Occasional late-night drinkers
If you pour only a little almond drink with supper, compare fat on the same nutrition-label basis and check whether the carton size fits how quickly you use it.
Who is this for?
Shoppers looking for no sugars
For a plain drink, cereal or a hot drink, check both the sugars and fat declarations on the exact variant. An unsweetened label does not make every almond drink nutritionally identical.
Regular dairy-replacement shoppers
If almond drink often takes the place of dairy, compare added calcium, iodine and vitamins on the carton as well as its fat and sugars.
What should you check?
Start with the fat declaration for the exact drink, then compare sugars, fortification and practical pack details according to how you will use it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and energy | Check fat per 100ml against the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s low-fat condition for liquids: no more than 1.5g per 100ml. Compare energy only when the labels use the same basis; M&S lists its figures per 100g, rather than per 100ml. | I want to compare drinks for a small late-night pour without assuming that plant-based or unsweetened means low fat. |
| Sugars | Read sugars per 100ml on the exact variant and check the ingredients if a no-sugars formulation matters. Sainsbury’s lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugars; Tesco lists 0.3g per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. | For cereal or a drink later in the evening, I want to know what the carton actually declares, rather than rely on the word “unsweetened”. |
| Fortification | Compare declared calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the exact carton. The UK SACN and COT assessment published in 2025 says nutrient composition varies considerably between plant-based drinks. | If I use almond drink in place of dairy regularly, I want to check which nutrients have been added instead of assuming every carton is comparable. |
| Allergens and storage | Read almond, other-nut and peanut information, then check the carton size and instructions after opening. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts. | A relevant nut allergy rules out an almond drink for me. If I use only a small amount at supper, I also need a carton I can finish within its stated opened-life period. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every almond drink is low fat
Fat figures differ between products and variants; neither “plant-based” nor “unsweetened” establishes the fat content.
Check fat per 100ml on the exact liquid carton before comparing its sugars and energy. UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance sets the low-fat condition for liquids at no more than 1.5g per 100ml.
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Reading “unsweetened” instead of the nutrition panel
Unsweetened almond drinks can have different declared sugars and added nutrients. The UK SACN and COT assessment published in 2025 notes substantial variation in plant-based drinks’ nutrient composition.
Compare sugars on the label; if the drink regularly replaces dairy, check its calcium, iodine and vitamin declarations too.
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Overlooking nut and peanut warnings
Almond is a tree nut, and individual cartons can also carry warnings about peanuts or other nuts.
Avoid almond drinks if you have a relevant almond or nut allergy. Check the current carton’s ingredients and precautionary allergen statements before choosing a drink for anyone with a relevant allergy.
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Choosing a carton too large for occasional use
Instructions for refrigeration and use after opening differ by product, which matters if you pour only a little at night.
Compare pack size with the exact carton’s opened-life instruction and follow its storage directions.
Some of the drink may go unused if you cannot finish an opened carton in the stated period.
Almond-drink brands and product lines
Alpro
Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life is a no-sugars option with a declared fat figure for the specific carton.
- Sainsbury’s lists 1.1g fat and 0g sugars per 100ml, with added calcium and vitamins B2, B12 and D.
- Do not apply those figures to Alpro Original, Barista or another variant; check each carton separately.
Tesco
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is a chilled own-label option with declared nutrition and added nutrients.
- Tesco lists 1.1g fat, 0.3g sugars and 15kcal per 100ml, with added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- Check its chilled-storage directions and almond, peanut and other-nut information on the current carton.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink offers a long-life carton with declared fortification.
- Sainsbury’s lists 1.4g fat, less than 0.5g sugars and 18kcal per 100ml, with calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- For hot drinks, Sainsbury’s advises letting hot water cool slightly to reduce separation.
M&S
M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink gives its nutrition figures per 100g, a different label basis from the per-100ml figures above.
- M&S lists 0.9g fat, 0.2g sugars and 14kcal per 100g, with added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- M&S states that this product is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.
Plenish
Plenish describes its organic Almond M*lk as containing water, organic almonds and salt.
- The manufacturer describes a short ingredient list without oils or added sugar.
- Check the carton’s fat declaration before selecting it for a low-fat requirement. The UK SACN and COT assessment published in 2025 says organic-labelled plant-based drinks in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients.
Rude Health
Rude Health Almond Drink has an ingredient list that includes organic rice and sunflower oil as well as almonds.
- The manufacturer lists spring water, organic rice, organic Italian almonds, organic cold-pressed sunflower oil and sea salt.
- Check fat per 100ml on the exact carton before choosing it for a low-fat requirement.
Joybuy almond-drink options
This long-life Alpro no-sugars multipack is an option for shoppers considering an almond drink for a late-night pour; its 8 × 1L format matters if you use only small amounts.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1L
This no-sugars almond drink comes as eight 1L long-life cartons. If you use only a small amount at night, check each carton’s fat declaration, allergen information and instructions for use after opening before choosing the multipack.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as low fat for an almond drink in the UK?
UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance says a liquid making a “low fat” claim must contain no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml. Check the exact carton’s per-100ml declaration rather than assuming every unsweetened variant meets that condition.
Is an organic almond drink fortified with calcium and vitamins?
Not necessarily: the UK SACN and COT assessment published in 2025 says plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients. If added calcium, iodine or vitamins matter to your choice, check the exact carton’s declarations.
Is almond drink suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
Avoid almond drink if you have a relevant almond or nut allergy. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts; check each carton’s ingredients and any peanut or other-nut warnings when choosing for someone with a relevant allergy.
Can I add almond drink to a hot drink at supper?
Check the instructions for the exact product. Tesco advises adding its Unsweetened Almond Drink before the hot liquid and avoiding boiling water, while Sainsbury’s advises letting hot water cool slightly for its Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink to reduce separation.
How should I choose a carton size for occasional use?
Compare how much you expect to pour with the carton’s instructions for refrigeration and use after opening. Those instructions differ by product, so check the current pack before choosing a single carton or multipack.