How do You Get Milk From a Nut?
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Stores and coffee shops are full of cow's milk alternatives made from nuts or seeds. But none of them have udders and they certainly can’t lactate - so how exactly do you get milk from a nut?
Although you may think that almond milk is a modern trend, it actually dates back to to the Middle East in the 13th Century. When people were fasting and keeping cows’ milk out of their diet, almond milk was a popular alternative. Today, plant-based milks - such as oats, almonds, cashews, soya or coconut - are a popular option for people who have allergies to dairy products or follow a vegan diet. Also - fun fact alert - all these modern non-dairy alternatives are partly responsible for there now being over 170,000 potential drink combinations available at Starbucks.
Whilst it's possible to make almond milk at home (just have a look online), if you want to manufacture it in volume, there's a four step process. First, the almonds are cleaned, with any that are damaged or too small removed from the milk-making process. Then, they are soaked in water (also called blanching) which makes them easier to grind up and also helps to remove any enzymes which can affect people’s digestion.
The almonds are then milled. This grinds them into a paste which is then mixed with a specific amount of water to create the almond milk that is then sold in shops and supermarkets. But you can't call it milk in Europe, after farmers complained that using the word “milk” to describe something without any dairy products in its ingredients is confusing and could have a negative effect on dairy farmers. The courts agreed.
In February 2026, a court case against the Swedish plant milk manufacturer Oatly banned it from using the word “milk” in marketing. The case went through several courts before it was finally decided that Oatly would not be able to use the word.
