Differences between barley water, almond milk and almond paste

This summer 2017 is proving to be particularly hot for most of Italy and for us Neapolitans.
So, what better remedy than a refreshing drink that, at the same time, contains sugars, vitamins and minerals to keep us up?

Last week we immersed in centrifuged and smoothies based on vegetables and fresh fruit.

Today, however, we will lose ourselves in other types of goodies: barley water and almond milk.

By the way, what’s the difference?

Almond and luffy milk: two very different white soft drinks

In fact, there is a lot of confusion about these two drinks and, often, it’s just some manufacturers that put wrong information into circulation. We try to understand each other more.

Almond milk was born in the sunny Sicilian lands, where it was a drink used for Lent; from there it began to spread throughout the South, between Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata and, of course, our Campania, enjoying a general success.

But how do you get this exquisiteness all vitamins?

Almonds are minced and mixed together with sugar and then squeezed into water, also generating a cold infusion. That’s where that intense flavor comes from!

The barley water, instead, is the most delicate “cousin” of this goodness.
Here the almonds are only flavored, in theory (even if the confusion has generated, then, over time, even recipes with real almonds), since, originally, the main ingredient was represented by barley.

Over time this cereal would have been replaced by other vegetable ingredients, leaving unchanged the name that ended up simply indicating non-alcoholic obtained with this type of process.

In any case it is fresh, nutritious drinks and particularly suitable for sultry periods like this, not to mention that they are also excellent for those who follow a vegan diet or are lactose intolerant.

Among other things, both these delicacies are perfect for making excellent smoothies, milkshakes and ice creams!

Almond paste

The almond paste, however, is still another one obtained from these precious seeds.

It is a confectionery (also called Pasta Reale) which is the basis of many typical Sicilian sweets, which we also appreciate in Naples.

It is, in this regard, an agri-food product officially recognized as traditional Sicilian and included in the list of traditional Italian agri-food products of the Ministry of agricultural food and forestry policies. In short, it is really a true Italian heritage!

An example of its use, for example, we find it in the famous Sicilian cassatine.

Having clarified every detail, we are waiting for you at Gambrinus to help you defeat the heat with our super fresh drinks!