Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Vs. Silk Pure Almond

I think almond milk has a wonderful flavor. I used to drink soy milk all the time until I discovered how delicious and nutritious almond milk was. My usual brand is Almond Breeze, which is wonderful, but I recently received a coupon for a free half gallon of Silk's Pure Almond and decided to give it a try; after all, it was free and something new. I honestly didn't even know Silk made an almond milk, so I was anxious to taste it.

Nutritional Comparison

For a standard one cup (240 mL) serving, both have 60 calories, 25 from fat, and no cholesterol, unlike even fat free dairy milk. Almond Breeze contains 6% RDA of sodium, 5% potassium, and 1 gram of protein per serving. It provides 1 gram (4%) of fiber and 7 grams of sugar. It is a good source of vitamins E and D as well as calcium, vitamin A, and other vitamins and minerals. Silk Pure Almond also contains 6% sodium, 4% potassium, 1 gram of protein, and also 1 gram of fiber and 7 grams of sugar per serving. It provides very similar nutrients as well.

Nutritionally, both almond milks are almost identical. Both provide as much calcium and vitamin D as dairy milk but without any cholesterol, saturated fat, or lactose, and with less sugar per serving.

The Flavor

In my opinion, both almond milk's taste great, but they do have some distinct differences. Almond Breeze has a very smooth and creamy flavor with a subtle sweetness and hint of almond flavor. Silk Pure Almond also tastes very smooth but has a slightly more distinct almond taste and even seems a bit saltier, in my opinion. Both are delicious, but I prefer the Almond Breeze over the Silk Pure Almond. They do not taste like dairy milk or soy milk and are more substantial and flavorful than rice milk. I highly recommend either product if you are concerned with drinking dairy milk for any reason or want a healthier option, but, as I stated earlier, my preference is for the Almond Breeze.

Ingredients

Almond Breeze is made from filtered water, cane juice, almonds, and other ingredients. Silk Pure Almond contains filtered water, almonds, cane juice, and other ingredients as well. Both Almond Breeze and Silk Pure Almond contain no soy. Both products are vegan.

While both are healthy alternatives to dairy milk and soy milk, fortified with vitamins and minerals and rich in antioxidants, they are obviously not qualified to be used as infant formula but are safe for children and adults of all ages.

The Container

Almond Breeze comes in a mainly sky blue container with the words Almond Breeze Rich and Creamy Almond milk near the middle of the front of the package. Near the top is the brand Blue Diamond in white lettering inside of a blue diamond-shaped space and the word "natural" below the brand's name in green lettering. Milk is shown splashing onto a healthy fruity bowl of cereal near the bottom of the label. Silk Pure Almond is a primarily white container with the logo for Silk near the top and the words Pure Almond in a brown almond-colored lettering and the words "all natural almond milk" written below. A glass of milk is being poured with a background of dozens of whole almonds for the lower half of Silk's label.

Both almond milk's come in the standard waxy cardboard containers in which most half gallons of milk are housed, which, I believe, are easily recyclable or reusable and each one displays nutritional information on the very next panel (if you turn the container clockwise). Both have white plastic screw-off caps for easy pouring. Both milks suggest shaking before using and must remain refrigerated. Find out even more information at www.BlueDiamond.com and SilkPureAlmond.com.

Sources

personal experience
product labeling

Note: On the containers, almond milk is written as one word.
Originally published at Associated Content/Yahoo! Contributor Network.