Every time a coconut! When it comes to bulk wholesale ingredients, there is hardly a product that is more versatile than the humble coconut. Coconut milk benefits like its nutritional density make it an increasingly popular option for health-conscious consumers. What’s not to like?
Plus, almost every part of the coconut can be used and produce little to no waste, making it one of the most sustainable products on the market. Any supplier worth their salt would be wise to consider the commercial benefits of stocking coconut products — especially coconut milk.
Coconut milk’s versatility in a range of food products
Coconut milk is the creamy, nutty liquid extracted from the flesh of mature coconuts. It’s a highly versatile ingredient that is commonly used in a variety of culinary applications both sweet and savory. Coconut milk has been a staple in South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines, where it has served as the key ingredient in curries, soups, rice dishes, and desserts for centuries.
Dairy alternatives
In more contemporary cuisines, coconut milk has been used to create a wide range of alternative dairy products. For instance, Barista Underground is a wholesale supplier of milk alternatives designed specifically for use in coffee. Wholesale food manufacturer Danone’s So Delicious Dairy Free range produces milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream made from coconut milk.
Sauces and condiments
Coconut milk is a common ingredient in a wide variety of sauces and condiments, especially in Asian cuisine. Here are some of how coconut milk is used in fresh and ready-to-eat condiments and sauces:
- Curry sauces: Coconut milk is a key ingredient in many Thai, South Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Vietnamese curries, providing a creamy and slightly sweet base to offset the spices and aromatics that flavor these meals
- Stir-fry sauces: Coconut milk can be combined with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili paste to create a creamy and flavorful sauce for stir-fries
- Dipping sauces: Mix coconut milk with flavorsome ingredients like lime juice, soy sauce, peanut butter, and honey to create a delicious dipping sauce with a velvety texture
- Marinades: Meat, seafood, and tofu can be marinated in coconut milk to be tenderized and flavored, especially when the marinade also includes ingredients like lime juice, honey, soy sauce, or chili paste
- Salad dressings: Coconut milk is a great alternative to traditional dressings. Combined with sharper ingredients like lime juice, ginger, chili, and coriander, it can make for an extremely creamy and flavorful dressing
Bakery and snack products
The coconut is a champion ingredient of desserts and snacks. Not only can coconut milk be used as a dairy alternative in many cakes and muffins, but coconut oil, coconut sweetener, coconut cream, and desiccated coconut are popular ingredients in a wide variety of cookies and sweet treats.
- Desserts: Coconut is a popular ingredient in many desserts, imparting a subtly sweet and slightly tropical flavor. Coconut often features in pies, cakes, and cookies. Coconut milk, coconut cream, and desiccated coconut are all common ingredients in many desserts
- Snacks: Coconut oil, coconut flakes, and desiccated coconut can be used to make a variety of shelf-stable snacks such as granola bars, date balls, and trail mix
- Gluten-free baked goods: Coconut flour is a natural grain and gluten-free flour produced from dried coconut meat. It is high in fiber and protein and is low-glycemic, making it an ideal flour replacement for consumers with gluten intolerances or allergies. Coconut flour is the natural by-product of coconut milk production, making it a highly sustainable product
Beverages
We’ve already spoken about how coconut milk is used as a dairy alternative in specialty coffees, but coconut products can be used in the production of other beverages, too.
Coconut water is a refreshing, electrolyte-rich drink all on its own, making it ideal for post-exercise hydration in place of sugary sports drinks. However, just like coconut milk, coconut water can also be used as a nutrient-rich base for smoothies, providing natural sweetness and a vitamin boost.
If you like piña coladas, then you’ll also know that coconut milk and coconut water have applications in cocktails and mocktails. Combined with fruit juices, herbs, and spirits, coconut can create a refreshing tropical drink good enough to spawn a chart-topping 1979 hit.
Oh, and did you know that coconut water has an essential role in the hair, skin, and even textile industries? We weren’t lying when we said it was a versatile ingredient with bulk applications.
Coconut milk benefits: emerging trends in the food and wellness industries
Because of its incredible versatility, nutritional density, and inherent sustainability, coconut milk, and other coconut products are hot commodities in the food and wellness industries. Coconut has been a key ingredient in many food products for a long time, but contemporary shifts in consumer preferences for eco-friendly and health-conscious food products have skyrocketed demand across market segments. That’s good news for an importer of bulk wholesale goods. Here are some of the trends driving demand for coconut products.
Coconut milk is a health-conscious choice
Coconut milk is naturally lactose-free, which makes it an ideal alternative for consumers with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies. Other coconut products, like coconut aminos and coconut flour, are also allergy-friendly options because they are free from soy and wheat.
Additionally, coconut milk is naturally lower in certain fats and sugars than cow’s milk, which makes it a good option for health-conscious consumers trying to reduce carbohydrates and fats in their diet.
If that weren’t convincing enough, coconut milk also packs a nutritional punch. It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a type of healthy fat that can promote weight loss, improve cholesterol levels, and provide a quick source of energy — making it a good option for active consumers who are trying to avoid sugary, dairy-based energy drinks and snacks. Finally, coconut milk is also a great source of vitamin C, folate, and electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Coconut products unleash the power of plant-based
As consumers increasingly favor plant-based diets that are more sustainable and ethical, demand for meat and dairy alternatives continues to climb. There are plenty of such alternatives on the market, but none quite measure up to the versatility of the humble coconut.
If this article has proven anything so far, it’s that every part of the coconut can be used in a multitude of applications. Coconut milk and coconut cream provide accessible and nutritious replacements for dairy products, but the coconut also provides us with:
- Coconut butter, which is creamed coconut meat that can be constituted into coconut milk or cream or added to curries and soups for a luxurious texture
- Coconut oil, a white solid fat that liquefies at warm temperatures, is a popular alternative to dairy-based butter or plant-based oils used in cooking. Coconut oil also has popular applications in hair and skin care
Almost every part of the coconut also fits into the clean label trend, which explains why it’s such a popular product with eco-conscious consumers. Clean labeling refers to the practice of using simple and recognizable ingredients on food labels. Clean labels appeal to consumers who prefer natural products that are free from artificial ingredients, allergens, GMOs, and minimally processed food, and easy-to-read labels that are free from incomprehensible jargon, codes, and E-numbers.
Going nuts for coconuts? Contact Ingredient Brothers
Wondering how to get your hands on bulk coconut ingredients? You’re in exactly the right place. Whether you’re hungry for more information, or a quote, or you would like a sample of our high-quality ingredients, we’d love to hear from you — so get in touch!
You can also browse a wide selection of specialty raw ingredients ranging from coconut products and plant-based proteins to sweeteners and additives. Looking for organic, halal, kosher, and vegan subcategories? We’ve got you covered there, too.