From the piña colada to the classic Thai curry, there's nothing quite like the tropical taste of coconut milk! Creamy, and rich with a hint of sweetness, coconut milk can balance out the flavours in a recipe, or tone down spiciness, whether you're making a curry, soup or dessert.
It can be hard to tell one can of coconut milk from another, which is why we've created this guide to help you find one that's flavoursome, healthy and full of natural goodness. We've even ranked our top 10 favourite canned milks, coconut cream and even organic creamed coconut that comes in a jar, to make sure you only buy the best in the UK on Amazon, eBay, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose!
Quick List - Top Coconut Milks
Eat Wholesome Food Co.
An Award-Winning Coconut Milk Without Additives
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Table of Contents
Coconut milk may seem like a simple enough product to choose, but before you go ahead, you'll want to consider a few things first. In this guide, we'll go through the various options available, the key things to look out for, and those to avoid, to help you make the best choice!
Coconut milk generally comes in three different kinds of container; a can, pouch, or jar. In this section, we'll weigh up the pros and cons of each to have you blending, stirring, or whipping up a storm in no time!
If you mainly cook for one, a can may not be the best option. Unless you can find a smaller size, you'll need to store the remaining coconut milk or cream in the fridge, which might result in wastage. For those who regularly use coconut milk, recycling cans each time might feel a little wasteful too.
BPA, which stands for bisphenol A is an industrial chemical sometimes found in the lining of metal cans which can seep into food and could potentially cause health issues in adults and children. If this is something that concerns you, look for cans that are labelled as BPA-free.
Unless you regularly cook Asian, Indian or Caribbean dishes, you may not know exactly what creamed coconut is used for, and it may seem like an intimidating option. But in actual fact, it doesn't require any more expertise than using a can of coconut milk and is an extremely versatile ingredient.
Made from mature coconut flesh which has been ground up, dehydrated, and compressed into a block, creamed coconut can come in a pouch, or a pouch within a box. As it's dried out, creamed coconut usually doesn't contain additives, unlike much of the canned stuff.
Perfect for when you need a coconut flavour without liquid, it can be chopped or grated into your recipe, whether that's a stew or a cake mixture! You can also make coconut milk or cream with it too, simply by adding the right amount of hot water.
Fundamentally the same stuff as you'd find in a pouch, creamed coconut in a jar is fresh coconut meat that has been dried out, shredded then ground into a puree. A relatively new option, and not to be confused with coconut oil, it's more sustainable, almost zero-waste, and usually just contains coconut with no added nasties.
One 500 g jar of creamed coconut equals around six 400 g tins of coconut milk, making it not only an environmentally-friendly choice, but a much cheaper one too! Just like a creamed coconut block, it's very versatile and can be added to recipes or used to make coconut milk and cream by adding water.
It can be a little harder to get out of a jar than a pouch, especially in the colder months, and the consistency can become more liquid in the summer. But overall, creamed coconut in a jar is reliable and affordable, if you don't mind a teeny bit of prep.
Some more common additives are polysorbate 60, a synthetic ingredient used as an emulsifier in coconut milk to prevent it from splitting, and carboxy methyl cellulose, a thickening agent which is used to bulk out products.
Food additives are generally only found in canned coconut milk and cream, as creamed coconut (whether in a pouch or jar) has been dehydrated during the production process, avoiding the need for preservatives or additives. However, it is still possible to find canned coconut milk without any of these added ingredients, if you look out for whole food brands.
If buying organic is important to you, or you just want to eat more whole foods, you'll want to choose your coconut milk wisely. As previously mentioned, jars of creamed coconut are often organically produced by ethical brands and are gaining popularity across the internet and in supermarkets.
However, if you're a sucker for the convenience of canned coconut milk, you needn't compromise on quality if you know what to look for. UK based brands, such as Biona, make coconut milk with top-quality, ethically sourced, and organic ingredients for a natural and easy to use option.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eat Wholesome Food Co. Organic Coconut Milk|Pack of 4 | ![]() | An Award-Winning Coconut Milk Without Additives | |
2 | Biona Organic Coconut Milk|Pack of 6 | ![]() | Sustainably Made With High-Quality Organic Coconut | |
3 | Blue Dragon Creamed Coconut | ![]() | A Solid Block That's Handy for Cooking | |
4 | Eat Wholesome Food Co. Organic Light Coconut Milk|Pack of 4 | ![]() | 100% Natural and Certified Organic | |
5 | The Groovy Food Company Organic Creamed Coconut | ![]() | An Adaptable, All-Round Jar of Creamed Coconut | |
6 | Thai Taste Coconut Milk | ![]() | Milk Made From 60% Coconut Extract | |
7 | Essential Waitrose Coconut Cream | ![]() | A Smooth and Creamy Addition to Curries | |
8 | Thai Taste Coconut Milk | ![]() | A Highly Versatile and Authentic Thai Coconut Milk | |
9 | Kingfisher Oriental Coconut Milk | ![]() | Rich, Creamy and Perfect for Thai Dishes | |
10 | Island Sun Coconut Milk | ![]() | A Cheap and Cheerful Cupboard Staple |
Our second Eat Wholesome offering on the list, their "standard" Organic Coconut Milk has made it to our top spot. Another Great Taste winner, this BPA-free can contains just two ingredients - 55% organic coconuts and water.
Perfect for food lovers who do their best to eat clean, this coconut milk can be used in endless ways from traditional curries and stews, to cakes or overnight oats. Why choose a basic can of coconut milk, when you can get the best for the same price or less? Exactly!
Biona makes premium, whole foods and cooking ingredients with wellbeing and sustainability in mind. We love their organic coconut milk, made from 50% pressed coconut kernel, water and — you guessed it — nothing else! It's not only good for you, but downright delicious too.
Winner of the Great Taste Award in 2019, this natural coconut milk is silky and pure with a tropical creaminess that you'll want to add to everything from dahls to smoothies. Overall, it's a tasty choice from a company that really cares about the environment, its workers, and creating ethically sourced foods for everyone to enjoy.
If you prefer your coconut milk in solid form, this Creamed Coconut Block by Blue Dragon is handy to have whilst cooking. Made entirely from fresh coconut, you don't need to worry about additives — just break a piece into a curry for creaminess, or stir into boiling water to make coconut milk.
Creamed coconut can be more cost-effective than canned milk if you use a lot of it, and this block is rich, delicious and versatile. Blue Dragon has really come through with this brilliant block, and it's a pantry must-have for those who love to cook or bake.
Those who have only ever bought coconut milk from supermarket may be unaware of this, but there are some amazing organic offerings online, that are completely free of the usual stabilisers and emulsifiers. In fact, Eat Wholesome have created a top-quality, organic kitchen staple with their Light Coconut Milk that's around the same price as a supermarket can when bought as a pack.
This is a low-fat, but still luxurious, option that's made from 24% organic coconuts, water, and absolutely nothing else. The can is also BPA-free, so no nasty surprises here, just good vibes!
If you regularly add coconut milk or cream to your recipes, you might want to consider investing in a larger container. Luckily, this 500 g jar of organic creamed coconut oil by The Groovy Food Company is a brilliant buy.
Made from 100% natural, organic coconut meat, it's pulverised into a rich creamy paste that's perfect for curries, cakes, shakes, and sauces. Bigger than the serving in a tin, it can be kept in the cupboard — allowing you to add a spoonful here and there!
Thai Taste creates authentic Thai products made from fresh ingredients, and their Coconut Milk pouch is great in both sweet and savoury dishes. Made from 60% real coconut extract, the only other ingredients are water and guar gum, which is not bad as coconut milks go.
If you're tired of canned coconut milk splitting, this pouch is an excellent solution! Plus, the smaller quantity means less goes to waste if you're cooking just for yourself. Made from high-quality coconut, it has a lusciously creamy consistency too.
As "basics" ranges go, Essential Waitrose products are good quality, affordable, and often better than some name-branded items. Their Coconut Cream is a great example of this, and being a 160 ml can, it may be a more convenient choice when cooking for one.
Rich and creamy, it makes a tasty addition to various types of cuisine, and can be useful to have in your pantry. However, alongside the 68% coconut extract, it has various stabilisers and emulsifiers, which seemed pretty unnecessary for this recipe.
Made in Thailand, this Coconut Milk by Thai Taste is great for balancing heat, adding a mild and sweet flavour to Asian dishes. Rich and silky, it works particularly well in a classic Thai green curry.
This coconut milk tastes creamy and smooth, with a high percentage of actual coconut flesh. That said, it also contains some additives, which was a little puzzling considering that the product description claims that it's free from artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives.
Kingfisher has been around for more than 40 years, providing Asian-inspired ingredients in the UK. It's likely that you've already come across their range, but their Rich & Creamy Coconut Milk has to be our favourite Kingfisher pick, bringing an authentic taste to curries, oriental soups, and desserts.
It is the most expensive coconut milk on our list in terms of quantity, and it does contain 70% coconut extract. Although, we were surprised to learn that it also includes two different stabilisers and Polysorbate 60 as an emulsifier - which isn't ideal.
The most budget-friendly option on this list, Island Sun's Coconut Milk makes for a cheap and cheerful addition to your kitchen cupboard. Made in Thailand, this coconut milk is specifically made to be used in traditional Asian and African recipes.
Containing 25% coconut extract, from the grated pulp of mature coconuts, it makes a decent addition to morning porridge or Thai curry. However, it mainly consists of water, stabilisers, and emulsifiers and is therefore, more watery than creamy.
Life just seems to go more smoothly when our kitchen cupboards are fully stocked. With tins of beans, soup, or tomatoes on hand, you can make preparing a quick dinner at the end of a long shift that much easier! If you're a bit of a busy bee (or just love an easy meal) check out our guides to other tasty essentials to fill your cupboards with.
Now that you've got the lowdown on the best coconut milk out there, we're sure you've found yourself the perfect product for your purpose. Whether you decide to go for a can, pouch or jar, it's easy to bring a taste of tropical paradise to your sweet and savoury recipes!
Author: Melanie McPhail
No. 1: Eat Wholesome Food Co.|Organic Coconut Milk|Pack of 4
No. 2: Biona Organic|Coconut Milk|Pack of 6
No. 3: Blue Dragon|Creamed Coconut
No. 4: Eat Wholesome Food Co.|Organic Light Coconut Milk|Pack of 4
No. 5: The Groovy Food Company|Organic Creamed Coconut
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