Who are these options for?

For a coconut drink with lunch

If you want to drink it as it is, add it to coffee or have it with a cold meal, make sure you distinguish a plant-based drink from coconut milk intended for cooking.

For preparing a dish in advance

For a sauce, soup, curry or dessert to take with you, the coconut content and texture you’re looking for matter more than the format of a ready-to-drink beverage.

For avoiding dairy altogether

Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact product rather than relying on the words ‘coconut’ or ‘plant-based’. For prepacked foods in France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be listed and highlighted.

What should you check before buying?

Coconut plant-based drink

Choose this if: you want to drink it with lunch or pour it into coffee.

Bear in mind: the drinks reviewed don’t have the same coconut content as a cooking product designed to add body to a sauce.

Coconut milk for cooking

Choose this if: you’re adding coconut to a sauce, soup or curry prepared before lunch.

Bear in mind: the cooking products reviewed are more concentrated than the drinks and aren’t intended for the same use at the table.

Criterion What to check Who this matters to
Dairy-free Read the full ingredients list and check the allergens highlighted on the exact product’s packaging. If I need to avoid dairy, the word ‘coconut’ isn’t enough to help me choose. Around 42% of consumers put this check at the top of their list.
Drinking and transport Check the product name, volume and storage instructions, particularly after opening. For a cold meal, I prefer a product that’s ready to drink and can be transported according to its storage requirements. This convenience is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Cooking Compare the stated coconut percentage and fat per 100 ml with the recipe you have in mind. When I prepare a sauce or curry in advance, I first look for a texture that suits my recipe. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this cooking use.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Confusing a coconut plant-based drink with coconut milk for cooking

    The products reviewed aren’t intended for the same use: a drink to pour into a glass won’t necessarily give you the texture you want in a sauce.

    Decide whether you’ll drink or cook with it, then compare the product name and format, and its stated coconut percentage where available.

  • Assuming ‘coconut’ means dairy-free

    A product’s name is no substitute for checking its ingredients if avoiding dairy is essential.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact product’s packaging every time you buy it.

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    The Carrefour Bio coconut drink reviewed is labelled ‘no added sugars’ but also states that it contains naturally occurring sugars.

    If this matters to you, check both the packaging claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition information.

  • Forgetting about storage when having lunch away from home

    Temperature and storage requirements after opening can affect how you transport and consume the product.

    Follow the packaging instructions and use an insulated bag if it needs to be kept chilled.

Brands to know for these uses

Alpro

The Alpro Unsweetened Coconut Plant-Based Drink reviewed comes in a 1 L carton. It’s different from coconut milk for cooking.

  • Carrefour’s product listing gives this product as 14 kcal and 1.2 g of fat per 100 g.
  • If you need to avoid a particular ingredient, check the ingredients of the product you’re buying rather than relying on the ‘plant-based drink’ category.

Carrefour Bio

The organic, no-added-sugars coconut plant-based drink reviewed is available in a 1 L carton.

  • Its product listing states that it contains 3.8% coconut extract, as well as rice starch and pea protein.
  • ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free: the listing specifies that this drink contains naturally occurring sugars.

Bjorg

The products reviewed cover two different uses: a 1 L organic coconut drink and a 200 ml coconut cooking ingredient.

  • Carrefour’s listing for Bjorg Cuisine cooking ingredient states that it contains 51% coconut, a detail worth checking for a recipe.
  • The organic coconut drink reviewed contains cane sugar, so don’t confuse it with a product labelled ‘no added sugars’.

Real Thai

The coconut milk reviewed comes in a 200 ml cooking format.

  • Carrefour’s product listing states that it contains 85% coconut extract, with water also on the ingredients list.
  • This product is intended for cooking, so it isn’t the right choice for the same use as a coconut plant-based drink with lunch.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a product called ‘coconut milk’ automatically dairy-free?

No. If you need to avoid dairy, check the ingredients and allergens on the exact product’s packaging. For prepacked foods in France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be listed and highlighted; the word ‘coconut’ alone isn’t enough to be sure.

Can I use a coconut plant-based drink instead of coconut milk for cooking?

It depends on the texture you’re looking for. The coconut plant-based drinks reviewed are intended to be consumed as drinks, while the Real Thai and Bjorg Cuisine cooking products state that they contain 85% and 51% coconut respectively. For a sauce or curry, check the concentration and ingredients required by your recipe before using one in place of the other.

How should I transport a coconut product for lunch on the go?

Follow the storage temperature stated on the packaging and, if the product has been opened, the specified time limit for consuming it. Use an insulated bag if it needs to be kept chilled.

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

No. The Carrefour Bio coconut drink reviewed is labelled ‘no added sugars’ and states that it contains naturally occurring sugars. Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in its nutrition information to find out how much sugar is in the product you’ve chosen.