Coconut milk vs. coconut cream vs. coconut water

by Nicole Weston, Posted May 6th 2006 @ 7:01AM

When you hear the phrase "coconut milk," the image that might stick in your mind is the juice that is found inside the center of a coconut. At least, that is what most people assume that it is. Actually, the liquid endosperm inside a young coconut is known as coconut water. It is fat free and low in calories, but is a good source of potassium and other nutrients.

Coconut milk is made by pureeing a mixture of coconut meat and water, then straining it to remove some of the fat. A second straining will yield a lower fat coconut milk. Coconut cream is made in the same way as coconut milk, but it is made with a higher ratio of coconut to water. Sometimes, coconut cream will form on the top of canned coconut milk. The two are pretty much interchangeable in recipes, though they have slightly different consistencies. For the curious, some other drinks, such as almond milk, are made in the same way.

Cream of coconut is not the same as coconut cream. It is the creamy liquid often added to pina coladas (and various other drinks and dishes). Though it starts out as coconut cream, sugars and stabilizers are added to give it an especially creamy consistency and to make it more palate-pleasing in drinks and desserts.

Filed Under: Did you know?, Ingredients
Tags: asian, coconut, coconut cream, coconut milk, coconut water, CoconutWater, cream of coconut, did you know, fruit, fruits, juice, milk, nut, nuts, seeds, vegetarian

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-06-2006 @9:43AM Gail Reilly said... I've been drinking Zico Coconut Water, instead of Gatorade, for a while now. The passionfruit and orange peel flavor is my favorite, but they are all pretty tasty, and thirst-quenching.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CN5KOG/qid=1146922898/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-6636086-3708760?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=3760901
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5-06-2006 @11:48AM Bestvnteas said... Your clarification is quite helpful!

I was told that coconut contains lots of fat and cholesterol. I'm supposed they are in the coconut meat which is used to make coconut milk. Coconut in one form or enother is very popular in Thai cooking.

I do sometimes use coconut flakes in baking cookies. My grandmother used to make coconut candy from coconut meat. It's particularly popular during New Year, the biggest holidays in our country.

http://www.cookies-in-motion.com
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