingredient list matters to me, unless I am making espresso drinks for which I want a product marketed for foam. |
| Allergies | Check the current ingredients and ask guests before serving. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts, so avoiding dairy does not establish that almond drink is suitable for everyone. | I need a separate suitable option for any guest who cannot have almonds, with the cartons available for ingredient checks. |
| Storage | Follow the chosen carton’s instructions before and after opening. Marks & Spencer says to refrigerate its Unsweetened Almond Drink after opening and consume it within three days; Sainsbury’s gives five days for Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic. | I want to open only what the party needs and follow the storage period on each product, rather than applying one brand’s instruction to another. |
What could go wrong?
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Assuming dairy-free means suitable for every guest
Almonds are tree nuts, according to the Food Standards Agency. Marks & Spencer also states that its almond drink is unsuitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.
Ask about allergies before shopping, retain the cartons for ingredient checks and provide a separate suitable non-nut option where needed.
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Buying two 1L cartons for a 4-pint requirement
Two litres fall short of 4 UK pints, which are approximately 2.273L.
If 4 pints is the minimum quantity, plan for three 1L cartons and check any multipack’s stated contents.
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Assuming almond drinks have the same sugars and nutrients
Alpro UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, while Sainsbury’s lists 5.5g per 100ml for Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic. Plenish’s standard Almond M*lk lists water, organic almonds and salt.
Compare the current sugars declaration, ingredients and listed nutrients against what you want to serve.
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Choosing a barista carton when coffee foam is not needed
Plenish markets its Barista Almond M*lk for foaming espresso drinks. That intended use is less relevant if guests will mainly add almond drink to tea or pour it cold.
Decide whether foamed coffee is on the menu before making barista use your main selection criterion.
Relevant brand references
These examples show how particular almond drinks differ; each brand’s other products may have different labels.
Alpro
Alpro UK’s Roasted Almond No Sugars is a 1L almond drink with declared fortification.
- Its product information lists 0g sugars per 100ml, calcium, iodine and vitamins D2 and B12.
- The ingredient list also includes gums, natural flavouring and lecithins. It contains almonds.
Plenish
Plenish offers a standard Almond M*lk and a separate Barista Almond M*lk, both listed by the brand as multipacks of 1L cartons.
- The standard drink lists water, organic almonds and salt; Plenish markets the barista version for foaming coffee.
- Check the standard carton’s nutrient declaration if fortification matters; its listed ingredients do not include added calcium, iodine or vitamins D and B12.
Rude Health
Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic is an almond-and-oat drink rather than an almond-only option.
- Sainsbury’s lists 13% oats and 3% almonds and describes this product as suitable for tea, coffee and baking.
- It contains oats and lists 5.5g sugars per 100ml, described by the retailer as naturally occurring from the almonds and oats.
M&S
Marks & Spencer’s 1L Unsweetened Almond Drink lists calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- The listed nutrients make it an option to compare when fortification is a priority.
- M&S says it is unsuitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy and instructs customers to refrigerate it after opening and consume it within three days.
Joybuy almond drinks
These Joybuy listings are for Alpro almond drinks that could be served at afternoon tea. Check each listing’s pack contents and current carton label against the volume and type you need.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L
The listed 8 x 1L pack provides more than the 4-pint party requirement. The title identifies a no-sugars long-life almond drink; check the current carton for the nutrient declaration, allergy information and storage instructions before serving.
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Alpro Almond Drink 1L, six in listing title
This almond drink is another option to check for tea service, but do not plan the party quantity from the title alone: confirm whether six 1L cartons are included. Check the current sugars declaration if you specifically want a no-sugars drink, along with the ingredients and allergy information.
Questions about serving almond drink
How much almond drink is 4 UK pints?
Four UK pints are approximately 2.273L. Three 1L cartons provide 3L, leaving roughly 0.727L above that quantity; confirm the contents if you buy a multipack.
Is almond drink suitable for every guest avoiding dairy?
No. Almonds are tree nuts, as identified in Food Standards Agency guidance. Ask guests about allergies and provide a separate suitable non-nut option where needed; keep the cartons available for ingredient checks.
Do all almond drinks list calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12?
No. Alpro UK lists those nutrients for Roasted Almond No Sugars, and Marks & Spencer lists them for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, while Plenish describes its standard Almond M*lk as water, organic almonds and salt. Check the current carton rather than assuming products are fortified alike.
When might an almond-and-oat drink suit afternoon tea?
Consider one if its different flavour suits the drinks and guests can have both almonds and oats. Sainsbury’s lists Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic as containing 13% oats, 3% almonds and 5.5g sugars per 100ml; it is not the same choice as a no-sugars almond drink.
How long can I keep an opened carton?
Follow that carton’s instructions. Marks & Spencer says to refrigerate its Unsweetened Almond Drink after opening and consume it within three days; Sainsbury’s says to refrigerate Rude Health Roasted Almond Organic after opening and use it within five days.