For a curry, sauce or dessert where texture matters, choose an organic coconut milk for cooking. For drinking or pouring over cereal, look for a plant-based coconut drink instead. In either case, check the organic certification, ingredients list and allergen information separately: the product name alone isn’t enough to confirm that it contains no dairy ingredients.
For curries, sauces and desserts, they’re looking for an ingredient for cooking and comparing its composition, rather than choosing a coconut drink. Bio Village, Carrefour Bio and Kara product listings feature coconut milks intended for cooking.
They can compare products made with water and coconut, such as the Bio Village and Kara cooking milks listed by E.Leclerc and Auchan. This preference doesn’t replace checking the allergen information on the packaging.
For a glass to drink or a bowl of cereal, they’re looking for a plant-based drink rather than coconut milk intended for cooking. The Carrefour Bio listing shows how different the ingredients in these two categories can be.
When shopping for organic products without dairy ingredients, first check these two points on the specific product. Then choose between cooking coconut milk and a drink, depending on how you plan to use it, and compare their ingredients.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification and dairy ingredients | The organic certification that applies to the product, followed by the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging. | If I want to buy organic products without dairy ingredients, I need to check these two points separately; around 42% of consumers would make this double-check their priority. |
| Texture for cooking | The product description “coconut milk”, the proportion of coconut extract and the fat content per 100 ml. | For a sauce or dessert where I’m looking for a creamy texture, the ingredients in the cooking coconut milk matter most; around 33% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Use as a drink | The product description “plant-based drink”, the proportion of coconut and the nutritional information per 100 ml. | At breakfast, I’m mainly looking for something to drink or pour over cereal; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
The Carrefour Bio listing states that its cooking coconut milk contains 76% coconut extract, compared with 3.8% in its plant-based drink. Swapping one for the other can change the texture of a sauce or dessert.
If your recipe relies on the creaminess of coconut milk, compare the product description, coconut content and fat per 100 ml before choosing.
Organic certification and the possible presence of dairy ingredients are two separate issues. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
Check the organic certification, then read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re buying. If you have a milk allergy, also check for any precautionary statements.
The Bio Village and Kara listings state that their cooking coconut milks contain water and coconut, while the Carrefour Bio drink also contains rice starch and pea protein.
If you want to avoid a particular ingredient, read the full ingredients list for each product rather than relying on the front of the pack.
Once opened, a product may need to be kept in the fridge and used quickly. Auchan says its 200 ml Kara organic coconut milk should be used within three days of opening.
Choose a size that suits the amount you need and follow the storage instructions on the product you buy.
These products illustrate different ingredients and uses; a product’s features don’t necessarily apply to other products from the same brand.
Carrefour offers a 330 ml organic cooking coconut milk and a 1 L organic plant-based coconut drink.
E.Leclerc offers Bio Village organic cooking coconut milk in a 200 ml pack.
Auchan offers 200 ml of Kara organic coconut milk for cooking.
Carrefour offers Jardin BiO étic organic cooking coconut milk in a 400 ml tin.
Joybuy offers Valcom organic cooking coconut milk in 200 ml and 400 ml packs.
These three products are organic options for cooking: two coconut milks and one coconut cream. If you’re looking for a drink to pour into a glass or over cereal, compare plant-based coconut drinks using the criteria above.
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A handy size of cooking coconut milk to consider for a small recipe. If you need to avoid milk, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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If you’re cooking with a 400 ml pack, the Joybuy listing states that it contains 68% coconut extract, water and guar gum. If you don’t use the whole pack, follow the storage instructions for after opening.
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Worth considering for a recipe that calls for coconut cream rather than coconut milk. The product title states that it contains 24% fat; check that this type and amount are right for your recipe.
No. Organic certification alone doesn’t confirm that a product contains no dairy ingredients. Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product. If you have a milk allergy, also check the packaging for any precautionary statements.
Not without considering the result you’re after: a coconut drink may change the texture of a sauce made with cooking coconut milk. Carrefour Bio listings state that its drink contains 3.8% coconut extract, compared with 76% in its cooking milk. Compare the ingredients in the products you’re thinking of using.
No. Carrefour says its organic coconut drink, labelled “no added sugar”, contains naturally occurring sugars. If total sugars matter to your choice, check the product’s nutritional information.
Follow the instructions on the product you’ve bought. Auchan says its 200 ml Kara organic coconut milk should be refrigerated after opening and used within three days. Instructions may vary from product to product.