Who are these options for?

People making coconut sauces

You cook curries, soups or sauces and want to compare a classic cooking version with a lighter one, without automatically switching to a plant-based drink.

People choosing a coconut drink

You’re looking for a drink to have with breakfast or enjoy on its own, and want to pay attention to the energy and sugars listed on the packaging.

People comparing labels

You want to tell cooking coconut milk apart from a plant-based drink, and check whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per 100 ml.

What should you look for before buying?

First, decide whether you’ll be adding the product to a recipe or drinking it. Then compare the nutritional values using the same units, and consider how much you’ll use.

Criterion What to check Who it’s for
Coconut-based recipe Compare the energy and fat per 100 g or per 100 ml using the same units, then consider how much you plan to add to the dish. If I’m making a coconut sauce, I want to keep using a cooking ingredient while keeping an eye on how much I add. This would be the priority for around 43% of consumers.
Everyday drink Check that it’s labelled a “plant-based drink”, then look at the energy per 100 g or per 100 ml. To go with my breakfast, I’m looking for a coconut drink rather than a sauce base. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers.
Sugars and ingredients Read the ingredients list and the “of which sugars” line in the nutritional information; check for any statements about added sugars. If I choose a coconut drink, I want to know what’s in it rather than rely on its name. This would be the top priority for around 28% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing cooking coconut milk with a plant-based drink

    Carrefour’s product listings distinguish Carrefour Sensation coconut milk for cooking from Alpro Coco Sans Sucres drink. They’re labelled for different uses and aren’t interchangeable.

    Choose according to your recipe: check that it will work with a plant-based drink before replacing the coconut milk used in a sauce.

  • Assuming “light” means portion size doesn’t matter

    Carrefour’s listing for Kara Light coconut milk gives 134 kcal and 13 g of fat per 100 ml. How much you pour into your dish still matters when considering these values.

    Compare labels using the same units and relate the values to the amount you’ll actually use.

  • Assuming all coconut drinks contain the same ingredients

    Carrefour’s listing for its Sensation coconut drink mentions rice syrup and 1.566 g of added sugars per 100 g, while the Alpro Coco Sans Sucres product is described as sugar-free. These details apply to the products mentioned, not to their entire ranges.

    Check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact product you’re thinking of buying.

Brands to consider by product

Kara

The 200 ml Kara Light product featured by Carrefour is coconut milk intended for cooking.

  • Its listing gives 134 kcal and 13 g of fat per 100 ml, and states that this product contains 30% less fat.
  • This claim doesn’t apply to every Kara product; also check how much your recipe calls for.

Alpro

The 1 L Alpro Coco Sans Sucres product featured by Carrefour is a plant-based drink, not cooking coconut milk.

  • Its listing gives 14 kcal and 1.2 g of fat per 100 g.
  • These values apply to this specific drink; it may not be suitable for the same uses as coconut milk in a sauce.

Carrefour Sensation

Carrefour lists a 400 ml tin of cooking coconut milk and a 1 L carton of coconut plant-based drink under this name.

  • The ingredients list for the cooking coconut milk states 85% coconut extract; the drink’s list includes rice syrup.
  • The ingredients and nutritional values of these two products shouldn’t be assumed to apply to the entire range.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can a coconut plant-based drink replace coconut milk in a sauce?

Not automatically: a coconut plant-based drink and cooking coconut milk are intended for different uses. If the texture of the sauce matters for your recipe, check that a drink will work as a substitute before choosing it.

Which values should you compare when choosing a coconut product?

For a recipe, compare energy and fat using the same units, then take the amount you’ll use into account. For a coconut drink, also check the sugars and ingredients list. Don’t compare a value per 100 g directly with one per 100 ml.

Which details on the packaging help you tell these products apart?

The product name is the first thing to check when distinguishing cooking coconut milk from a plant-based drink. Then look at the ingredients list, nutritional information, quantity and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.

What should you do if the date on the packaging has passed?

First, check whether it’s a use-by date or a best-before date. The DGCCRF says that a use-by date must not be exceeded. After a best-before date, a product with intact packaging may have lost some of its flavour or other qualities. Always follow the storage instructions on the packaging too.