Almond milk has been a staple of fasting diets for nearly eight centuries.

Food & Drink · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before it became a modern supermarket staple, almond milk served as a vital, expensive substitute for dairy during medieval religious fasts. Today, this plant-based drink is a multi-billion dollar industry, yet it remains at the center of intense debates over labeling, environmental sustainability, and its true nutritional value.

The history of almond milk stretches back to at least 1226, when it appeared in the Middle Eastern cookbook Kitāb al-Ṭabīḫ. During the Middle Ages, it became a crucial alternative for European aristocrats observing strict Catholic fasting laws. Because medieval recipes often lacked the rigid distinctions between meat and fast-day meals found in later texts, almond milk—produced by simmering ground almonds in water—became a standard, albeit costly, replacement for cow's milk in everything from purees to broths.

In the United States, almond milk transitioned from a niche health item to a mainstream powerhouse in the early 21st century. By 2013, it had overtaken soy milk as the nation's most popular plant-based alternative. This rapid growth sparked friction with the dairy industry, which has lobbied against the use of the term 'milk' for plant-based products. While the FDA eventually allowed the label in 2023, it advised producers to clearly highlight nutritional differences, noting that unfortified almond milk lacks the vitamin D found in standard cow's milk and contains significantly less protein.

The product's environmental footprint remains a point of contention. Growing almonds in California’s Central Valley requires substantial water, with a single glass of almond milk demanding roughly 74 liters. While this is less than the water required for dairy milk, it exceeds the needs of other plant-based alternatives like soy or oat. Furthermore, legal challenges have scrutinized the actual almond content in commercial products, with lawsuits highlighting that some versions contain as little as 2% almonds. As the market continues to grow—forecast to reach $13 billion by 2025—farmers are increasingly focused on sustainability strategies, including biomass waste reduction and soil health, to mitigate the impact of persistent droughts.

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