For a curry, sauce or dessert on holiday, choose a coconut milk or cream for cooking based on the recipe and the amount you need. For a cold drink or iced coffee, look for a coconut-based plant drink instead: it isn’t a direct substitute for coconut milk used in cooking. In either case, check the ingredients and allergen labelling on the exact product if you need to avoid dairy.
If you’re making a dairy-free curry, sauce, soup or dessert, start by looking for a cooking ingredient and a size that suits the number of recipes you plan to make. AYAM’s 400 ml and 500 ml coconut milks are marketed for these uses.
If you want to compare different coconut-based options for cooking, check the fat and saturates per 100 ml, then consider how much you’ll actually use. Coconut milks and creams for cooking don’t all have the same nutritional values.
For drinking cold or adding to an iced coffee, a ready-to-drink product serves a different purpose from concentrated coconut milk for cooking. Check the other ingredients too: Alpro Matcha coconut contains soya and matcha, among other ingredients.
First decide whether you’ll be cooking with coconut or drinking it, then choose a size and compare the nutritional information for products intended for that use. Coconut cream, coconut milk for cooking and plant-based drinks aren’t automatic substitutes for one another in a recipe.
Choose it: for curries, sauces, soups or desserts when the recipe calls for coconut milk.
Keep in mind: the AYAM cooking products reviewed have notable levels of saturates. Compare the figures for each product and the amount you plan to add to your dish.
Choose it: for a coconut sauce or dessert if you want to compare its fat content with the standard cream in the same range.
Keep in mind: according to AYAM France, its reduced-fat and standard creams contain different proportions of coconut extract. Check that the version you choose is right for your recipe.
Choose it: for a cold drink, iced coffee or breakfast, rather than as a direct substitute for the coconut milk in a curry.
Keep in mind: ingredients vary by product. Alpro Matcha coconut contains sugar, soya and matcha.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture for cooking | Check the product description, ingredients and, where stated, the percentage of coconut extract. | If I’m making several portions of curry or dairy-free dessert, I’m looking for a coconut base that works in the recipe. Around 42% of consumers are said to prioritise this cooking need. |
| Size to take with you | Compare the volume with the number of recipes you plan to make, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | If I’m only cooking once during my stay, I don’t want to take a container I won’t finish. Pack size would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional values | Compare fat, saturates and sugars per 100 ml across products for the same use; check the ingredients and allergens too. | I might want a different composition for my sauce, or be looking for a coconut drink rather than a concentrated ingredient. Around 33% of consumers would make this distinction their priority. |
A ready-to-drink product may contain other ingredients and is intended for a different use from coconut milk for a curry or sauce. For example, Alpro markets Matcha coconut as a drink to serve hot or cold.
Start with how you plan to use it, then check the product description and ingredients for the exact product before adding it to a recipe.
Coconut products for cooking can have different levels of fat and saturates. The word “plant-based” alone doesn’t tell you how their ingredients compare.
Check the nutritional values per 100 ml, then consider how much you’ll actually add to your dish.
Assurance Maladie distinguishes between lactose intolerance and food allergy: they are not the same condition. So a simple “lactose-free” claim won’t cover every situation.
If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and allergen labelling on the exact product, and follow the advice of your healthcare professional.
These examples include products for cooking and for drinking. Compare the specific products rather than assuming their ingredients based on the brand name.
AYAM France offers coconut milks and creams for cooking in several sizes, including products for curries, sauces and desserts.
The 200 ml Suzi Wan product is coconut milk intended for cooking.
Carrefour sells a 400 ml tin of sterilised coconut milk under this name, in its plant-based cooking ingredients section.
Alpro Matcha coconut 1 L is a coconut-based drink, distinct from coconut milks for cooking.
Whether you’re making a small dish, preparing several recipes or looking for a cold drink, these products are designed for different uses. The first four are coconut products for cooking; Alpro Matcha coconut is a ready-to-drink beverage. Check the label on the exact product if you need to avoid dairy ingredients or particular allergens.
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This 150 ml coconut milk is a handy size for a small dish while you’re away.
The product name includes “18 %”. Check the nutritional values and ingredients on the packaging before comparing it with other products.
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This 400 ml coconut milk for cooking is worth considering if you’re planning to make several coconut-based dishes.
The variant is labelled “Light 9 %”. To compare it with another coconut milk, check the fat and saturates per 100 ml on the packaging.
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This 200 ml coconut cream is a cooking option for an occasional recipe that calls for cream rather than a coconut drink.
The variant is labelled “24 % Fat”. Compare its nutritional values with those of other coconut creams if ingredients are important to your choice.
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This 200 ml coconut milk for cooking is worth considering for a small dish, such as a curry, soup or dessert.
The variant is labelled “17 % Fat”. For an accurate comparison with another product, check the nutritional table on the packaging you buy.
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This coconut-based drink can be enjoyed hot or cold; it isn’t a direct substitute for coconut milk in a curry.
This product contains sugar, soya and matcha. Check the ingredients and allergen labelling if you need to avoid any of these.
Not as a direct substitute without adapting the recipe. The AYAM coconut milks shown for curries are cooking ingredients, whereas Alpro Matcha coconut is a ready-to-drink beverage that also contains sugar, soya and matcha. Start by choosing the type of product the recipe calls for.
Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. For prepacked foods in France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
No. Assurance Maladie distinguishes between lactose intolerance and food allergy. If you have a milk allergy, don’t rely on this claim alone: check the labelling on the exact product and follow the advice of your healthcare professional.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 ml when both products use the same unit, then consider how much you plan to use in your recipe. The DGCCRF says that nutritional information per 100 g or 100 ml makes comparisons easier. Also check whether you’re comparing two coconut milks or a milk and a cream.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you buy, as these vary. As one example for a specific product, the Joybuy listing for Vietcoco coconut milk 330 ml says to refrigerate it after opening and use it within five days.