Who are these formats for?

Parents serving snacks at home

For a birthday party at home, a 1 L carton of coconut plant-based drink can be poured into cups. Once opened, store it according to the instructions for the product you choose.

Parents looking for portions to take away

For lunchboxes or handing out individual portions, check that each unit is a sealed drink, not coconut milk intended for cooking. The volume of each portion matters just as much as the number of units.

Organisers mindful of ingredients

Before serving several children, compare the ingredients, sugars and allergen information. At school, take account of each child’s individual requirements, especially if they have an individual healthcare plan (PAI).

What should you check before buying?

First, distinguish between a drink to serve, a dessert to eat and coconut milk for cooking. Then check the format and the label of the product you’re considering.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Individual portions The number of units, the volume of each one, and whether it’s described as a “drink” or “coconut milk”. If I want to put a sealed drink in a lunchbox, I can’t use a carton designed for sharing in the same way; around 36% of consumers would make individual portions their priority.
Allergens and guidance The ingredients, highlighted allergens, possible traces and any guidance that applies to the child. If the snack is being served at school, I want to meet each child’s dietary needs; around 36% of consumers would prioritise whether a product meets this guidance.
Ingredients Sugars and fat per 100 ml, as well as the ingredient list for the exact product. When other foods are planned for the snack, I want to compare the ingredients of everything being served; around 28% of consumers would put this first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Mistaking cooking coconut milk for a drink

    The CHAOKOH multipack of 6 × 250 ml listed by Joybuy is intended for curries, soups and sauces; its product details state that it contains 18 g of fat per 100 ml. Small individual cartons don’t make it a suitable party drink.

    First decide whether you need a drink to serve or an ingredient for a recipe, then compare the product description and nutritional values per 100 ml.

  • Assuming a plant-based product is suitable for every allergy

    A Carrefour product listing for an Alpro coconut drink mentions possible traces of nuts. Whether a product is suitable depends on its exact formulation and the guidance for the child.

    Read the label on the product you’re serving and, if an individual healthcare plan (PAI) applies, follow the adjustments it specifies before considering a substitute.

  • Confusing a 1 L carton with a multipack

    The Carrefour Bio, Auchan, Alpro and Bjorg coconut drinks mentioned here come in 1 L cartons. They can be poured into cups, but they aren’t sealed individual portions for lunchboxes.

    Check the number of units and the volume of each one. If you’re serving drinks on site, make sure you have cups and follow the storage instructions once the carton is open.

  • Choosing based only on sugar claims

    Claims such as “sugar-free” and “no added sugars” refer to specific formulations. They don’t describe every ingredient or tell you how the product is intended to be used.

    Compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100 ml, the ingredient list and the rest of the snack, and don’t mistake a coconut drink for coconut milk intended for cooking.

Brands and products to compare

These coconut drinks are examples of cartons for serving on site. Their features don’t apply to every product from each brand.

Carrefour Bio

Carrefour’s product listing describes an organic plant-based coconut drink in a 1 L carton.

  • The listed recipe includes water, 3.8% coconut extract and pea protein; the product details state that it contains 25 kcal per 100 ml.
  • The 1 L carton needs to be poured out for individual servings.

Auchan

Auchan’s plant-based coconut drink comes in a 1 L carton, suitable for pouring into cups.

  • Its product details state that it contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 ml.
  • Once opened, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 5 days, according to the product details.

Alpro

Auchan’s product listing for Alpro’s unsweetened plant-based coconut drink describes a 1 L carton.

  • The product details state that this product contains 0 g of sugars per 100 ml.
  • It should be consumed within 5 days of opening. Another product listing for an Alpro coconut drink mentions possible traces of nuts, so check the label of the product you choose.

Bjorg

Carrefour lists an organic Bjorg coconut drink in a 1 L carton.

  • The product details state that it contains 4% coconut and 4% coconut water.
  • This isn’t a sealed individual portion.

Coconut drink portions on Joybuy

This multipack of cans is a coconut drink in sealed individual units, making it worth considering if each child needs their own portion. Compare the can size with the amount you plan to serve, and check the label before handing them out.

Pack of 6 TAS Black Coconut Drink in Can, 310 ml cans

TAS Black Coconut Drink in Can, 310 ml (pack of 6)

For handing out sealed drinks, this pack contains six 310 ml cans.

The product details state that it contains 6.7 g of sugars per 100 ml. Before serving it to children, check the ingredients, allergens and any precautionary trace warnings on the pack label; follow any applicable individual healthcare plan (PAI).

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a multipack of coconut milk always suitable as a party drink?

No. The CHAOKOH multipack of 6 × 250 ml listed by Joybuy is coconut milk for curries, soups and sauces. For a drink, look for a product specifically described as a drink, and check its portion size and ingredients.

What should I check before taking a coconut drink to a school birthday party?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of each product. If a child has an individual healthcare plan (PAI), follow the dietary adjustments it specifies and any guidance provided for the party snack.

Is a plant-based coconut drink automatically suitable for a child with an allergy?

No. The word “plant-based” isn’t enough to show that a product meets a child’s needs. Check the exact formulation, declared allergens and any precautionary trace warnings. For example, a Carrefour product listing for an Alpro coconut drink mentions possible traces of nuts.

How long can you keep an opened carton of coconut drink?

Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. The Auchan product details for the Auchan and Alpro coconut drinks mentioned here say to refrigerate after opening and consume within 5 days.