To enjoy with toast and jam, choose a coconut drink if you want something to sip, or culinary coconut milk if you plan to add it to a recipe. The latter is liquid and won’t work as a spread. If you avoid dairy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy, even if the recipe shown doesn’t mention milk.
If you’re looking for a coconut-based product with no milk among its ingredients, check the label of each product. In the European Union, any allergens present must be highlighted in the ingredients list, as the Your Europe portal explains.
If you want to add coconut to something you’ll serve with jam, the stated coconut extract percentage gives you a guide to the product’s composition. Product listings for KARA Bio at Auchan, Carrefour Bio and TABLES DU MONDE at E.Leclerc state 64%, 76% and 81% respectively.
If your main aim is to pour a drink to have with your toast, look at coconut drinks rather than cooking products. E.Leclerc’s listing for the VEGE coconut drink states that it contains 3.2% coconut extract. Its name and ingredients set it apart from the culinary coconut milks mentioned here.
First decide whether you want to drink the coconut product or add it to a recipe, then check the ingredients of the product you choose. Other considerations mainly depend on how much you’ll use and how long you can keep it once opened.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the full ingredients list and check which allergens are highlighted on the packaging. The word “coconut” alone doesn’t prove that a product is milk-free. | If I avoid milk, I want to check the product I’m buying rather than rely on its name. Around 36% of consumers are said to prioritise this check. |
| Drink or cooking ingredient | Check the product name, the percentage of coconut extract and the fat content per 100 ml. E.Leclerc and Auchan product listings show that the VEGE drink and the culinary milks mentioned have different compositions. | With my toast, I’m looking for either a drink or an ingredient for a recipe. Confusing the two would change how I use it. This distinction is said to be the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipe composition | Compare the stated percentage of coconut extract and the ingredients list. This percentage alone doesn’t predict how the finished recipe will taste. | For something to have with jam, I want to choose the stated amount of coconut and the other ingredients to suit my recipe. Around 21% of consumers are said to put this choice first. |
| Pack size and storage | Check the volume and the product-specific instructions for after opening. Auchan’s listing says to refrigerate KARA Bio and use it within 3 days, and Auchan Coco Cuisine within 5 days. | If I only need a few spoonfuls, I want to avoid having a large amount left open for longer than the stated storage period. Pack size is said to be a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The VEGE coconut drink described by E.Leclerc contains 3.2% coconut extract, while the culinary milks listed by Auchan, Carrefour and E.Leclerc contain between 57% and 81%. Swapping one for another will therefore change the composition of your recipe.
Choose according to how you plan to use it, then compare the product name and ingredients rather than relying on the word “coconut” alone.
A coconut-based name doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients. For prepacked foods in the European Union, any allergens present must be highlighted in the ingredients list, according to the Your Europe portal.
Read the label on the product you buy, including its allergen information and any “may contain” statements if these matter to your choice.
Instructions vary by product: Auchan says to use KARA Bio within 3 days of opening and Auchan Coco Cuisine within 5 days.
Choose a pack size that matches the amount your recipe needs, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Carrefour Bio, TABLES DU MONDE and Auchan Coco Cuisine each list 17 g of fat per 100 ml. This figure applies to these culinary products, not to all coconut-based products.
Compare the nutritional values for the same quantity and use an amount that suits your recipe.
Carrefour’s listing features a 330 ml organic coconut milk for cooking.
E.Leclerc’s listing describes a 400 ml tin of culinary coconut milk.
The KARA Bio product listed by Auchan is a 20 cl carton of UHT culinary coconut milk.
Auchan Coco Cuisine UHT comes in a pack of three 20 cl cartons for sweet or savoury dishes.
ALDI France stocks ASIA GREEN GARDEN coconut milk, including an 800 ml pack.
This selection includes a matcha coconut drink to serve at breakfast and liquid coconut milks to add to recipes. None of these products is a spread; if you avoid milk, check the label on the product you receive.
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A matcha drink to serve at breakfast, rather than a coconut milk for cooking or a spread for toast.
The listing states that it contains 5.7% coconut milk and includes soya among the ingredients. Check the allergens on the packaging, particularly if you also avoid soya.
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The 200 ml pack is handy for a small coconut-based recipe. This liquid cooking milk isn’t for spreading on bread.
The listing shows 64% organic coconut and water among the ingredients, as well as 18.4 g of fat per 100 ml. It says to refrigerate after opening and use within 3 to 4 days; follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
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This 400 ml coconut milk is designed to be added to a recipe, rather than spread directly on toast.
The listing shows 68% organic coconut extract, water and guar gum, as well as 17.4 g of fat per 100 ml. It says to refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
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This 400 ml liquid coconut milk can be used in a recipe or drink, but it isn’t a spread.
The listing states that it contains 30% coconut extract and 6 g of fat per 100 g. After opening, it says to transfer the product to an airtight container and use it within 3 days.
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The 165 ml tin is a handy amount for a small recipe, rather than a product to spread on toast.
The listing states that it contains 42% coconut extract and 13.9 g of fat per 100 ml. It says to refrigerate after opening and use within 7 days.
No. The word “coconut” alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a product. Read its ingredients and allergen information. In the European Union, any allergens present must be highlighted in the ingredients list, as the Your Europe portal explains.
Choose a coconut drink if you want something to sip with your toast, or culinary coconut milk if you plan to add it to a recipe. The culinary products featured here are liquid, so they can’t be used as a spread.
It tells you the stated proportion of coconut extract, but isn’t enough to predict which flavour you’ll prefer. To compare the composition of the culinary products mentioned, listings from Auchan, Carrefour and E.Leclerc state 57% for Auchan Coco Cuisine, 64% for KARA Bio, 76% for Carrefour Bio and 81% for TABLES DU MONDE.
Follow the instructions for the product you buy, as storage times vary. Auchan’s listings say to refrigerate KARA Bio and use it within 3 days, compared with 5 days for Auchan Coco Cuisine. These timings don’t automatically apply to other products.