Home Does anyone make their own almond milk?

[Jas12]

My family drinks almond milk and we have been going thru it like crazy. My son loves it, but it''s getting expensive and isn''t always easy to find around here.
I''ve read that making it yourself is quite easy but i am wondering if it''s worth the effort and is cost effective. I know it would be a bit healthier this way (fresh and additive free is always better right), but we buy the unsweetened, unflavored variety anyway, so the main reason for making my own would be for cost-cutting.

Just curious if anyone has done this?

 

[jewelz617]

My family loves it too. I store buy it but find I can make it stretch by making the drinks half and half. (1/2 cup soy milk and 1/2 almond milk)

If you''re interested, here''s the Ehow recipe:


Place 1 cup of almonds in a jar or container large enough to comfortably hold the almonds and 4 cups of water.

Add 4 cups of water to the container. Place it in the refrigerator and let it soak overnight.

Put the water and almonds mixture in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Strain the blended almonds through a cheesecloth.

Drink the almond milk as is or you could put over cereal or use it to make a smoothie. Use the beverage as you would regular milk.

You can add a little vanilla extract and honey or sugar to the mixture while it blends.

Blend frozen fruit with the almonds and you can make fruit-flavored almond milk.

The almond milk will last in the refrigerator 3 to 5 days.

Save the blended almonds for other uses, like baking cookies.

 

[cara]

My mom did, and I seem to recall it involved blanched, slivered almonds (ie. no skin) into the blender with water and a touch of honey. Blend.

Not sure how much money you''ll save as almonds can be pricey also. But might be worth a shot!

 

[BeachRunner]

Date: 2/9/2010 12:13:16 PM
Author: cara
My mom did, and I seem to recall it involved blanched, slivered almonds (ie. no skin) into the blender with water and a touch of honey. Blend.

Not sure how much money you''ll save as almonds can be pricey also. But might be worth a shot!

Yes. We buy almonds for $4.00/lb.

I''ve tried rice milk/ice cream, and found it to be less flavorful than soy milk. Is this true of almond milk as well?

 

[Jas12]

Beachrunner--i find almond milk tastes MUCH better than rice (and soy IMO), it''s slightly nutty, not as thick as soy, but better for you. Like rice and soy, you can get sweetened or flavored (vanilla & choco) versions but i have not tried them.

If anyone is interested, almond milk has about the same nutritional benefits of cow''s milk without the unappealing stuff found in cows milk. The main difference is almond milk has less protein & sugars and no cholesterol. This is good IMO b/c we get tons of protein/sugars in the average NA diet anyway. Plus, it''s easily digested, no hormones, no antibiotics & is plant based. Yes, it''s a little costly, but for me it''s worth it. I think it''s going to get more expensive too as the bee population (responsible for pollinating the almond crops in CA, where most almonds are grown) is threatened!

PinkAsscher--thanks for the info. I think i''ll just have to try it and figure it out from there. I am suprised more ppl don''t drink it. It''s an ancient milk form, but not common in north america.

 

[zoebartlett]

Jas -- I''ve never tried almond milk before, but I''ve heard it''s really good. I''ll have to remember to pick some up when I''m at the store later this week. Thanks for the info (sorry I don''t have any advice for you)!

 

[Jas12]

Zoe, it is a great milk alternative. Might take some getting used to, but i think it''s pretty good.

For all those that live in a cold climate, my fav almond milk treat is a hot chocolate made with some warmed almond milk, a tablespoon or 2 of pure maple syrup and some good cocoa powder (just whisk it all in a small sauce pan and add ingredients according to your taste)
It is a simple recipe from a raw food book that i have but it''s great!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I love almonds but hate the taste of almond flavoring/marzipan. Does almond milk have that flavor?

 

[CasaBlanca]

No Hudson, it doesn''t have that almond flavor...or aroma. Odd...I know but to me it doesn''t.

Jas,

Do try to make it yourself. We use the same technique Pinkasscher posted. But...we cut or dilute it nearly in half! You aren''t getting the yummy carageen or guar gum, unfortunately...ha ha. But what you do get is all concentrated Almond. OH, we have well water...it is tasteless and from a spring. Be sure you use a bottled water if your tap is high is chlorine or any other taste.

For budgeting I really think this is a GREAT avenue for you to try. A second tip is you can make a second PRESSING of the almonds and get a little more out. Oh, we use raw almonds...cooking or roasting will decrease nutrition.

Store in a heavy glass pitcher with a tight lid.

Your kids are going to love it...especially telling their friends they milked an almond!

 

[Jas12]

Ah, CasaBlanca, that''s awesome. Thanks. My DH said that he would do it (he juices greens for us in the AM and does the clean up b/c i tend to put things off that require cleaning -haha). However, making A-milk actually seems like very little work really.
Yep, will def. use raw almonds!

Hudson, nope, no strong almondy taste or smell. I don''t like artificially flavored almond stuff either, but love real almonds.
I don''t drink it ''straight up'' but put it in my oatmeal etc. and it''s just like skim milk (IMO)

 

[CasaBlanca]

Jas...I so do that too! Pulp stuck in the juicer or grinder wheel or ick is so hard to clean...especially when you wait! Funny I was going to tell you to be sure to get on the cleaning or at least soaking right away. The almonds do tend to get gnarly.

My husband has now reprogrammed himself to pop up after dinner and get dishes prepared for the machine. He knows I will wait...he he...this is the life isn''t it? Having some one else do the hard work? Whew, so glad he doesn''t read PS. Don''t want to offend my little dish monkey.

 

[Jas12]

haha, gotta have a dish monkey

My DH is the same, he cleans as soon as he is done juicing. Otherwise it''s twice the work (but i wouldn''t know, i''ve never cleaned it) i figure i make all the meals, majority of child care, shopping and tidying etc. He can handle the juicer.
Plus, he''s a composter so he can go feed the mound outside while he''s at it.
I am going to make some milk this weekend, i''ll let ya know how it goes!

 

[CasaBlanca]

I read "HE IS A COMPOSER and he can feed the mound"

...I thought is the mound the orchestra? OR the instruments? Geeze HER dish monkey is quite accomplished. I was feeling a tad pathetic...that mine isn''t so talented.

Then I reread it and the day is looking up. You mean compost, rubbish, garBAAG''. Whew, we are more alike than I thought. We got that too!

 

[Jas12]

LOL--glad i didn''t make you feel inferior

. Although i am sure your hubby is a really talented guy

 

[indecisive]

I can''t wait to hear how it goes jas! I drink almond milk every morning. Trader Joe''s has it pretty cheap but I would like to know how the homemade stuff compares.

 

[emeraldlover1]

I made it once. It was too much work for the amount I drink. I think that if I were drinking more of it I would try making it again. Good luck!!