Are you a fan of almond milk? If so, you’ve probably tried a variety of brands and flavors. But have you ever wondered who makes Trader Joe’s almond milk?
This popular grocery chain is known for its unique and affordable products, and their almond milk is no exception. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Trader Joe’s almond milk, including its taste, ingredients, and production process.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about this trendy beverage, keep reading to learn more.
Who Makes Trader Joe’s Almond Milk?
Trader Joe’s almond milk is produced by the grocery chain itself. The company prides itself on creating unique and high-quality products for its customers, and their almond milk is no exception.
The almond milk is made using a blend of almonds, water, and a small amount of sweetener. It is also fortified with vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious alternative to dairy milk.
One of the unique features of Trader Joe’s almond milk is its packaging. The product comes in a distinctive robin’s egg blue carton with a clean design that stands out on store shelves. This attention to detail is just one of the many reasons why Trader Joe’s has become such a popular destination for grocery shoppers.
What Is Trader Joe’s Almond Milk?
Trader Joe’s almond milk is a vegan, dairy-free, and unsweetened milk substitute that is perfect for people who are lactose intolerant or following a vegan lifestyle. The milk has a smooth and creamy texture with a slight nutty flavor that appeals to many people.
The product is made using a blend of almonds and water, with a small amount of sweetener added for taste. It is also fortified with vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious alternative to dairy milk.
Trader Joe’s almond milk is keto-friendly because it is low in net carbs and made with organic ingredients. It is also gluten-free, soy-free, and contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.
One of the best things about Trader Joe’s almond milk is its versatility. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as in coffee or tea, smoothies, cereal, or even as a foam for lattes. Its slightly nutty flavor also pairs well with black teas.
Taste Test: How Does It Compare To Other Brands?
As a fan of almond milk, I decided to conduct a taste test of various almond milk brands to see how Trader Joe’s almond milk stacks up against the competition. What I found was that the taste and texture of almond milk can vary widely from brand to brand.
Compared to other brands, Trader Joe’s almond milk has a mild almond taste and a balanced flavor. Its color is also milky, which many people like. However, some found its taste to be watery, while others noted its saltiness.
When it comes to ingredients, Trader Joe’s almond milk contains gellan gum and xanthan gum as thickeners, which some people may not prefer. In contrast, Malk’s almond milk stands out for its clean ingredient list, containing only filtered water, organic almonds, and Himalayan pink salt.
So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt was one of the best non-dairy yogurts I’ve tried, with a wholesome and well-rounded flavor that didn’t have an artificial taste or weird aftertaste. While the almond and oat milk varieties of yogurt are pretty thick, this one is the perfect happy medium between thick and runny.
Ingredients: What Goes Into Trader Joe’s Almond Milk?
Trader Joe’s almond milk contains a few simple and natural ingredients. The main components are water and organic almonds, which are responsible for the milk’s creamy texture and nutty flavor. The almonds are high in protein, which makes the almond milk a great source of this essential nutrient.
In addition to almonds and water, the almond milk also contains sea salt, tricalcium phosphate, gellan gum, and organic locust bean gum. These ingredients are used to enhance the texture and consistency of the milk, making it smooth and easy to drink.
The almond milk is also fortified with several vitamins, including vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2, DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), and vitamin B12. These vitamins help to make the almond milk a nutritious alternative to dairy milk.
While lecithin is not listed as an ingredient in Trader Joe’s almond milk, it is worth noting that lecithin can be used as an emulsifier in some almond milk products. Lecithin is a natural substance that is found in egg yolks and plant tissues. It is used to help smooth food textures, dissolve powders, and homogenize liquid mixtures.
Production Process: How Is It Made?
The production process for Trader Joe’s almond milk starts with the selection of high-quality almonds. These almonds are then roasted to enhance their nutty flavor before being ground into a fine powder.
Next, water is added to the almond powder and the mixture is blended until it becomes a smooth and creamy liquid. A small amount of sweetener is added to give the almond milk a slightly sweet taste, and vitamins and minerals are added to fortify the product.
Once the almond milk has been blended and fortified, it is packaged in the distinctive robin’s egg blue carton and shipped to Trader Joe’s stores across the country.
One of the benefits of making almond milk in-house is that Trader Joe’s can ensure that each carton contains only high-quality ingredients. This also allows them to control the production process from start to finish, ensuring that each batch of almond milk meets their high standards for taste and quality.
Sustainability: Trader Joe’s Commitment To The Environment.
Trader Joe’s is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and has taken steps to become more sustainable in recent years. However, the company has faced criticism for its refrigeration practices, which have been found to leak super-pollutant gases that contribute to the climate crisis. In fact, Trader Joe’s received the lowest score on the Environmental Investigation Agency’s Climate-Friendly Supermarket Scorecard.
Despite settling with the US EPA and DOJ in 2016 for violating the Clean Air Act by leaking refrigerants, there has been no significant progress made by Trader Joe’s to reduce leak rates or adopt sustainable, climate-friendly refrigerants. Refrigerants are a major source of climate-damaging emissions, with US supermarkets alone emitting 45 million tons of greenhouse gases every year due to refrigerant leaks – equivalent to 9.5 million cars on the road.
Furthermore, while Trader Joe’s offers a range of products, including its own-brand processed items, there are concerns about carbon footprints, excess packaging, and commodity ingredients that may not be ethically sourced. Although some independent products can be found at Trader Joe’s that consumers might trust, transparency of the company itself becomes a key factor when it comes to their own-brand items.
In response to pressure from consumers and environmental organizations like Greenpeace, Trader Joe’s has committed to phasing out single-use plastics in its stores and investing in sustainable alternatives for product packaging across a wide range of categories. The company aims to eliminate 1 million pounds of plastic from its stores in 2019 alone. While becoming a plastic-free store is a complex task, Trader Joe’s acknowledges the challenges and is actively seeking partners to help overhaul packaging throughout its stores.
