Brazil Nut Milk vs Almond Milk: Which Is Better?

Almond milk is widely considered the most popular plant-based milk alternative, but have you ever thought of what other nutty options are available among the many milk options? 

Let me introduce you to brazil nut milk. In its shell, brazil nuts look almost prehistoric, but when cracked open, you’ll find a medium-brown, smooth, oblong nut. After soaking and blending with water, you get a creamy milk! Finding brazil nut milk on store shelves might be a bit of a challenge, but with some creativity, you can whip up your own batch.

Let’s go ahead and put brazil nut milk against almond milk in this detailed comparison!

Comparing brazil nut milk vs almond milk

	Brazil nut milk	Almond milk
Type	Plant-based (brazil nut is technically a seed!)	Plant-based (nuts)
Allergens	Tree nuts	Tree nuts
Vegan?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Likely, if made with paleo-friendly ingredients	Yes
Keto?	Likely, if made with keto-friendly ingredients	Yes

With tree nuts present between the both of them, people who are allergic will want to steer clear. While almond milk is proudly vegan, paleo, and keto, brazil nut milk is vegan and likely paleo and keto if made with the right ingredients. 

Differences between brazil nut milk and almond milk

Because they’re made from different nuts – brazil nuts and almonds – their flavors and textures will vary. Brazil nut milk is almost identical to cashew milk in texture, creamy, full, and smooth thanks to it being high in good fats. It’s said to taste mild, but also slightly similar to cow milk and toasted oats. Almond milk, on the other hand, is known for its very thin consistency – so thin that it usually has thickeners added to it.

And while almond milk can be found virtually anywhere, you’ll have to make your own brazil milk or purchase directly from companies.

How to use brazil nut milk vs almond milk

Brazil nut milk:

• Use to create comforting, creamy soups.
• Mix chia seeds with Brazil nut milk and let it sit overnight for a nutritious pudding.
• Use in your baking recipes for unique flavor.
• Try as a dairy-free coffee creamer.
• Froth or heat for warm drinks like lattes and hot cocoa.

Almond milk:

• Pour over cereal or oats.
• Sub in pancake batter for light, dairy-free pancakes.
• Create light, plant-based ice cream, puddings, and custards.
• Blend with fruits and veggies for a nutritious smoothie.
• Use in baking for a lighter feel.

Can you substitute brazil nut milk for almond milk?

These wonderful nut milks can certainly be swapped for one another, but keep the texture and flavor in mind when doing so! For instance, when using it in smoothies or coffee, the slightly toasty notes of brazil nuts may be noticeable, so you might want to stick to certain recipes that would benefit from that. For almond milk, its thin texture might not create the result you need for things like mashed potatoes or mac and cheese.

Nutrition: Brazil nut milk vs almond milk

As we’ve touched upon, the nutritional values for brazil nut milk aren’t all readily available. But what we do know is that brazil nut milk has a host of potential health benefits, including the fact that just a small serving will provide all daily selenium recommendations! Selenium has antioxidant properties and supports thyroid health and cognitive support. However, the milk is also high in fat (although mostly healthy fats) and calories.

Almond milk is low in calories, carbs, sugars, and fats, making it an appealing non-dairy milk for many. Its potential downside is that it’s very low in protein, with just 1g per cup. Its upsides? It offers 45% of your daily value of calcium and plenty of vitamin E for healthy skin.

Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.)	Calories	Total fat (sat. fat)	Total carbs	Total sugars (incl. added)	Protein	Calcium	Vit D
Brazil nut milk	219	22 g (?)	4 g	?	5 g	?	?
Almond milk	30	2.5 g (0 g)	1 g	0 g	1 g	45% DV	25% DV

? = reliable information not available (e.g., commercial versions not available, incomplete information, etc.)

How to store brazil nut milk and almond milk

Many brands of almond milk are typically shelf-stable when unopened and must be stored in the fridge once opened. Stored correctly, it’ll last around 1 – 2 months unopened in your pantry (not a long time!) and opened in the fridge for about 7 – 10 days. For brazil nut milk, you’ll have to follow the best before guidelines on the packaging. If you’re making your own brazil nut milk or almond milk, store in the fridge immediately and use within 5 days.

Brazil nut milk vs almond milk: Which is better?

I personally find that almond milk’s versatile and light taste makes it a better choice for uses such as blending smoothies, pairing with cereal, adding to muffins and other baked goods, and making light, refreshing desserts. It pairs so well with all sorts of fruit, and it has the bonus of being easy-to-digest.

Brazil nut milk can be used for all those purposes too, but I find that it’s better than almond milk for uses such as using it as a coffee creamer and in savory recipes that require a little depth like casseroles. Its nutty and toasty flavor also provides another layer to baked goods and soups!

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