Homemade almond milk with vanilla and cinnamon

Erbology Vegan

Our homemade almond milk is made with organic Italian almonds, which pack a powerful nutrient profile, and pair beautifully with Ceylon cinnamon, vanilla and honey.

Homemade almond milk

Homemade almond milk, with its sweet and soothing properties has been consumed for centuries.  Almonds are possibly the most versatile nuts of all. And, according to Ayurvedic teachings, one of the most healing ones too. Related botanically to apricots, peaches, cherries, nectarines, and plums, almonds pack a powerful nutrient profile. And this has been apparent for hundreds of years, not only in Asia, but all over the world.  The USA dominates production, followed by Spain and Italy. Almond milk has been a fixture of European cookbooks since at least the 1200s, as it was seen as a nutritious alternative to meat and animal-based milk during fasting periods like Lent. And some research indicates that almond milk’s history might go back even farther in the Middle East.  You can bet it took many long hours of harvesting, soaking, grinding, and straining to produce homemade almond milk.  Why did people go to this effort?  Almonds are packed full with fiber, protein, vitamin E, manganese, magnesium and other trace minerals. And they are loaded with the holy-grail of vibrant health - antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress, which can damage molecules in cells and contribute to inflammation, aging, and diseases like cancer. If you are wondering how to make homemade almond milk, we have done all the heavy lifting for you! Our Organic Almond Milk Base makes creating delicious almond drinks at home quick and easy. We take 100% organic almonds, sustainably sourced from  Italy, and cold-press them to extract their oils; we then create a fine powder with the remaining solids. Our powder is soluble in water and highly concentrated in nutrients such as iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and calcium. Our farmers hand-pick the organic almonds during the harvest season between August and September. Did you know it takes 2.5kg of almonds to make 1kg of our almond base?

Vanilla almond milk recipe

When almond milk is homemade, the taste is superlative. One of the many benefits of homemade almond milk is that it does not contain cholesterol or saturated fat. For people who are lactose intolerant, organic almond milk provides calcium as well as healthy fats. So how to make homemade almond milk taste even better and evoke powerful memories of home comfort and coziness?  By adding the highly aromatic, sweet and smoky vanilla bean seeds, and the warmth of Ceylon cinnamon. Vanilla is harvested from one of the thousands of orchid species that grow in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Historians believe that it has been cultivated since the 16th century. Vanilla is said to improve heart health by reducing cholesterol levels, and it is believed to reduce inflammation. It could even help battle arthritis, anxiety, weight loss and acne. The addition of cinnamon, also known as Ceylon cinnamon, with its warmth and vibrancy, is a classical combination for  our homemade almond milk. The warmth of cinnamon is the yang to the yin of the cooling, quiet almond. Ceylon cinnamon is harvested from the bark of an evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. There are thought to be some 250 varieties of this tree. As a spice, it is one of the most important and used all over the world in cooking but also in medicines. An anti-inflammatory, it is packed with vital oils and other derivatives. It is thought to have a long list of healing powers from antimicrobial to anticancer, and could even help fight Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

How to make almond milk

When making homemade almond milk, the addition of raw honey, or maple syrup, will lift the taste and boost its healing properties. Get ready to soothe and excite your taste buds with a symphony of sensation layers. Raw honey, which comes straight from the beehive, contains healthful bee pollen, bee propolis, and plenty of antioxidants. Usually, the darker the color of the honey the greater its nutritional value in antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and trace elements.   Raw honey is said to contain over 30 different polyphenols, 22 amino acids, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. The polyphenols are responsible for raw honey's high level of antioxidants, which help your body protect itself against free radicals. The pasteurization process that regular honey undergoes kills off these powerful phytonutrients. When it comes to how to make organic almond milk, we have made it super simple.  If it’s cold outside, consume our homemade milk warm and add a pinch of nutmeg, as well as cinnamon. A dash of the exotic spice nutmeg, which is credited with pain relief, and in some cases used as an aphrodisiac, will lift the flavor and add another layer of warmth and depth. Nutmeg contains various compounds that boost mood, help relieve pain, and relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Some research suggests that a nutrient found in nutmeg may help slow cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and promote the recovery of brain tissue following a stroke. And if you like nutmeg try our chaga tea with nettle leaves and warming spices. You will feel transported to an autumn woodland, with a blanket of warm reds, yellows, and browns underfoot. In a smoothie, you can try blending in dried apricots, a close relative to our organic almonds, instead of honey or maple syrup. This will add sweetness and an earthy smack too. Ayurvedic practitioners may use the fruit, which originated in China, for dry throat, asthma, and other lung conditions.  Substituting maple syrup for raw honey will add a slight sweet/bitter taste with notes of caramel.  Ever heard of maple syrup and banana pancakes? Blending the powder of our organic almonds into a smoothie, with the addition of cinnamon, vanilla and some banana will power any workout or morning jog.

How long does homemade almond milk last?

How long does almond milk last? It really depends on many factors. Our organic almond milk base is powdered, so it will last a very long time. Once dissolved in hot or cold water, however, it will need to be refrigerated and consumed within two days. Keep it in a jar in your cupboard until you are ready to mix a cup of our homemade almond milk. You can use it in coffee, cereal and in baking - where you can add it as neat powder. A homemade almond milk version, which involves soaking and grinding and straining,  may last in the refrigerator between 3 to 5 days.   Shop bought long-life almond milk, however, could last weeks if unopened. Once opened, experts recommend it be consumed within 7 to 10 days if stored in the fridge. Be sure to check the ‘best by’ labels for guidance. Any almond milk sold in the refrigerated section of the supermarket should be stored in the refrigerator as soon as you get home.  So what is the difference between long-life and refrigerated almond milk?  Pasteurized non-refrigerated milk is treated at an ultra-high-temperature called UHT, or aseptic processing.  Pasteurization is a process that applies heat to destroy the pathogens in foods. This process, however,  does have an impact on the nutritional value of almond milk and it can deplete some nutrients. However, it does not affect key nutrients such as protein or calcium. Moreover, post UHT it is fortified back with many nutrients it may have lost, including vitamins A and D. Our organic almond milk base has not been stripped of any nutrients and has had nothing added - only the natural goodness of organic Italian almonds to deliver a base that is high in protein, fiber, low in saturated fat, non gmo, and easy to use!

Does almond milk go bad?

How does almond milk go bad, you may ask?  Long-life and refrigerated almond milk starts degrading in quality from when you open the box or bottle. Refrigerated almond milk products are usually treated using standard dairy processing (HTST) rather than UHT processing. And the flavor of UHT almond milk may vary slightly due to the heating process.  Long-life almond milk usually comes in a Tetra Pak or a similar type of packaging. Specialty containers are layered with paperboard on the outside and aluminum foil on the inside to prevent light, oxygen and bacteria from contaminating the milk inside. Some long-life milk can be stored for up to a year! Thankfully, you do not need to wait a year to enjoy our vanilla almond milk recipe, it takes just a few seconds to stir our organic almond milk base into some water. Even if almond milk is not off, sometimes, it can in a small number of people cause stomach troubles due to an ingredient called carrageenan. Carrageenan is extracted from seaweed and is used on a wide range of processed food as a thickening agent. Some people, however, have trouble digesting it. And experts note that some commercial almond milks contain additives such as sugar, salt, gum, lecithin and flavors. Carrageenan can cause gastrointestinal (GI) tract distress. If you are looking to improve the health of your gut it will probably come as no surprise that a whole food diet, filled with fiber including grains, fruits and vegetables is not only good for overall  health but also excellent for our gut health.