Regular at-home users
If you use almond drink in cereal, porridge or hot drinks most days, a cupboard-stored multipack may fit your routine. Compare each product’s kcal and sugars per 100ml, and check how soon an opened carton must be used.
Who is each format for?
Lunchbox and commute shoppers
A smaller carton is easier to carry than a 1L carton, but the listed 500ml Alpro option is not an individual pot. Check whether its size and storage instructions fit the time it will spend away from home.
Regular dairy-alternative shoppers
If almond drink often takes the place of dairy, compare the exact cartons for added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. These additions differ between the products and variants listed by retailers.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the nutrition information, then choose a pack size that fits where and how quickly you will use each carton.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and sugars | Compare kcal and sugars per 100ml on the exact cartons. Use the amount you actually pour when considering a portion; the NHS notes that a labelled portion may differ from the amount consumed. | I want to compare drinks on the same basis, rather than assume that a carton or its suggested serving equals the amount I use. |
| Pack size | Check the size of each carton and the number in the pack. Plenish lists an 8 x 1L multipack; Tesco Groceries lists an Alpro No Sugars Nutty Almond 500ml carton. | For regular use at home, several 1L cartons could be practical. For a day away, I would rather check whether a smaller carton is manageable to carry. |
| Storage | Read the unopened and after-opening instructions for the exact product. Sainsbury’s and M&S specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening for their listed 1L drinks; Sainsbury’s lists four days after opening for the Plenish 1L drink. | Can my household finish each opened carton within its labelled period, especially if I buy several at once? |
| Fortification | Check for added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the exact label. The three ingredients listed for Plenish’s organic almond drink do not include these additions, while the compared fortified products list some or all of them. | If I use almond drink regularly instead of dairy, the nutrients listed on the particular carton matter more to me than a short ingredient list alone. |
| Allergens | Read the almond declaration and any additional nut or peanut wording on the exact pack. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts. | When buying for someone with a relevant allergy, I need to check the individual product rather than assume that dairy-free means allergen-free. |
What mistakes are worth avoiding?
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Choosing on a sugar claim alone
“No added sugar” does not state the drink’s energy value or the amount you will consume. Different almond drinks can have different kcal figures per 100ml.
Compare both kcal and sugars per 100ml, then relate those figures to the amount you pour.
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Expecting a multipack of lunchbox portions
Plenish’s listed multipack contains 1L cartons, while the smaller listed Alpro option is a 500ml carton. Neither format is an individual pot.
Check the size of each carton before buying. If transferring a drink to a reusable bottle, follow the product’s after-opening storage instructions.
An opened carton that cannot be finished within its labelled period may go to waste.
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Assuming a short ingredient list means the same fortification
Plenish’s listed organic almond drink contains water, almonds and sea salt; the compared fortified drinks list added nutrients that differ by product.
If fortification matters to your choice, check the nutrition information on the exact variant rather than relying on its organic status or ingredient count.
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Overlooking almond and other allergen wording
Almond drink contains a tree nut. Individual products may also carry further nut or peanut warnings; M&S states that its listed unsweetened almond drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.
Do not choose an almond-containing drink for someone with an almond allergy. Read the full allergen and cross-contact wording on each pack.
Which brand ranges are relevant?
Alpro
Alpro has listed 1L long-life and 500ml No Sugars almond-drink formats.
- Tesco Groceries lists its 1L No Sugar Long Life drink at 15 kcal and 0g sugars per 100ml, with added calcium and other nutrients.
- The 500ml carton is smaller to carry, but it is not an individual pot. Check nutrition and storage details on the variant you buy.
Plenish
Plenish lists an organic almond drink in an 8 x 1L multipack.
- Its listed ingredients are water, organic almonds and sea salt; Sainsbury’s lists the 1L drink at 26 kcal per 100ml.
- Those listed ingredients do not include added calcium, iodine, vitamin D or vitamin B12. Check the exact carton if fortification matters to you.
Rude Health
Rude Health offers different almond-drink formulations, so the variant matters when comparing labels.
- The brand lists organic rice and sunflower oil among the ingredients of its standard Organic Almond Drink.
- Tesco Groceries also lists an almond-with-calcium variant. Do not assume its ingredients or fortification match the standard drink.
Tesco
Tesco lists a fortified unsweetened almond drink in a single 1L carton.
- Its product listing states 15 kcal and 0.3g sugars per 100ml, with added vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine.
- A single 1L carton is not a case of smaller portions.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists an unsweetened almond drink in a 1L carton.
- The listing states 18 kcal and less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml, alongside added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- Its instructions say to refrigerate after opening and use within three days.
M&S
M&S lists a fortified unsweetened almond drink in a 1L carton.
- The product lists added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- M&S states that this drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy and must be refrigerated and used within three days after opening.
Almond-drink options on Joybuy
This 8 x 1L long-life almond-drink pack is an option for regular use at home, rather than a set of individual lunchbox portions.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L
The 8 x 1L format is suited to opening one carton at a time for regular home use, not packing individual portions. For calorie comparisons, check the per-100ml figure on this exact pack rather than assuming it matches a separately listed 1L carton; also check its fortification and after-opening storage instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an almond-drink multipack practical for lunchboxes?
A pack of 1L cartons is more practical for regular home use than for individual lunchbox portions. If you need to carry a drink, check a smaller carton or use a suitable reusable bottle while following the product’s storage instructions after opening.
Should I compare calories or sugars?
Compare both kcal and sugars per 100ml, then consider how much you actually use. The NHS explains that pre-packed food and drink labels give nutrition information per 100g or 100ml and sometimes per portion; the stated portion may differ from yours.
Does unsweetened almond drink always contain added nutrients?
No. The compared fortified products list added nutrients, while the listed ingredients for Plenish’s organic almond drink are water, almonds and sea salt. Check the exact carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 if those additions matter to your choice.
How long can I keep an opened carton?
Follow the instructions on the carton you buy. The listed Sainsbury’s and M&S 1L drinks specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening; Sainsbury’s lists four days after opening for the Plenish 1L drink.
Is almond drink suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
An almond-containing drink is not suitable for someone with an almond allergy: the Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts. Read each product’s full allergen wording, including any additional nut or peanut warning.