People who cook with coconut regularly
If you make curries, sauces, soups or desserts, look for coconut milk intended for cooking. Compare the coconut content, fat per 100 ml and carton size against the recipes you plan to make.
Who are these products for?
Households looking for a larger quantity
If you need close to 2 L for regular use, distinguish the total volume in a multipack from the size of each individual carton. The Carrefour Bio, Bio Village and Bjorg cooking products featured here come in small cartons. Be sure to check the storage instructions for each one too.
People who prefer an organic coconut drink
A plant-based drink may be more suitable for breakfast, coffee or a smoothie. Check its ingredients, nutritional information and organic labelling separately for the specific product you choose.
What should you check before buying?
Start by thinking about how you’ll use it: cooking with coconut milk or drinking a plant-based alternative. Then check the size and organic labelling on the specific product you’re planning to buy.
Organic coconut milk for cooking
Choose it for: making curries, sauces or desserts with a product designed for cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll need several cartons of Carrefour Bio (330 ml) or Bio Village (200 ml) if you’re aiming for a family-sized quantity.
Organic coconut drink
Choose it for: drinking on its own or adding to coffee, cereal or a smoothie.
Bear in mind: a 1 L carton of coconut drink is not a like-for-like substitute for coconut milk used in cooking, or a single 2 L container.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking use and texture | Check the product description, coconut content and fat per 100 ml. | If I often make curries or desserts, I want a product designed for those recipes rather than a drink. Around 33% of consumers would make cooking use their priority. |
| Quantity for the household | Compare the volume of each carton with the total multipack volume, and check the storage instructions once opened. | For regular cooking, I’d prefer to buy fewer cartons without opening more product than I need. Volume would be the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Everyday drink | Read the product description, ingredients list and information about sugars for the drink you choose. | For my coffee or smoothie, I’m looking for a coconut drink, not an ingredient to thicken a sauce. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
| Certification and ingredients | Look for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the origin of the raw materials. Also read the ingredients list and nutritional information. | Before choosing a product labelled organic, I want to be able to identify its certification and check its ingredients. This would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Confusing coconut milk for cooking with a plant-based drink
Carrefour France’s product page lists 76% coconut extract for Carrefour Bio coconut milk for cooking, compared with 3.8% for its organic coconut drink with no added sugars. Using them interchangeably can change the texture of a recipe.
Choose according to what you’re making, then compare the ingredients and nutritional values of the products you’re considering.
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Mistaking a multipack for a single 2 L bottle
A total volume close to 2 L may be split across several cartons. That affects how many units you need to store and open.
Check the net volume per carton and plan when to open each one around your recipes. Auchan’s product page for Bjorg coconut milk for cooking says to refrigerate it and use it within four days of opening.
Smaller cartons may mean shopping more often. If you open one without planning to use it, you could be left with leftovers.
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Assuming organic labelling tells you what’s inside
Organic certification and nutritional information answer different questions. Two organic coconut products may have different coconut contents and fat levels.
To identify the certification, check the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the stated origin of the agricultural raw materials on the packaging, in line with the guidance from the French Ministry of Agriculture and the European Commission. Then read the ingredients list and nutritional information.
Brands to compare
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour France offers 330 ml of organic coconut milk for cooking and a 1 L organic plant-based coconut drink with no added sugars.
- The cooking milk contains 76% coconut extract; the drink contains 3.8%.
- The 1 L size is for the drink, not the cooking milk from this range mentioned here.
Bio Village
The product featured by E.Leclerc is 200 ml of organic coconut milk for cooking.
- Its ingredients list includes water and 47% organic coconut extract.
- Households looking for close to 2 L will need to factor in how many cartons they’ll need.
Bjorg
Bjorg offers 200 ml of organic coconut milk for cooking and a 1 L organic plant-based coconut drink.
- The drink’s ingredients list includes 4% coconut and 4% coconut water. Its intended use differs from that of the cooking milk.
- For its cooking milk, Auchan’s product page says to refrigerate after opening and use within four days.
Alpro
The Alpro product featured by Carrefour France is a 1 L carton of unsweetened plant-based coconut drink. Compare it with other drinks rather than with coconut milk for cooking.
- The product page mentions calcium and vitamins B12 and D2, among other nutrients.
- If organic certification is essential to your choice, check the product you buy: this one isn’t presented as organic on the product page.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I identify pre-packed organic coconut milk?
Look for the EU organic logo, then check the control body’s code and the stated origin of the agricultural raw materials. The French Ministry of Agriculture explains that the logo identifies products covered by the European Union’s organic rules; the European Commission sets out the information that must accompany it. You’ll still need to check the ingredients list separately.
Can I use a coconut drink instead of coconut milk in a curry?
You can, if you’re happy to change the recipe, but don’t expect the same result. According to Carrefour France’s product pages, Carrefour Bio coconut milk for cooking contains 76% coconut extract, compared with 3.8% in its organic coconut drink with no added sugars. Compare the ingredients before swapping one for the other.
Can several small cartons meet a need for close to 2 L?
Yes, if the total volume and number of cartons work for you, but they won’t be as convenient as one large container. Check the storage instructions once opened too: Auchan’s product page for Bjorg coconut milk for cooking says to refrigerate it and use it within four days.