To add coconut to a recipe, choose a small carton of culinary coconut milk. If you need a thinner ingredient, consider a 1 L coconut drink instead. Powder that makes 3 L is not the same as a ready-to-drink bottle. According to Anses, plant-based drinks should not replace breast milk or infant formula for children under one.
If you want to add coconut to a dessert or another homemade snack without keeping a large carton open, a 200 ml carton of culinary coconut milk is worth considering. The Carrefour and Auchan products described for this use have different ingredients, so check the label of the one you choose.
A 1 L carton can be used as a drink or a thinner ingredient. The Alpro and E.Leclerc products show why it’s worth comparing the coconut content, sugars and other ingredients from one recipe to another, as well as considering how you plan to use it and your child’s age.
If volume is your priority, distinguish between a ready-to-use product and a powder that needs mixing with water. La Mandorle says its 240 g powder makes 3 L of drink: it is not a 3 L bottle.
Start by deciding how you’ll use the product: in a recipe, as a thinner drink or to make a larger quantity. Your child’s age is a separate consideration, whatever format you choose.
Worth considering: for adding coconut to a recipe using a small carton.
Bear in mind: storage times after opening vary by product. For the products mentioned, Auchan recommends refrigerating and using within 48 hours.
Worth considering: as a drink or thinner ingredient, but not as a replacement for breast milk or infant formula before your child turns one.
Compare: coconut content and other ingredients vary between recipes.
Worth considering: if you’d like to make around 3 L of drink yourself.
Bear in mind: La Mandorle’s stated 3 L yield requires mixing the powder with water; it is not ready to drink.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Age and the product’s role | Distinguish a recipe ingredient from a drink intended to replace your child’s usual milk. Anses says plant-based drinks should not replace breast milk or infant formula before the age of one. | If my child is under one, I first need to know what role this product will play in their diet. Around 36% of consumers put age and intended use first. |
| Texture in the recipe | Check the product description and coconut content for the specific product. Culinary coconut milk and coconut drinks serve different purposes in a recipe. | For a homemade snack, I’m mainly looking for an ingredient that will give my recipe the right texture. Around 29% of consumers are said to share this priority. |
| What’s in the drink | Read the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you choose, including the sugars per 100 ml. | If I buy a coconut drink, I want to understand what’s in it before using it. Around 21% of consumers are said to prioritise its ingredients. |
| Quantity and storage | Check whether the stated volume is ready to use or the yield after reconstitution, then check how long it can be kept after opening. | In a large household, I want to plan a usable quantity without leaving a carton open for too long. Around 14% of consumers are said to prioritise volume and storage. |
Carrefour lists 76% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 g for its 200 ml carton of culinary coconut milk. E.Leclerc lists 3.2% coconut extract for its VEGE drink. These products are designed for different uses.
Check the product description, ingredients and nutritional values of the product you plan to use in your recipe.
Anses states that regular plant-based drinks cannot replace breast milk or infant formula for children under one.
Don’t choose a coconut drink as a substitute. If you have a question about your child’s diet, ask a healthcare professional for advice.
La Mandorle says its 240 g of powder makes 3 L of drink when mixed with water; it is not a ready-to-drink bottle.
Before you buy, check the packaging and ingredients if you’re looking for a larger quantity.
You’ll also need to allow time to prepare it.
For the POUCE and AUCHAN culinary coconut milk products mentioned, Auchan recommends refrigeration and use within 48 hours of opening.
Choose a carton that suits the quantity you need for your recipes and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
1 L cartons of plant-based coconut drinks, which are different from culinary coconut milk.
Culinary coconut milk in a 200 ml carton for the product described by the retailer.
200 ml cartons of culinary coconut milk under the POUCE and AUCHAN names.
1 L coconut drinks under the VEGE and BIO VILLAGE ranges, sold in the plant-based drinks aisle.
Coconut powder for anyone who wants to make up their own drink.
These four products are coconut milk or coconut cream intended for cooking. For a toddler’s snack, choose your recipe first and check the product label. None of these formats is a 3 L bottle of coconut drink.
Image unavailable
This multipack of small cartons could be a good choice if you’re planning several recipes rather than using one large carton. It contains 1.5 L in total. Check the ingredients and storage instructions on the packaging before use.
Image unavailable
This 150 ml carton is worth considering for a recipe that needs a small amount of culinary coconut milk, rather than as a family-sized supply of around 3 L. Check the label for ingredients and storage instructions after opening.
Image unavailable
The 200 ml carton is worth considering for occasional use in a recipe. This is culinary coconut milk, not a 3 L family-sized drink; follow the storage instructions on the product.
Image unavailable
Consider this 200 ml carton of coconut cream if your recipe specifically calls for cream rather than coconut milk or a coconut drink. To compare fat content, check the nutritional information on the packaging before you buy.
No. According to Anses, regular plant-based drinks cannot replace breast milk or infant formula for a child under one. Check what the product is intended for rather than relying on the word “milk” in its name.
If your recipe calls for it, consider culinary coconut milk rather than a coconut drink intended to be served as a thinner beverage. Carrefour lists 76% coconut extract for its 200 ml carton of culinary coconut milk, compared with 3.2% for the VEGE drink sold by E.Leclerc. Check the ingredients of the specific product.
Not necessarily. La Mandorle says 240 g of its powder makes 3 L of drink when mixed with water; it does not come in a 3 L bottle.
Follow the storage time given for the product you buy. For the POUCE and AUCHAN culinary coconut milks mentioned, Auchan recommends refrigeration and use within 48 hours. For a 1 L Alpro drink, Carrefour recommends keeping it in the fridge for five days at a maximum of 7 °C.