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If you’ve ever stood in the grocery aisle staring at rows of coconut milk, you know the struggle. Canned, lite, carton, sweetened, plus ingredient lists that don’t always match the healthy-looking label on the front.
So I gathered friends for a blind taste test of 34 canned and carton brands, scored every one, and narrowed it down to the best coconut milk brands for smoothies, coffee, cooking, and sipping. No more guessing (or wasting money).
Want even more non-dairy milk alternatives? Check out my Almond Milk Brand Guide and Oat Milk Brand Guide to learn what to look for while shopping.
Table of contents
Rating System for Coconut Milk Brands
To keep it fair, we only tested unsweetened, original versions (no added sugar, flavors, or blends) and scored each one on three things:
- Ingredients: Short, simple lists scored highest, with bonus points for organic. Fewer gums (or organic gums) beat long lists of additives.
- Flavor: Rich and true to real coconut, not watery or artificial.
- Texture: Smooth and creamy, never thin or gritty, so it works in smoothies, coffee, and curries.
Best Coconut Milk for Smoothies
Coconut milk makes smoothies creamy and naturally sweet without overpowering the fruit (try my Coconut Milk Smoothie and Piña Colada Smoothie). Light versions blend smooth for everyday use, while a spoonful of full-fat canned adds extra richness.
Silk Unsweet Coconut Milk
A solid everyday option that’s smooth, low-calorie, fortified with vitamins, and easy to find at most stores.
40 calories, 4g fat (1 cup) | $4.49
365 Organic Light Coconut Milk
Subtle flavor, smooth texture, and a great price for organic. It blends right in without overpowering your fruit.
60 calories, 5g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.09
Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Lite Coconut Milk
My top smoothie pick. Clean ingredients, no guar gum, and 60% less fat and calories than regular, with a velvety texture in an easy-pour, resealable BPA-free carton.
50 calories, 5g fat (1/3 cup) | $5.38
Best Coconut Milk for Coffee
Coconut milk makes a creamy dairy-free coffee creamer and a delicious base for Golden Milk or a Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Full-fat canned versions pour the smoothest. Barista blends froth best, but they all have added sugar, so they didn’t make this list.
Native Forest Unsweetened Organic Coconut Milk Classic
Additive-free, rich, and creamy, and it stays smooth even at room temp. Great value too. Shake the can before opening for the silkiest pour.
140 calories, 14g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.79
Field Day Organic Classic Coconut Milk Unsweetened
Rich flavor, smooth texture, and simple organic ingredients at one of the lowest prices we found.
140 calories, 14g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.29
Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Milk
The highest score in our entire test. Just coconut and water, with an insanely silky texture and clean flavor that works in everything from coffee to curry.
120 calories, 12g fat (1/3 cup) | $5.38
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Best Coconut Milk for Cooking
For my potato curry and Thai coconut soup, full-fat canned coconut milk wins every time. It’s thick and rich enough to carry bold coconut flavor, while cartons are too thin for most recipes. These three shine in the kitchen:
Good & Gather Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk
What’s better than snagging a new top and coconut milk on the same Target run? Simple ingredients (organic coconut, water, and guar gum), a light flavor, and a creamy texture.
120 calories, 13g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.19
Thai Kitchen Organic Coconut Milk Unsweetened
A versatile, budget-friendly staple with a creamy texture and rich flavor. Heads up: cans often arrive dented from Amazon, so you may need to request a refund now and then.
120 calories, 12g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.16
Thrive Market Organic Coconut Milk Regular
My top pick for cooking. Perfectly creamy with amazing flavor that takes curries and soups up a notch, and it’s regeneratively grown.
100 calories, 10g fat (1/4 cup) | $2.99
Best Coconut Milk to Drink
For sipping or pouring over granola, stick with homemade coconut milk or a light store-bought version. They’re smoother, lighter, and easier on the tummy. Cartons are handy to keep in the fridge, while cans usually have simpler ingredients. My top two:
Silk Unsweet Coconut Milk
Smooth, low-calorie, fortified, and easy to find. It’s not as rich or clean as the Sprouts can below, but the carton is super convenient for the fridge.
40 calories, 4g fat (1 cup) | $4.49
Sprouts Organic Lite Coconut Milk
My top pick for sipping solo. Real coconut flavor, minimal gums, and a lighter formula that’s easy on the tummy.
50 calories, 3.5g fat (1/3 cup) | $2.49
Common Questions
Lite coconut milk is basically full-fat coconut milk thinned with water, so it has less fat, fewer calories, a thinner texture, and a milder flavor. Full-fat is rich and creamy for recipes that need bold coconut flavor. I usually buy full-fat and dilute it myself so I control the consistency and get more for my money.
Thai Kitchen 2 Simple Ingredients Unsweetened Coconut Milk is my all-around favorite and scored highest in our test. Clean ingredients, rich flavor, and easy to find online or in most grocery stores, so it’s always stocked in my pantry.
They can be the same, but in my testing, canned coconut milk usually had fewer ingredients (often just coconut and water), making it best for cooking. Cartons are thinner and often have added vitamins, minerals, and stabilizers for drinking. Always check the label.
Some people find full-fat canned coconut milk feels heavy in larger amounts, and the gums in some cartons can leave you bloated. If that’s you, start with a smaller pour, try a light or gum-free option, and see how you feel.
Opened carton coconut milk lasts about 7–10 days in the fridge. Move leftover canned coconut milk to a sealed container and use it within 4–7 days, or freeze it in ice cube trays or small jars for up to 3 months.
Many brands add extra ingredients, so check labels for the simplest options.
– Calcium: Added to compete with dairy. Calcium carbonate is a better pick than tricalcium phosphate.
– Sunflower lecithin: An emulsifier that’s fine but unnecessary.
– Sulfites: Used in some canned brands and best skipped.
– Gums: Added for texture. Locust bean and guar are the more natural options, while xanthan is highly processed and gellan has mixed research.
Yes! Canned coconut milk makes smoothies extra rich and creamy. Since it’s thick and higher in fat, I add a few spoonfuls along with water or a light carton coconut milk instead of a full cup. Shake the can well first, since the cream separates. Try it in my Pina Colada Smoothie.
Coconut cream is the thick, rich layer that rises to the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk, and it’s also sold on its own with less water. Coconut milk is thinner and pourable, while coconut cream is best for whipping, desserts and extra-rich curries.
Did your favorite brand not make the list? Tell me in the comments! I tested 34 brands from grocery stores and online retailers, and I’d love to try the ones I missed.
Coco Soul Organic Coconut Milk is one of my favorites. It has guar gum and xanthan gum, so maybe that’s why it didn’t make the list, but it tastes so good to me that I can even drink it straight. I also feel reassured that they source their coconuts from Vietnam and not Thailand because most of the labor for coconuts in Thailand are from monkeys, which I feel is so wrong and should have a warning in lists, because it’s a criteria that I definitely look out for. Those monkeys are abused and mistreated. The only brand from Thailand that can be trusted is Native Forest, so I was happy to see them on this list.
Thank you for taking the time to share that info, Susie.
I have Blue Diamond Almond Breeze in my fridge. I believe it’s sweetened. It’s creamy and has a chocolate milk taste to it. It’s tasty and I use it in smoothies as well as straight from the carton to drink. I buy it cold. Thank you for your reviews.
You’re so welcome, Lisa! Glad you enjoyed them!
Thanks for the article on the different coconut milks available and your well-explained rating system. I do believe there is another alternative not mentioned, pure coconut milk! I find frozen coconut milk in my local Asian market. Straight from the coconut with no gums, sulfites or any other additives.
Hi,
Thank you for doing this! It’s very helpful. What ratio of milk to water do you use when you dilute your full fat coconut milk to lite?
Hi Crystal! You can try a 1:1 ratio. If that’s not working for you, you can adjust according to your own preferences!
I wanted to nake a coconut beverage and add boba to it, so I’m looking for a coconut milk that is good to drink straight.
Hi Araxi! You’ve come to the right place, this is a great blog post to learn about different brands of coconut milk!