People who like a coconut drink with their biscuits
If you want a drink to enjoy on its own, add to coffee or blend into a smoothie, look for a ready-to-pour coconut drink. It is not the same as culinary coconut milk, which is intended for recipes.
Who are these formats for?
Households that regularly cook with coconut
If desserts, curries, soups or sauces are often on the menu, you can open several small containers as you need them for different recipes, rather than opening the whole multipack at once.
People who want to avoid leftovers
For a small late-night recipe, the size of each container matters just as much as the size of the multipack. Choose an amount that suits the recipe, and follow the product’s storage instructions once opened.
What should you look for before buying?
First decide whether you want to drink the coconut product with your snack or use it in a recipe. Then compare the container sizes with how much you’ll actually use, and check the label details.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Look for the description “coconut plant-based drink” or “culinary coconut milk”, then compare the ingredients and nutritional values using the same unit. | If I’m having a glass with my biscuits in the evening, I’m looking for a ready-to-pour drink rather than a dessert ingredient. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise a drink for this use. |
| Multipack format | Check the number of containers, the volume of each one and how much each recipe needs. | When I make different coconut recipes at different times, I’d rather be able to open the portions separately. Having individual portions available would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Leftovers after opening | Consider how much you’ll use, along with the storage temperature and timeframe shown on the packaging. | For a small late-night recipe, I don’t want to leave an opened container for longer than the recommended time. Avoiding leftovers would come first for around 30% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Mistaking a coconut drink for culinary coconut milk
These product descriptions refer to different uses. Carrefour lists Alpro coconut drink as containing 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml; Carrefour Sensation and Grace list 18 g, per 100 g and per 100 ml respectively. Keep these units separate when comparing nutritional values.
For a glass to enjoy with biscuits, look for “coconut plant-based drink”. For a dessert or sauce, check the product description, ingredients and the amount required by the recipe.
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Choosing a large volume without planning when to open it
A multipack of small containers is not used in the same way as one large container: follow the label instructions for storing each portion once opened. The Auchan and Joybuy product pages give different storage times after opening: three days for Grace and 24 hours for Vietcoco.
Choose an individual container close to the amount you’ll use, note when you opened it, and follow the refrigeration and use-by instructions for the product you buy.
If you open more than the recipe needs, you may have product left over that needs using quickly.
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Assuming a plant-based drink contains no allergens
Products from the same brand can vary: Alpro says its coconut drink may contain traces of nuts, while the Joybuy product page for the Barista version lists soya.
Check the allergens on the packaging of the exact product you’re buying, especially if you’re switching to a different version.
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Relying only on the date printed on the packaging before opening
The date shown on an unopened pack does not replace the instructions that apply once the product has been opened. The government department responsible for consumer affairs notes, for example, that a use-by date no longer applies after opening.
Check that the packaging is in good condition before buying, then follow the stated storage temperature and timeframe once opened.
A few brands to know
The products below illustrate different uses. Always check the product page and label for the exact product you’re considering.
Alpro
The 1 L coconut plant-based drink is suited to enjoying by the glass or adding to a drink, rather than using as concentrated culinary coconut milk.
- Alpro describes its drink as made with coconut milk and rice; Carrefour lists 20 kcal and 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml for the coconut drink it sells.
- Allergens vary between products: Alpro coconut drink may contain traces of nuts, while the Barista version listed on Joybuy mentions soya.
Carrefour Sensation
Its 400 ml culinary coconut milk is worth considering for a one-off recipe, rather than serving by the glass with biscuits.
- The Carrefour product page lists 85% coconut extract, as well as water and guar gum.
- Its 18 g of fat per 100 g should not be confused with the nutritional values for a plant-based drink, which are given per 100 ml.
Grace
Auchan lists Grace 400 ml coconut milk for desserts and savoury dishes.
- The Auchan product page lists 18 g of fat per 100 ml, which is useful information when identifying this culinary product.
- Once opened, Auchan says to refrigerate and use within three days, so choose a volume that suits your recipe.
Asia Green Garden
Aldi sells Asia Green Garden coconut milk in a 400 ml container, worth considering for a recipe that calls for this amount.
- The individual pack size makes it easy to compare the quantity with the amount needed for your recipe.
- Before choosing it for a particular recipe or guests, check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and instructions for use after opening.
Multipacks of culinary coconut milk on Joybuy
These two CHAOKOH multipacks are for households that make coconut recipes regularly and want to open separate bottles as needed. If you simply want a drink to enjoy with biscuits, look for a coconut plant-based drink instead.
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CHAOKOH Coconut Milk 18%, 6 × 250 ml
For coconut recipes made at different times, this multipack lets you open one 250 ml bottle at a time.
It contains six bottles. This is culinary coconut milk, not a plant-based drink ready to serve with biscuits. Check the packaging for allergens and instructions for use after opening.
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CHAOKOH Coconut Milk for Desserts 16–18%, 12 × 250 ml
If you regularly make coconut desserts, you can open the 250 ml bottles separately as you need them for each recipe.
The multipack contains twelve bottles. This coconut milk for desserts is not a ready-to-pour plant-based drink; check the packaging for allergens and instructions for use after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Can you serve culinary coconut milk instead of a coconut drink with biscuits?
They are not interchangeable for this use: choose according to whether you want to serve a drink or make a recipe. Carrefour Sensation and Grace list their coconut milks for cooking, while Alpro coconut drink is intended to be enjoyed on its own or added to a drink.
How long can you keep coconut milk after opening?
Follow the timeframe and storage temperature shown on the packaging for the product you’ve bought. The Auchan and Joybuy product pages give different instructions for two products: three days in the fridge for Grace and 24 hours for Vietcoco.
What should you check on the label of packaged coconut milk?
First check the product description, ingredients, allergens, net quantity and the date that applies to the product. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF says that labelling information must be visible, legible and written at least in French. Before choosing a large pack, also check the storage instructions for after opening.