Who are these options for?

People with coeliac disease who are short on time in the morning

A ready-to-pour option is convenient, but your first consideration should be whether the specific product is gluten-free. The presence of coconut in the recipe doesn’t confirm this.

People comparing coconut drinks

When choosing a carton for breakfast, check ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’ claims separately, along with the ingredients and any added vitamins or minerals.

People making a creamy breakfast

Coconut milk for cooking can be used in a recipe or porridge. Its purpose and ingredients differ from those of a coconut drink designed to be poured into a bowl.

What should you check before buying?

For weekday breakfasts, first check whether the specific product is gluten-free if this is essential for you. Then decide whether you need a drink to pour or cooking coconut milk to add to a recipe.

Coconut drink

Best for: pouring straight into cereal, coffee or porridge when you want to keep breakfast simple.

Bear in mind: the recipes of the 1 L cartons reviewed vary. No claim about sugar content can replace checking whether the product is gluten-free.

Coconut milk for cooking

Best for: adding as much as you need to a recipe when you’re after a creamier texture.

Bear in mind: Carrefour describes its Carrefour Sensation coconut milk for cooking as containing 60% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 ml. It isn’t a direct substitute for a coconut drink in the same quantities.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Gluten-free status Check for a ‘gluten-free’ statement or an identifiable certification on the specific product, as well as any warnings about traces. AFDIAG notes that ‘gluten-free’ means a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg. If I need to avoid gluten, I must be able to identify the product’s status before adding it to my bowl; around 36% of consumers might put this check first.
Purpose and pack size Tell the difference between a 1 L carton of coconut drink and concentrated coconut milk for cooking, then check the volume and nutritional values per 100 ml. If I’m heading out early, I want a drink I can pour without preparing cooking coconut milk; around 29% of consumers might prioritise this convenience.
Ingredients and nutritional values Check sugar-related claims, the ingredients, nutritional values and any added calcium or vitamins separately. When choosing between two coconut drinks, I want to know what they actually contain rather than rely on the brand name; around 21% of consumers might prioritise this comparison.
Local availability Check that your chosen product is available at your local shop or for your chosen delivery or collection service. If you switch to a different pack size, check its gluten-free status again. To plan several weekday breakfasts, I need to be able to find a product that suits how I use it; around 14% of consumers might put this first.

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Assuming coconut means a product is gluten-free

    A list of ingredients with no obvious wheat, rye or barley doesn’t, on its own, confirm that a product is gluten-free. A warning about traces may also indicate a risk of contamination.

    If you have coeliac disease, check the specific product on the packaging or a current product page. Check again if the recipe or pack size changes.

  • Using cooking coconut milk like a coconut drink

    According to Carrefour’s product page, Carrefour Sensation coconut milk for cooking contains 186 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 ml. Its ingredients and purpose differ from those of the coconut drinks in cartons reviewed here.

    Choose the right type depending on whether you want to pour a drink into a bowl or add coconut milk to a recipe. If you’re cooking with it, adjust the amount to suit the dish.

  • Confusing sugar claims with fortification

    ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’ or ‘gluten-free’. Carrefour’s product pages also show that Carrefour Bio, Bjorg and Alpro Sans Sucres have different ingredients.

    Compare the exact claim, ingredients and nutritional information on the carton you’re planning to buy.

  • Assuming a product listed online will be available

    A product appearing in a catalogue doesn’t guarantee it will be available at your chosen shop or through your selected delivery or collection service.

    Check availability before you shop. If you choose a different product, check that one’s gluten-free status too.

Brands to consider, depending on the product

Alpro

1 L cartons of coconut drink, with recipes that vary between versions.

  • According to Carrefour’s product pages, Alpro Sans Sucres contains coconut milk, calcium, and vitamins B12 and D2.
  • If you have coeliac disease, check that the version and pack size you’re buying are labelled gluten-free.

Carrefour Bio

An organic coconut drink in a 1 L carton, described as having no added sugars.

  • Carrefour’s product page lists 3.8% coconut extract, rice starch and pea protein. It also notes that the drink contains naturally occurring sugars.
  • The ‘no added sugars’ claim doesn’t tell you whether the product is gluten-free.

Bjorg

An organic, sugar-free coconut drink in a 1 L carton, distinct from coconut milk for cooking.

  • The recipe shown on Carrefour’s product page includes 4% coconut, 4% coconut water and rice starch.
  • If you need to avoid gluten, check this information on the specific product before choosing it.

Carrefour Sensation

Concentrated coconut milk for cooking in a 250 ml carton, intended to be added to a recipe rather than used as a drink.

  • Carrefour’s product page states that this product contains 60% coconut extract and is gluten-free.
  • Before using it in place of a coconut drink, bear in mind that it contains 18 g of fat per 100 ml and is intended for cooking.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does coconut guarantee that coconut milk is suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

No. The presence of coconut doesn’t confirm that a finished product is gluten-free. AFDIAG notes that ‘gluten-free’ means a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg. Check the specific product and any warnings about traces.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean ‘gluten-free’?

No. These claims relate to different product characteristics. According to Carrefour’s product page, the Carrefour Bio drink described as having no added sugars contains naturally occurring sugars. Its gluten-free status needs to be checked separately.

Can you use coconut milk for cooking instead of a coconut drink with cereal?

You can add it to a recipe, but it isn’t a like-for-like substitute. Carrefour describes its Carrefour Sensation coconut milk for cooking as containing 60% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 ml. Check the recipe and decide how much you need before adding it to a bowl.

What should you check again if your chosen product is unavailable?

Check the other product’s purpose and pack size, and, if necessary, its own gluten-free claim and any warnings about traces. A coconut drink from another brand, or coconut milk for cooking, won’t automatically have the same characteristics as your first choice.