What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like?

If you’re lactose-intolerant or living the vegan lifestyle, you’re familiar with the fact that there are several non-dairy alternatives to milk. Almond, cashew, soy, macadamia nut, oat, rice, pea – the list goes on and on.

It shouldn’t be surprising that coconut, a fruit filled with a milky liquid, is also used to produce milk. In the event you’ve never tried it, we’ll tell you about coconut milk’s taste and nutritional value.

What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like?

Coconut milk is different from coconut water, the liquid that is already naturally inside coconuts. The milk comes from ground coconut that is mixed with water and then compressed to create a more flavorful drink – just like many nut milks.

This results in a milk that is undeniably sweet with hints of both nuttiness and a perfumed floral taste. In terms of texture, it has a thick, creamy feel that makes especially indulgent. You can drink it straight up by itself or buy it canned to use in recipes such as curry.

Read Also: Where to Buy Coconut Milk and Find it in the Grocery Store

Is Coconut Milk Good or Bad for You?

We’ve established that coconut milk is tasty. What we haven’t yet discussed, however, is whether coconut milk is healthy for you, so let’s dive into that topic.

One thing to be aware of when you drink coconut milk is that it’s extremely high in calories. Those who are trying to lose weight or cut back on their caloric intake for other reasons may want to avoid it entirely or limit their consumption of it.

If you’re afraid this means coconut milk is irredeemably bad for you, rest assured that this isn’t necessarily the case. Coconut milk has been shown to help decrease the size of stomach ulcers and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains small servings of fiber and vitamin c.

Our conclusion? You might not want to guzzle whole cartons of it in one sitting, but there’s nothing wrong with having a single serving of coconut milk here and there – unless you have a coconut allergy.

Did you know you can make butter out of coconuts, too? Here’s where coconut butter is in the grocery store.

Which is Better for You: Coconut Milk or Almond Milk?

Are you trying to decide whether you should add almond or coconut milk to your cart? They’re both popular vegan alternatives to milk, so it’s understandable that you’d be torn. That’s why we’ll quickly look at which one is healthier for you.

If you’re trying to curb your calories, almond milk is the better choice. It has a fraction of the calories you’ll find in coconut milk. On the other hand, if you’re trying to gain weight, coconut milk could be precisely what you’re looking for.

It’s important to note that there are many cartons of coconut milk that exist that are fewer than 100 calories per glass. This is because many producers will strain some of the fats out of the milk to make it less of an indulgence. You can probably find brands in your grocery store that won’t overload you with calories.

Allergic to nuts? Then coconut milk will be safer for you, as coconut allergies are few and far between. It’s unlikely you’re allergic to coconuts, making the milk safe to drink for most people.

What if you’re looking for any way possible to get in your daily protein? Steer clear of coconut milk, then, because it has no protein to speak of naturally. Almond milk has very little protein, but it still has more than coconut milk.

The bottom line is that there are health benefits to either drink. Consider what your caloric needs are, and whether you prefer one flavor over the other when choosing between them.

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Wrap Up

There are so many uses out there for coconut milk. Aside from curry, consider adding this creamy drink to your coffee or using it to deepen the flavor of a sauce. You can even make overnight oats with coconut milk for an easy, hassle-free breakfast.