Students stocking a new room or shared flat
A long-life carton may be useful before the fridge is ready; once you have reliable refrigeration, a chilled carton is another option. Follow each pack’s directions after opening.
Who is choosing?
Students comparing fat and sugars
Compare cartons on the same per-100ml basis. Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g fat per 100ml for both Alpro No Sugar Long Life and Tesco Unsweetened, but 0g and 0.3g sugars respectively.
Students using plant drinks instead of dairy
Check the exact carton for added nutrients. NHS guidance on vegan diets highlights the need to plan for nutrients including calcium, vitamin B12 and iodine across the diet.
What should you check?
Start with where you can keep the carton, then compare nutrition panels and ingredients on the products you would actually buy.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and sugars | Compare fat, sugars and energy per 100ml on the exact cartons. Tesco Groceries lists Alpro No Sugar Long Life and Tesco Unsweetened at 1.1g fat and 15 kcal per 100ml; their sugars are 0g and 0.3g respectively. | I want to compare drinks on the same basis rather than assume that ‘unsweetened’ means zero sugars. |
| Added nutrients | Read the pack for calcium, iodine and vitamins B12 and D. Tesco Groceries lists these nutrients for the Alpro and Tesco cartons; do not assume another almond drink has the same fortification. | If almond drink regularly replaces dairy for me, I want to know what this carton contributes while considering the rest of my diet. |
| Storage | Check unopened storage directions, fridge requirements and the period after opening. Tesco Groceries describes Alpro No Sugar Long Life as UHT; its Tesco Unsweetened listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within five days. | A cupboard-friendly carton helps before I have fridge access. Once settled, I need to know whether I can finish an opened carton in time. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen statement, including any ‘may contain’ wording. Tesco Unsweetened contains almond and may contain peanuts and other nuts; Rude Health’s No Sugars drink contains almonds and may contain traces of other nuts. | In a shared kitchen, I need to keep the allergen information clear for anyone who might use the carton. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘organic’ means fortified
Added nutrients vary by product. Tesco Groceries lists calcium, iodine and vitamins for the Alpro No Sugar Long Life and Tesco Unsweetened cartons; an organic or short ingredient list does not establish equivalent fortification.
If almond drink regularly replaces dairy, check the exact carton for the nutrients you are looking for.
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Buying a chilled litre without planning its use
Tesco Groceries says its Unsweetened Almond Drink must be refrigerated after opening and consumed within five days; it is not suitable for freezing.
Check fridge access and the pack’s directions before buying, especially if you use only small amounts.
An unfinished carton may have to be discarded once its stated period after opening has passed.
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Treating ‘unsweetened’ and ‘no sugars’ as identical
Tesco Groceries lists 0.3g sugars per 100ml for Tesco Unsweetened and 0g for Alpro No Sugar Long Life, although both list 1.1g fat per 100ml.
Compare fat, sugars and energy per 100ml rather than relying on one phrase on the front of the pack.
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Confusing dairy-free with suitable for a nut allergy
Almond drinks contain almonds. The Tesco Unsweetened and Rude Health No Sugars product information also carries warnings about possible other-nut exposure.
Do not choose an almond drink for someone with an almond allergy. Check the current pack’s allergen statement for other nut or peanut concerns.
Brand and product references
These details concern specific almond drinks, not every product made by each brand.
Alpro
Alpro Almond No Sugar Long Life is a UHT option for storage before opening, according to Tesco Groceries.
- Its listed panel gives 1.1g fat and 0g sugars per 100ml, with calcium, iodine and added vitamins.
- It contains almonds; check the exact carton’s allergen and after-opening storage directions.
Tesco
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is an option for a routine with dependable refrigeration.
- Its listed panel gives 1.1g fat and 0.3g sugars per 100ml, with calcium, iodine and added vitamins.
- Refrigerate after opening and consume within five days. It contains almond and may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Rude Health
Rude Health No Sugars Organic Almond Drink has a four-ingredient list that may appeal if ingredient simplicity is your priority.
- Rude Health lists water, almonds, carob seed flour and sea salt, with no added sugar.
- Check the exact carton’s fat and added-nutrient information before choosing it for those criteria. It contains almonds and may contain traces of other nuts.
Plenish
Plenish describes its Almond M*lk multipack as a short-ingredient-list option.
- Plenish lists water, organic almonds and salt for this product and says it has no added sugar.
- Check the exact carton’s fat and added-nutrient information before making a nutrition comparison.
Almond drinks on Joybuy
These Alpro multipacks are options to consider when stocking up for a student move-in. Check each pack’s nutrition and storage details rather than treating the two variants as interchangeable.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1L
The eight-carton pack calls for cupboard space during move-in. Its listing describes UHT storage before opening and says to refrigerate an opened carton and use it within five days. Check the energy figure on the exact carton before comparing it with similarly named Alpro products; it contains almond.
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Alpro Almond Drink, 6 × 1L
Allow storage space for six 1L cartons. The listing says to refrigerate an opened carton and use it within five days. Check the exact pack’s per-100ml fat and sugar values and unopened storage directions before choosing it as a lower-fat or cupboard-storage option; it contains almond.
Questions about choosing almond drink
Should I buy long-life or chilled almond drink for a student move-in?
Choose a long-life carton if you need storage flexibility before opening; Tesco Groceries describes Alpro Almond No Sugar Long Life as UHT. A chilled option needs dependable fridge access. Follow the exact pack’s directions after opening: Tesco Unsweetened says to refrigerate it and use it within five days.
Does ‘unsweetened’ mean an almond drink has zero sugars?
Not necessarily. Tesco Groceries lists 0.3g sugars per 100ml for Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink, compared with 0g for Alpro Almond No Sugar Long Life. Read the exact carton’s per-100ml panel.
What should I check if almond drink replaces dairy milk?
Check the exact carton for added nutrients such as calcium, iodine and vitamin B12, and consider your diet as a whole. NHS guidance says vegan diets need planning and identifies calcium, vitamin B12 and iodine among nutrients that may need attention.
Is dairy-free almond drink suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
An almond drink is not suitable for someone with an almond allergy. Tesco Unsweetened identifies almond and says it may contain peanuts and other nuts; Rude Health No Sugars identifies almonds and possible traces of other nuts. Read the current pack’s allergen statement.