The theme of plant-based beverages in today's world with a large proportion of people being lactose-intolerant is gaining increasing popularity. Almond milk distinguishes itself by its absence of cholesterol and, consequently, lactose. It serves as an alternative to animal milk and can endure for an extended period without refrigeration. Enriched with vitamins and essential nutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus, almond milk offers a multitude of health benefits.
During the production of almond milk, the byproduct known as okara, or almond pulp, is produced after decanting and filtering. Okara is often utilized in cosmetology, particularly in skincare cosmetic formulations.
Following the pressing process, okara or almond pulp is typically dried to produce almond flour or powder. Consequently, the production of plant-based almond drinks is nearly waste-free, utilizing by-products from processing residues.
A crucial step in almond milk production involves grinding and creating a stable emulsion with dissolved fat and protein particles found in almonds. It is recommended not to overheat the product during production to preserve the beneficial properties of almonds. To enhance the taste, various flavors and stabilizers may be added, ensuring the drink remains well-mixed, especially at lower almond concentrations.
In industrial production, all plant-based drinks, including almond milk, undergo pasteurization to prevent microbial contamination.
While countless recipes for homemade almond milk are available online, industrial production relies on specialized homogenizers-dispersers to create suspensions and emulsions. Units like the "soy cow" Veggie Milk machine stand out, operating periodically, cyclically, or in batches, in contrast to just continuous operation in industrial scale lines.
This kettle used for plant milk production comprises a working tank with a bottom homogenizer-disperser, equipped with a circulation circuit for continuous recirculation through the homogenizer, allowing for the processing of raw materials down to a fraction size of 100 microns.
