Mayo from almonds? Stanislaus company creates what may be your new favorite spread
Mayonnaise can be polarizing. There are those who love it on anything and everything, and others who would prefer it be kept as far away as possible.
For the mayo maniacs, the division goes deeper, with die-hard brand loyalty, even generationally, as preferences are passed down like a family heirloom.
Almond oil producer Tommy Tickenoff knows this, and with that in mind, set off to create a mayonnaise made from almonds that would have the same taste and texture as the popular brands, and maybe change some minds.
Before the condiment was even conceived, third-generation nut farmer Tickenoff was looking at ways to use the cast-off remains of various nuts. He started processing shells, hulls and edible but cosmetically flawed almonds into animal feed and other products.
“So we were pressing those to get the high-protein meal for a fish food project and we got this good oil. That was neat. I took it home, cooked with it and thought, ‘Wow, it’s really good. I never tried anything like this before,’” he said. He started Fresh Vintage Farms in Turlock with his wife, Tara, in 2019, producing cold-pressed artisan nut oils made from almonds and walnuts.
Almond oil has been around for eons and is recorded as having been used by many ancient cultures. It has been used primarily as a cosmetic oil for its absorption properties, and it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium, among other elements.
As a cooking oil, it is less popular than olive, canola and vegetable oils, but Tickenoff hopes to change that. “Our oils are expeller pressed, so there’s no chemical extraction, no crazy high heat, and then they’re naturally refined. That means we’re using steam distillation, so it’s just a steam process to remove impurities and solids and things like that,” he said.
The properties of the oil that are good for the skin when used topically also benefit the body when consumed. “Oil from an almond is better for you. It’s got vitamin E, which is great for your skin, even though you’re eating it. It’s got high omega-6, which your body needs, and a mix of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.”
Their product line includes cold-pressed almond, walnut, and garlic almond oils and refined almond oil in plain and garlic varieties for high-heat cooking. The refined versions come in a squeezable bottle to easily use during cooking and have a high smoke point of 495 degrees.
In 2020, the Tickenoffs were testing recipes with their almond oils and realized that the oils’ properties made them ideal for emulsion. The idea for mayonnaise was born. “We bought our little stir stick to make it, then all of a sudden, you’re pouring oil, you’ve got eggs in there, and all of a sudden it starts to get fluffy. Suddenly, we’re making mayonnaise.”
The final product was their 35th iteration, and Tickenoff said it has the taste and texture that rivals your favorite brand. “It’s really good and has super clean ingredients. It’s almond oil, eggs, mustard, and a little lemon juice. There’s rosemary, there’s a touch of salt with the eggs. But other than that, and vinegar, it’s really clean ingredients,” he said. The mayonnaise is made with mostly organic ingredients and is gluten-free.
As for the striking pink color on the jars, Tickenoff said that was his wife’s idea to get it to pop off the shelf. “In a store, you have your blue labels and you have some yellows, and then the green for the avocado oil. Nobody’s done a bright, bright color,” he said.
Tickenoff said they have created the only commercially available almond oil mayonnaise, and big retailers are taking notice. The oil and mayonnaise are available on Amazon, locally at Save Mart, and in Southern California Costcos and the trendy, luxury boutique grocery store Erewohn. You can also buy directly from their site, where prices start at $9.99 for mayonnaise and oils.
Tickenoff held a blind taste test at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock and Commonwealth in Modesto and said his mayonnaise came out on top, with many tasters picking his over the popular blue label brand. The response they have received about the mayonnaise has prompted them to develop other sauces made from the oil. “We hope to see ranch, a blue cheese, and honey mustard. It would be great to have a whole line extension because almond oil is such a good positive ingredient,” he said.
Fresh Vintage Farms Real Mayo and their entire line of nut oils can be found at Save Mart and Amazon or on their website at www.freshvintagefarms.com.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM.
