Your Guide to the Top Coconut Products

Posted by Bonsoy on June 7th, 2021

The coconut tree is one of the most versatile plants in existence and is used to produce everything from food to building materials. Native to the Australian and south east Asian coastlines, the coconut bears cultural and religious significance to many different groups of people across the world.

Coconut trees can grow up to 30m tall and tend to produce between 30 and 75 fruits per year. These delicious, nutritious fruits are used in a wide variety of ways. If you’ve never tried cooking with coconut before or are looking for an easy way to spice up your everyday dishes, consider picking up one of these products next time you are at the supermarket. 

Coconut milk

Coconut milk is made using the white flesh of mature coconuts. The coconut flesh is grated, boiled in water and strained to make the final product. 

Coconut milk is high in both calories and saturated fat. It is typically added to curries to create a rich and creamy texture but can also be used as a substitute for regular cow’s milk.

Coconut water

Organic coconut water is a delicious drink, made very popular of late by celebrities and influencers who tout it’s great taste and low calorie content.

Organic coconut water has a sweet, nutty taste and comes from the clear liquid found in young, green coconuts. From a nutritional standpoint, it is healthier than soft drinks and sugary juices, and many professional sportspeople use it to rehydrate after a long match or training session.

Coconut cream

Coconut cream is made from the same ingredients as coconut milk — coconut and water — it’s just the ratios that differ.

Coconut cream is a thicker product with a higher fat content. If you’re cooking a curry and want to give it a dense, rich texture, opt for coconut cream over coconut milk.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is derived from the flesh of coconuts. Supermarkets generally stock two different kinds of coconut oil products — virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil. Virgin oil has gone through less processing and retains more of a sweet, nutty flavour that you would expect from a coconut product.

Refined coconut oil, on the other hand, has a more natural taste and is often used in cooking recipes.

Coconut oil is also a popular beauty product and is an ingredient in many shampoos, moisturisers, and lip balms.

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is made from coconut meat that has been dried and ground. Originally, coconut flour was manufactured as a by-product of coconut milk, using the leftover flesh that had been boiled and strained.

However, it’s popularity meant that it soon became a product in its own right. Coconut flour contains no gluten and so is a popular alternative for those who are coeliac. However, its high absorption rate means that it’s best to substitute at a 1:4 ratio.

There you have it! As you can tell, the coconut is popular for very good reasons. Whether you’re looking for a healthy alternative to an afternoon soft drink (try organic coconut water!) or are looking to reduce the amount of gluten in your diet (coconut flour is what you are looking for), try a coconut product today.