As inflation soars and 1/2 gallons of Almond Milk cost $8-10 it's worth considering the age old question... can you milk an almond?!
And if you can... how? And is it actually worth it or should I just suck it up and spend my whole paycheck at the grocery store every week?
OK, let's start with some facts and figures to make our case, then we'll talk about the softer side of DIY like flavors and options.
Here in St. Thomas, I'd say you were getting a good deal if you found a standard 1/2 gallon carton of milk for $8 and average at about $10. That's a lot just to top off your morning coffee, feed your child, or enjoy your cereal/smoothie.
So let's talk about the cost structure of nut milking.
First and foremost, if you have a blender, then the short answer is absolutely yes, it is going to be financially worth it almost immediately to start DIY making nut milks at home.
If, however, you do not currently own a blender, then I understand your hesitation because it's not worth getting a cheap-o blender that will probably not have the power or blade sharpness to deal with nuts anyway.
OK, so let's make a half gallon of almond milk from scratch and compare costs.
| DIY Almond Milk | Cost per Item |
| 2 cups raw almonds | $3 |
| 8 cups of water | $1 |
| dash of salt & optional maple syrup | $.50 |
| Total | $4.50 |
That's a savings of 40-55% for every half gallon and equivalent to over $250 each year (assuming you buy one half gallon each week and if you're like me it's more like 4, so I'm actually saving $1000 every year).
As you can see... even if you don't own a blender, it could pay off quickly depending on your consumption habits. And as you can see, these are island prices! In the states, certainly it would be an even better deal (and probably organic, super high quality almonds!).
Which is the perfect segue into the softer reasons to make your own Almond Milk.
The flavor of Almond Milk made from scratch is light, floral, slightly sweet without any sweetener, an aromatic and sensory delight. My experience with any store-bought brand is very different... plain, white, reliable, but not delightful.
How to Make Almond Milk at Home
Specialty Equipment Required:
- Blender
- Strainer & Cheesecloth or
- Nut Milk Bag
- Sterilized (cleaned & boiled) glass container
- Funnel
The first and most important step of this process is to soak the almonds for 8-12 hours. Consider soaking them in the morning to make Almond Milk at home after work at night. Or consider soaking them overnight to make fresh Almond Milk at home in the morning.
Hot & Fast Tip: You can bring the almonds to a boil, then turn off the heat and soak for 15 minutes if you are in a rush.
Rinse your soaked almonds and drop them directly into the blender.
Measure 3 (creamy) to 4 (regular) cups of fresh water and pour into the blender.
Add salt and sweetener (honey, maple syrup, soaked dates, stevia, sugar, whatever your heart's desire or cabinets hold). I generally aim for about 1/4 tsp salt and 1 tbsp honey.
Then blend on high for a full minute. Time it because the noise will make 1 minute feel like an eternity, but the full minute will make a big difference in your milk product.
Pour the contents of your blender into a strainer & cheesecloth or nut milk bag over a bowl. You will want to squeeze slowly at first and with vigor at the end to get the creamiest nut milk possible.
When the almond pulp (remains) are nearly dry, transfer them to a baking sheet, and prepare to pour your Almond Milk into a sterile glass container.
Spread out the almond pulp, set your oven to the lowest setting, and dehydrate until the pulp is complete dry and transfer to an air tight container. Surprise! you also have almond flour if you followed this step.
Your fresh almond milk will keep for 3-5 days if cold processed and around 7 if boiled.
Almond Milk made at home does not contain any stabilizers or fillers, so it is more prone to separating than store bought milks. Make sure you shake before using (for real!).
And now for the really fun stuff! We've saved money, achieved significantly better flavors, so let's talk about add-ins.
If you are custom blending your Almond Milk... you could consider fun(ctional) options like adding:
- Dates, Honey, Maple Syrup, Flower Syrups, Glycerites
- Flower Powders like Rose, Butterfly Pea, Chamomile
- Turmeric, Ginger, Cinnamon (Golden Milk)
- Mushrooms like Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, or Reishi
- Adaptogens like Shatavari, Ginseng, Rhodiola Rosea, Ashwagandha
Then use it in your DIY Mushroom Coffee or Relaxing Ashwagandha Latte. Or bake with your almond milk and leftover pulp.
Thank you for reading! Tell me about your favorite DIY Nut Milk in the comments below.