People comparing carbohydrate in almond drinks
If you count carbohydrate, the amount in the portion you drink matters more than a front-of-pack sugars claim. Check the current nutrition label before comparing cartons.
Who is this choice for?
Households considering bulk cartons
An 8 x 1L multipack is a way to buy cartons for use at home. Consider where you will store them and how you will use each carton after opening.
Lunchbox shoppers
A household-sized carton and an almond-based snack tub serve different purposes. Check the individual portion, allergen declaration and storage instructions for the exact item you intend to pack.
What to check before choosing
Start with the portion and nutrition label, then check whether the pack format, fortification and allergens fit its intended use.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total carbohydrate | Read total carbohydrate, not just sugars, on the current label. Compare the listed amount per 100 ml of drink or per 100 g of a pot with the portion served. | If I count carbohydrate, I need the figure for what I actually pour or pack. |
| Milk replacement | Check whether the exact almond drink is unsweetened and fortified with calcium. Diabetes UK advises both checks when choosing a plant-based milk alternative. | For a drink I use regularly instead of milk, I want to check its fortification rather than assume every almond drink is alike. |
| Lunchbox format | Check the size of each carton or pot, whether it needs chilling, and its instructions after opening. Plenish’s 8 x 1L almond-drink multipack is a bulk carton format. | I need a portion I can pack and store as the label directs; a 1L carton is not an individual pot. |
| Nut allergens | Read the ingredients and any precautionary allergen statement on the exact variant. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as nuts. | If I am buying for someone with a nut allergy, I cannot treat an almond-based drink or snack as nut-free. |
Common buying mistakes
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Using sugars instead of total carbohydrate
The sugars line is not the same as the total carbohydrate figure needed to work out the carbohydrate in a serving.
Use the current back-of-pack carbohydrate value and the amount served. Diabetes UK identifies carbohydrates in the detailed back-of-pack nutrition information.
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Assuming all almond drinks replace milk in the same way
Fortification varies between products, so the word ‘almond’ alone does not tell you whether calcium has been added.
For a regular plant-based milk alternative, follow Diabetes UK’s advice to check for an unsweetened drink fortified with calcium.
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Buying bulk cartons as though they were lunchbox portions
Plenish’s almond-drink multipack contains 8 x 1L cartons. That format does not provide individual pots ready to put in a lunchbox.
Check the size of each unit and its storage instructions before choosing it for lunchboxes or opening cartons for smaller portions.
An opened carton may go unused if the household cannot finish it within the period stated on its label.
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Overlooking the nut declaration
Almonds are nuts, and some almond-drink labels also carry statements about other nuts.
Check the ingredients and precautionary allergen wording on the exact pack when buying for someone with a nut allergy.
Relevant brand ranges
Alpro
Alpro lists an Almond No Sugars drink in its plant-based range.
- The No Sugars variant gives shoppers a named product to compare with sweetened variants.
- For carbohydrate counting, check total carbohydrate and the serving amount on the carton itself.
Plenish
Plenish sells an almond-drink multipack containing 8 x 1L cartons.
- The carton format may fit households that use almond drink regularly.
- These are not individually portioned lunchbox pots; check the current nutrition and storage labels for the intended use.
Rude Health
Rude Health offers No Sugars Organic Almond Drink and Pure Almond as distinct products.
- Their published ingredient lists let shoppers distinguish the two recipes.
- Check the exact variant’s carbohydrate and allergen labels; its product information includes nut-related warnings.
M&S Plant Kitchen
M&S lists an Unsweetened Almond Drink and a separate Plant Kitchen Almond Creamy yogurt alternative.
- M&S lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.
- The Almond Creamy product is a 350g chilled tub, not an almond drink or an individual-pot multipack.
Joybuy almond-drink option
The option below is an 8 x 1L carton multipack for household use, not a set of individual lunchbox pots.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
The eight 1L cartons are a household multipack rather than ready-portioned lunchbox pots. For carbohydrate counting, check the current carton’s total carbohydrate value against the amount poured. Read its instructions for storage after opening and check the almond allergen declaration.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘no added sugar’ enough to choose an almond drink for carbohydrate counting?
No. Check total carbohydrate on the current nutrition label and use the amount you will actually drink to work out the portion. A sugars claim does not give the full carbohydrate figure.
What matters if almond drink regularly replaces milk?
Diabetes UK advises checking that a plant-based milk alternative is unsweetened and fortified with calcium. Read the exact carton’s label rather than assuming that fortification is the same across almond drinks.
Is an almond drink suitable for someone with an almond allergy?
An almond-based product contains the nut in question and should not be treated as suitable for someone with an almond allergy. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as nuts; check the exact pack for ingredients and precautionary allergen statements.
Is a 1L carton multipack ready to put in a lunchbox?
No: a 1L carton is a household-sized unit, not an individual pot. If you plan to serve a smaller portion, check the product’s instructions for storage and use after opening, as well as the carbohydrate in the amount packed.