Regular 1L-carton shoppers
If almond drink is part of your regular shop, compare fat and sugars per 100 ml, fortification and how long an opened carton will last in your household.
Who is comparing these drinks?
Shoppers checking sugars
“Unsweetened” does not necessarily mean 0 g sugars. Compare the nutrition panels of the exact cartons you are considering, including any almond-and-rice recipe.
Households replacing cows’ milk
Check the specific drink’s calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 information. If it is intended for a young child, check the age guidance on the carton rather than treating plant-based drinks as nutritionally interchangeable.
What should you check first?
Start with the figures per 100 ml, then check fortification and whether the carton or pack size fits how you use it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Read fat per 100 ml, not just the front-of-pack wording. Tesco lists 1.1 g, Sainsbury’s 1.4 g and Plenish 2.2 g per 100 ml on their respective product listings. | I’m choosing an almond drink with a lower stated fat figure and want to compare the exact cartons I can buy. |
| Sugars | Compare sugars per 100 ml. Alpro lists 0 g for Roasted Almond No Sugars; Tesco lists 0.3 g for its unsweetened drink. Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5 g for its unsweetened drink. | If 0 g sugars is important to me, an “unsweetened” label alone does not settle the choice. |
| Fortification | Check the individual carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Alpro list these nutrients for the products compared here; the compared Plenish carton is not fortified. | When I’m replacing cows’ milk rather than simply choosing a flavour for tea, I want to know which nutrients the particular drink contains. |
| Pack and storage | Distinguish a single chilled 1L carton from an 8 x 1L long-life pack. Follow each product’s instructions after opening: Tesco states five days for its chilled carton and Sainsbury’s states three. | Will my household finish opened cartons in time, and do I have room for the pack I’m considering? |
| Ingredients and warnings | Read the exact ingredients and allergy statements. Tesco warns that its almond drink may contain peanuts and other nuts; product warnings differ between cartons. | I need to check the specific label if anyone drinking it has an almond or other nut allergy. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Reading “unsweetened” as “no sugars”
Unsweetened almond drinks can still list sugars. The compared Rude Health almond-and-rice drink lists 4.7 g sugars per 100 ml, while Alpro Roasted Almond No Sugars lists 0 g.
Read sugars per 100 ml on the exact formulation, particularly when comparing an almond-and-rice drink with an almond-only recipe.
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Assuming an organic carton has the same fortification
The compared Plenish organic drink contains spring water, organic almonds and sea salt; it is not fortified like the Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Alpro drinks discussed here.
If particular added nutrients matter to your choice, check the carton’s nutrition and ingredient information rather than relying on its organic status.
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Treating almond drink as a direct substitute for a young child
The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Committee on Toxicity noted in July 2025 that plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient composition. Sainsbury’s states that its unsweetened almond drink is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under three.
Check age guidance and the individual drink’s nutrient information; seek appropriate professional advice when cows’ milk is being excluded from a young child’s diet.
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Choosing a large pack without checking opened-carton life
Several unopened cartons may be convenient, but each opened carton still needs to be used according to its own storage instructions.
Match the pack size to how many cartons your household will use, and check the instructions for refrigerating and finishing each one after opening.
How do the brand options differ?
These examples refer to specific almond drinks, not every product made by each brand.
Tesco
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is a chilled, fortified 1L carton.
- Tesco lists 1.1 g fat and 0.3 g sugars per 100 ml, alongside calcium, iodine and vitamins D, E, B2 and B12.
- It contains almond, may contain peanuts and other nuts, and should be used within five days after opening.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Unsweetened Almond Drink is another chilled, fortified 1L option.
- Sainsbury’s lists 1.4 g fat and less than 0.5 g sugars per 100 ml, with calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- Its label says to use it within three days after opening and says it is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under three.
Alpro
Alpro Roasted Almond No Sugars is a fortified option for shoppers checking the sugars figure.
- Alpro lists 0 g sugars and 1.1 g fat per 100 ml, plus calcium, iodine, vitamin D2 and vitamin B12.
- Check the full product name: the Roasted Almond No Sugars drink is not identified as the same formulation as every other Alpro no-sugars listing.
Plenish
The compared Plenish organic almond drink has a three-ingredient recipe.
- Waitrose lists spring water, organic almonds and sea salt as its ingredients.
- It lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml and is not fortified, so check whether it fits the nutritional features you want.
Rude Health
Rude Health has distinct almond-and-rice and no-sugars formulations.
- The no-sugars almond drink listed by Joybuy has 0 g sugars and 1.5 g fat per 100 ml.
- Sainsbury’s lists 4.7 g sugars per 100 ml for the separate organic almond-and-rice drink; do not apply that figure to the no-sugars formulation.
M&S
M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink is a fortified option to check at your local Foodhall.
- M&S lists 0.9 g fat and 0.2 g sugars per 100 ml, plus calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- M&S says it is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies; check the product’s full label before use.
Joybuy almond-drink option
This Alpro no-sugars listing is an 8 x 1L long-life pack. Consider its pack size and storage instructions separately from those of the chilled single-carton drinks above.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
This pack suits a household considering several long-life almond-drink cartons rather than one chilled carton. The Joybuy product information lists 1.1 g fat and 0.0 g sugars per 100 ml; it says the drink can be stored unopened at ambient temperature and should be used within five days after opening. It contains almond.
Frequently asked questions
How can I compare the fat in almond drinks?
Read fat per 100 ml on each nutrition panel rather than treating “unsweetened” as a fat description. Tesco lists 1.1 g per 100 ml for its unsweetened drink, Sainsbury’s lists 1.4 g, and the compared Plenish organic drink lists 2.2 g.
Is unsweetened almond drink always free from sugars?
No. Tesco lists 0.3 g sugars per 100 ml and Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5 g for their unsweetened drinks; Alpro Roasted Almond No Sugars lists 0 g. Check the exact formulation, as Sainsbury’s lists 4.7 g per 100 ml for the separate Rude Health almond-and-rice drink.
Can almond drink replace cows’ milk for a young child?
Do not assume the drinks are nutritionally interchangeable. Sainsbury’s says its unsweetened almond drink is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under three. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Committee on Toxicity noted in July 2025 that plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrients and fortification; check the specific carton and seek appropriate professional advice when excluding cows’ milk from a young child’s diet.
Does an organic almond drink have added calcium and vitamins?
Check the individual product rather than assuming it does. The compared Plenish organic drink lists spring water, organic almonds and sea salt and is not fortified, whereas the Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Alpro drinks discussed here list added nutrients.
What should I check if I have a nut or peanut allergy?
Check both the ingredients and precautionary statements on the exact carton before use. Almond drinks contain almond; Tesco says its drink may contain peanuts and other nuts, while M&S says its unsweetened almond drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies.