What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like? (2024)

This is a detailed guide, based on personal experience, to what exactly coconut milk tastes like.

Let us get started!

What Is Coconut Milk?

Coconut milk is made from coconut meat. This silky liquid is as rich as heavy cream and contains about 50 percent water.

There are two versions of coconut milk– thin and thick.

While thin milk is famously used in drinks and soups, thick coconut milk is used in desserts or cuisines.

The thick version of coconut milk is made by boiling freshly grated coconut meat and then straining it through a cheesecloth.

A thin version of coconut milk is prepared by simmering the remaining grated coconut in water and straining it in the cheesecloth again.

Though it’s not actual milk or cream, it is rich and flavorsome.

What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like?

The taste of coconut milk is similar to cow’s milk. Coconut milk is made by simmering shredded coconut. Although the milk tastes similar to cow’s milk, the consistency is different. Coconut milk is thicker than cow’s milk.

Coconut milk is generally used in curries and has a rich, nutty flavor.

Because of the similar taste, it can serve as a dairy replacement in recipes and be used in desserts.

The rich taste of coconut milk is because of the high-fat content of coconut meat, which is mainly in the form of saturated fat. Since the milk is made from the meat of the coconut, the flavor is extremely similar to coconut meat, with a sweet, nutty, and salty taste.

Canned coconut milk has a unique taste. It has a sweet, aromatic flavor that is pretty similar to vanilla.

Coconut Milk And Coconut Cream Are The Same?

Both coconut milk and coconut cream are prepared by boiling the coconut meat with water. The difference is in the consistency and the concentration of coconut meat used.

Essentially they are the same, with coconut cream containing more coconut meat, making it creamier and more concentrated.

Coconut milk’s consistency is very similar to that of cow’s milk.

Although coconut cream is thicker, creamier, and richer, it tastes like coconut meat with a sweet, nutty flavor.

Coconut Water Vs. Coconut Milk

Coconut water is that liquid that is found naturally inside coconuts. Unlike coconut water, milk does not occur naturally. The milk comes from ground-up coconut that is mixed with water and then compressed to make a more flavorful drink. It tastes nutty with a floral aroma.

Coconut milk is about 50% water.

But coconut water is about 94% water and contains far less fat and fewer nutrients than coconut milk.

How Is Coconut Milk Made?

Making coconut milk starts with mechanically drawing out the meat and kernel of mature coconuts. After meat and kernels are extracted, the water is added to the product to thicken it, but it can also stand alone.

There are various types of coconut milk.

The best varieties are thick and cake-batter-like, with a strong coconut flavor.

Those that are thick and creamy have a strong flavor.

Watch easy homemade recipe –

Does Coconut Milk Have Lactose?

No, it does not. If you are lactose-intolerant or live a vegan lifestyle, you must be familiar with other non-dairy substitutes to milk- Almond, cashew, soy, etc., coconut milk is among them.

Since coconut milk is lactose-free, it is perfectly safe for lactose intolerant and suitable for a lactose-free diet. Plus, it also contains no cholesterol.

Does Coconut Milk Go Bad?

Yes, it does. If you do not store it properly, your coconut milk will be spoiled like other dairy products. To check if your coconut milk has gone wrong, firstly smell it. The milk will have a sour smell.

Secondly, the coconut milk will start to curdle and may appear chunky and darker in color as well.

How To Store Coconut Milk?

After you have opened a can of coconut milk, you need to store it in the refrigerator and use it within a week.

The milk needs to be refrigerated once it is opened, and you do not plan to use it within a couple of days. Within the refrigerator, it will last for about a week.

But if your can/carton is unopened, it will last a couple of years without being in the refrigerator, but you need to check the expiry date and ensure they are used before the date passes.

Uses Of Coconut Milk

• Coconut milk is boiled and used just like any other dairy milk.
• If you are a vegan, want to cut down on dairy products, or taste coconut milk, you can use this for dairy milk in tea, coffee, or other beverages as a substitute.
• There are a lot of coconut milk recipes like coconut rice, chicken thighs in coconut curry with cilantro, coconut pancakes, chocolate vegan ice cream, and lots more.
• Make coconut curd.

Watch the recipe of coconut yogurt here –

In The End

I hope this quick guide helped you understand the taste of coconut milk to explore it further.

Please share this with your friends and family and help them know about this wonderful coconut product.