Who is choosing an almond drink?

BBQ hosts making cold drinks and sides

For smoothies, iced coffee, dressings or dairy-free recipes, consider how the drink’s sugar content fits the recipe and how you will keep an opened carton chilled.

Shoppers comparing fat and sugars

Check both figures on the nutrition panel. Products labelled unsweetened or no added sugar can still have different fat and sugar values.

Households regularly replacing dairy

Alongside fat and sugars, check whether the particular drink lists added calcium, iodine and relevant vitamins. Read its allergen statement before serving it to anyone with a nut allergy.

What should you check for a BBQ?

Start with the recipe and the people you are serving, then compare nutrition figures on the same stated basis rather than judging by the front-of-pack name.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fat content Read fat per 100ml on liquid nutrition panels. Alpro UK and Tesco Groceries each list 1.1g per 100ml for their specified no-sugars or unsweetened drinks; Sainsbury’s lists 1.4g per 100ml. M&S lists 0.9g per 100g, so note the different basis before comparing figures. I’m choosing an almond drink with a stated fat value that fits what I’m looking for, rather than assuming every almond drink has the same composition.
Sugars and recipe Compare sugars separately from fat. Alpro UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Almond No Sugars, while Sainsbury’s lists 4.7g per 100ml for the rice-containing Rude Health Almond Drink. For a savoury dressing or iced drink, I want to choose the sugar level that suits the recipe, even if a carton says no added sugar.
Fortification If the drink regularly replaces dairy, check the exact carton for added calcium and iodine, then vitamin D and B12 where relevant. Tesco, Alpro UK, Sainsbury’s and M&S list fortified almond options, but ingredients and additions differ by product. I’ll use this beyond one BBQ, so I want to know what the specific carton contains rather than assuming an almond drink is fortified.
Allergens and storage Read the almond and cross-contact warnings for the exact product. Check whether it needs chilling before opening and follow its refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. Guests may have nut allergies, and I may prepare drinks ahead. I need a suitable product and a plan to keep opened cartons as directed.
Pack quantity Check the number and size of cartons, not just the product name. A single 1L carton and an 8 x 1L multipack require different storage and use plans. I want enough for the BBQ without opening more cartons than I expect to use.

What is easy to overlook?

  • Reading “no added sugar” as “low in sugars”

    No added sugar and the sugars figure describe different things. Sainsbury’s lists 4.7g sugars and 1.5g fat per 100ml for the rice-containing Rude Health Almond Drink.

    Check sugars and fat separately on the nutrition panel, particularly when choosing a drink for a savoury recipe.

  • Assuming a short ingredient list means added nutrients

    A simple almond-and-water recipe does not establish whether calcium, iodine or vitamins have been added.

    If you regularly use the drink instead of dairy, read the fortification information on the particular carton.

  • Opening cartons before checking their storage instructions

    Instructions differ: Tesco specifies five days after opening for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, while the researched Sainsbury’s and M&S unsweetened drinks specify three days.

    Keep opened cartons refrigerated and follow their own use-after-opening instructions during BBQ preparation.

  • Confusing a multipack with a single carton

    An 8 x 1L pack is a different quantity from one 1L carton, even when the product names look similar.

    Check the pack count and exact variant before ordering, then consider how many cartons you will need to open.

Which brands offer relevant options?

These brand examples illustrate differences between specific almond drinks; check the carton for the formulation you buy.

Alpro

Alpro UK lists both Almond No Sugars and Almond Original drinks.

  • Alpro UK lists 1.1g fat and 0g sugars per 100ml for its Almond No Sugars drink, alongside added calcium.
  • Its Almond Original has a different sugar figure: Alpro UK lists 2.4g per 100ml. Check which variant is on the carton.

Rude Health

The standard Almond Drink contains organic rice, organic Italian almonds and sunflower oil, according to Rude Health’s ingredient list.

  • The stated recipe gives shoppers a specific ingredient list to compare with unsweetened alternatives.
  • Sainsbury’s lists 1.5g fat and 4.7g sugars per 100ml for this drink; check both figures if they matter for your recipe.

Plenish

Plenish describes its standard Almond M*lk as a drink made with water, organic almonds and salt.

  • Its stated three-ingredient recipe may suit a shopper choosing by ingredient list.
  • Check the carton’s fat figure and fortification details before comparing it with drinks selected by those measures.

Tesco

Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is an own-label option with added nutrients.

  • Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g fat and 0.3g sugars per 100ml, plus added iodine and vitamin D.
  • Its listing warns that the drink may contain peanuts and other nuts; follow the carton’s storage instructions after opening.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Unsweetened Almond Drink is an own-label fortified option.

  • Sainsbury’s lists 1.4g fat and less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml, with added calcium and iodine.
  • Its allergen information rules it out for customers with an allergy to other nuts because of manufacturing methods; the researched carton specifies use within three days of opening.

M&S

M&S Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Almond Drink is a fortified own-label option.

  • M&S lists 0.9g fat and 0.2g sugars per 100g, as well as added calcium and iodine.
  • M&S states that this drink is unsuitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy. Its nutrition figures use a per-100g basis.

Almond drink options on Joybuy

This long-life almond drink multipack is an option to consider when planning the quantity needed for BBQ drinks or recipes.

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L

For BBQ drinks or recipes where the No Sugars variant suits your plans, check whether eight 1L cartons are an appropriate quantity. This long-life drink contains almond; read the carton’s allergen and after-opening instructions before serving it.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

How should I compare fat in almond drinks?

Read the fat figure and its stated unit on each carton. Alpro UK and Tesco Groceries each list 1.1g per 100ml for the specified drinks, whereas M&S lists 0.9g per 100g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; do not treat those units as identical figures.

Does unsweetened tell me how much fat a drink contains?

No. Check fat and sugars separately on the nutrition panel. A no-added-sugar recipe can also contain sugars: Sainsbury’s lists 4.7g sugars per 100ml for the rice-containing Rude Health Almond Drink.

Can I use almond drink in BBQ dressings and iced drinks?

You can use it where the recipe suits almond drink, but check the sugar level and try a small batch before making a full jug or dressing. If preparing coffee with hot liquid, follow the drink’s mixing instructions; Tesco advises adding its Unsweetened Almond Drink before the hot liquid and not mixing it with boiling water.

How long can I keep an opened carton?

Follow the instructions on the particular carton and refrigerate it as directed. The researched Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink specifies use within five days of opening; the Sainsbury’s and M&S unsweetened drinks specify three days.

Can I serve almond drink to a guest with a nut allergy?

Do not serve an almond-containing drink to someone with an almond allergy. Check the exact carton for other nut or peanut warnings too: Tesco warns of possible peanuts and other nuts, while M&S states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.