What are they used for?

For everyday coconut drinks

If you use a carton at breakfast or in drinks, compare the ingredients in 1 L UHT coconut drinks. Sugar, added calcium and thickeners vary between products.

For creamy dishes

For a curry, sauce, soup or vegan dessert, check the coconut content and fat in coconut milk made for cooking. The ECO+ and Tables du Monde products listed by E.Leclerc are examples of this category, in 200 ml cartons.

For checking ingredients

If your choice depends on the ingredients or declared allergens, read the label on the product you buy rather than relying on the word “filtered” alone. Also check the date and storage instructions.

What should you check?

UHT coconut drink

Choose it for: drinking or adding to cereal and lighter recipes.

Bear in mind: the 1 L drinks listed by Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan have different recipes and may not be a suitable substitute for coconut milk made for cooking in a sauce.

Coconut milk for cooking

Choose it for: adding a creamy texture to a curry, soup, sauce or dessert.

Bear in mind: the ECO+ and Tables du Monde products listed by E.Leclerc contain more fat than the coconut drinks mentioned here. Choose according to your recipe, not just the product name.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Texture when cooking The product description, coconut content and fat per 100 ml. For a creamy sauce or curry, I look for a product made for cooking rather than a thin drink. Around 36% of consumers put this need first.
A drink to keep on hand The UHT label, pack size and storage instructions after opening. If I regularly have coconut at breakfast, I want to be able to store a carton unopened and use it up in time. This comes first for around 36% of consumers.
Ingredients The ingredients list, highlighted allergens and nutritional information, especially sugars. When my recipe or dietary requirements guide my purchase, I need to check the label on the product I choose. Around 28% of consumers prioritise this check.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Using a 1 L drink instead of coconut milk for cooking

    The texture of your recipe may change. E.Leclerc lists 14 g and 17 g of fat per 100 ml for its ECO+ and Tables du Monde coconut milks respectively, compared with 0.9 g per 100 ml for the VEGE drink.

    For a creamy sauce, compare coconut milks made for cooking. For drinking, look for a coconut drink.

  • Assuming “no added sugars” tells you everything about the recipe

    This claim alone doesn’t tell you about flavourings, gums or coconut content. The ingredients in the Alpro Coco Sans Sucres and Auchan Bio products listed by Carrefour and Auchan are different.

    Read the full ingredients list and the nutritional values per 100 ml or 100 g, depending on the unit shown.

  • Following unopened storage instructions for a carton you’ve opened

    A UHT drink that can be kept in the cupboard before opening may need to be refrigerated once opened. Auchan says its Bio coconut drink should be used within five days of opening.

    Choose a pack size you can use according to the instructions on the carton you buy, and make a note of when you opened it.

    A large opened carton may go to waste if you only use it occasionally.

Brands to know

Alpro

The 1 L Coco Sans Sucres drink listed by Carrefour is intended for drinking and breakfast.

  • Carrefour’s product listing states that it contains 14.1% coconut milk, as well as calcium and vitamins B12 and D2.
  • The listed recipe also contains a flavouring and gums, so it isn’t a concentrated coconut milk for cooking.

Carrefour Sensation

Carrefour distinguishes between a 1 L UHT coconut drink and coconut milk made for cooking.

  • The drink’s product listing states that it contains 3.2% coconut, as well as rice syrup, calcium and vitamins.
  • These two types of product are used differently. Check the product and its availability before you shop.

VEGE / Marque Repère

The 1 L UHT coconut and rice drink listed by E.Leclerc is intended for drinking.

  • Its product listing states that it contains 3.2% coconut extract, 2.9% rice syrup and 1.5 g of sugars per 100 ml.
  • For a creamy sauce, compare it with coconut milk made for cooking rather than assuming you’ll get the same result.

Auchan Bio

Auchan offers a 1 L organic UHT coconut drink for drinking.

  • Its product listing states that it contains 10% organic coconut milk and less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 ml.
  • The recipe includes a natural flavouring and gums. After opening, Auchan says to refrigerate it and use it within five days.

Asia Green Garden

ALDI France offers Asia Green Garden coconut milk in 400 ml and 800 ml packs, worth considering for cooking.

  • The two pack sizes let you choose an amount that suits the recipe you have in mind.
  • Before buying, check the ingredients, coconut content and storage instructions on the packaging.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a coconut drink and coconut milk for cooking interchangeably?

Not if you’re after a particular texture. E.Leclerc lists 51.8% and 63% coconut extract in its ECO+ and Tables du Monde cooking milks, while the Carrefour Sensation and VEGE drinks each contain 3.2% coconut. Check the product description and fat content of the one you choose.

How long does a UHT coconut drink keep once opened?

The UHT label doesn’t determine how long it keeps after opening. Auchan says to refrigerate its opened Bio coconut drink and use it within five days. Follow the instructions on your carton.

What should you check on the label when shopping vegan?

Start with the product description and ingredients list, then check highlighted allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions. If the ingredients or the term “filtered” leave you unsure about something important, ask for clarification about the specific product rather than inferring its recipe from the way it’s presented.