Review: Rude Health Almond Drink

This week I tried my first Rude Health alternative milk. Intrigued by their catchy branding and extensive range, I picked up a carton of the Rude Health Almond Drink for £2 from Waitrose and trialled it over a week. I had previously reviewed Alpro Almond No Sugars and enjoyed the taste but found it a little mild. I was excited to see how Rude Health’s version would compare.

The first thing I noted about Rude Health was it’s bright white colour. There was no yellow tint – which I know can put a few people off – and it looked like normal milk to me. The flavour was sweet and slightly nutty. I would have liked it to be slightly stronger tasting, but I found the lightness did make it quite versatile as I could add it to porridge without it becoming distinctly ‘almond flavoured’. It also had a thickness to it which added a touch of creaminess.

The Rude Health Almond Drink mixed well in coffee, showing no separation. I did have to add quite a large quantity to my hot drinks, or else I found them to be too strong. I also struggled to make a froth from the Almond Drink. Even in my electric milk frother I could only make it bubble.

Rude health almond drink boasts only five ingredients: spring water, organic rice, organic Italian almonds, organic cold-pressed sunflower oil and sea salt. These italian almond nuts improve the sustainability of the product, as they require less water than the more common Californian almond. The drink has a low almond percentage (1%), especially relative to its rice content. This is significantly lower than the 6% almond percentage of the Plenish Almond Drink I previously reviewed (read full review here!).

The drink is organic and suitable for vegans. It is also both gluten and dairy free. A 200ml glass contains 112kcal; 21g of carbs, 3g of fat and 0.4g of protein. This does make the product relatively carb heavy and quite low on the protein content compared to other alternative milks. If you are looking for a less calorie dense almond milk, Alpro Almond No Sugars contains 0g of carbs and only 26kcal per 200ml glass.

I enjoyed drinking Rude Health Almond Milk and was impressed by it’s simple and sustainable ingredients list. Although I didn’t mind the fact that the drink was high in carbs, I would have liked a higher protein content. As I am still on the lookout for a stronger tasting almond milk, I think I will try Rude Health’s Ultimate Almond Milk in the future. However, if you are after a lighter almond taste, I would recommend giving it a try.