Chef’s Kiss: Supermarket Coconut Milks Tested and Rated

Coconut milk has been a staple of Asian, Oceanian and Caribbean cuisines for thousands of years. It has also been a staple of mine for as long as I’ve been cooking – whether in my grand-mere’s kitchen or on the set of Masterchef.

Most supermarket coconut milks are manufactured in Southeast Asia (mainly Thailand), but this road test of the leading brands showed how big the swings in quality and price can be in the category.

To keep things consistent, I shook each can to ensure the fat and liquid hadn’t separated. After the initial taste test, I made a massive batch of Mauritian butter bean curry, divided it into eight, and finished each with 250 mils of coconut milk.

In Mauritius, this curry traditionally doesn’t call for coconut milk, but I add it for two reasons. First, I love Southeast Asian flavours. Second, because this curry is tomato-based with warm Indian spices, quality coconut milk takes it to another level, adding body, creaminess and nuttiness. A lesser milk does the opposite: the tomato and spices overpower it and – if it’s really sub-par – it can taste metallic or grassy.

My preferred product has always been Malaysian brand Ayam, and this test confirmed why. It’s creamy without being too thick and has a clean flavour with no unpleasant aftertaste. In the curry, it just worked, bringing everything together while letting the other flavours shine.

A close second was Kara, followed by TCC. Trident is a brand I usually love (their sweet chilli sauce is iconic), but their coconut milk didn’t live up to expectations. Pandaroo was a strange one – I’m sensitive to artificial coconut essence, and Pandaroo had that in spades.

Of the home brands, Aldi stood out and is the only one I would actually use. Coles and Woolies reminded me more of a nut milk, and felt a little watered down. And while many brands use gums and stabilisers, you could really tell with these – the mouthfeel wasn’t as creamy and had more of a gel consistency. Finally, the Woolies product was the only one that required a can opener. If this was a can opener test – mine would fail in a heartbeat! 

Ayam 100 per cent natural coconut milk

Sample price: $5 (400ml) from Woolworths
Ingredients: Coconut kernel extract (89 per cent), water
Product of Malaysia

First taste

Appearance: Off-white with a slight grey tint. Looks creamy and well-emulsified. Thick but still pourable, with a consistency that lightly coats the spoon. No visible separation.
Aroma: Fragrant and inviting. Nutty with a soft natural sweetness. Smells clean and not overly processed. Almost dessert-like.
Taste: Mildly sweet with a soft, rounded coconut flavour. Not overly intense. There’s a pleasant nutty, slightly earthy note on the finish that adds depth. No harsh or artificial aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy with a balanced viscosity – not too thick, not too thin.

Overall: Very well balanced. Creamy without being heavy, and flavourful without overpowering. Feels natural and easy to work with.

In curry

Integration: Blended seamlessly into the curry without splitting.
Body: Adds a nice level of body and creaminess while still keeping the sauce fluid.
Flavour: Well-rounded. Gentle sweetness and nuttiness. Complements the spices rather than masking them.
Balance: Slightly on the richer side but still very pleasant. Ayam enhances rather than dominates.
Finish: Clean and cohesive. Leaves a soft, creamy coconut note without lingering heaviness.

Final verdict: A reliable, well-balanced coconut milk that works across the board – creamy, natural and easy to cook with. 4.5/5

Kara coconut milk

Sample price: $4.50 (400ml) from Woolworths
Ingredients: Coconut milk, stabiliser (466), thickener (415), emulsifier (435) 
Product of Indonesia

First taste

Appearance: Off-white and visibly creamy. Larger bubbles formed at the top after shaking suggest higher fat content. Coats the spoon like pouring cream.
Aroma: Raw and natural. More earthy and grassy than sweet.
Taste: Strong coconut flavour. Rich and slightly fatty, with a natural profile. Slightly dominant.
Texture: Thick and creamy with a lingering mouthfeel.

Overall: Bold and full-bodied. Feels closer to fresh coconut milk.

In curry

Integration: Blends well without splitting.
Body: Adds significant richness and body to the sauce.
Flavour: Lifts the curry with a natural coconut flavour, though there is a subtle grassy note.
Balance: Generally well-balanced, though slightly on the richer side.
Finish: Lingering and full. Leaves a strong coconut presence.

Final verdict: Rich and full-bodied with a natural flavour – great for dishes where you want the coconut flavour to stand out. 4/5

TCC coconut milk

Sample price: $3.20 (400ml) at Woolworths 
Ingredients: Coconut extract (53 per cent), water
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Pale white to light grey. Bubbly on top after shaking. Looks thin and doesn’t coat the spoon like pouring cream.
Aroma: Slightly grassy with mild nutty undertones. Less coconut-forward.
Taste: Strong initial impact. Slight coconut flavour but overshadowed by a pronounced earthy, slightly metallic aftertaste.
Texture: Appears watery but feels heavier and more coating on the palate. The texture also lingered a little in an unpleasant way.

Overall: A bit unbalanced. It’s visually light, but the flavour and texture feel heavier than expected.

In curry

Integration: Blends well without splitting.
Body: Adds noticeable body and clings to the sauce.
Flavour: Much more pleasant when cooked. Coconut flavour becomes softer and integrates well with the curry. No obvious metallic notes once combined.
Balance: Well-balanced when cooked. It’s not too rich or too light.
Finish: Smooth and cohesive, elevates the curry overall.

Final verdict: Not great on its own (raw), but TCC performed surprisingly when cooked, adding body and depth to the curry. 3.5/5

Trident coconut milk 

Sample price: $2.80 (400ml) from IGA
Ingredients: coconut extract (60 per cent), water, stabiliser (466) 
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Bright white with a creamy look.
Aroma: Sweet and pleasant, slightly dessert-like. Reminiscent of coconut flesh.
Taste: Mild and slightly sweet. Coconut flavour is quite subtle. No dominant grassy or metallic flavours.
Texture: Smooth with a moderate body. This one has a clean, short finish with no strong aftertaste. 

Overall: Easy and approachable, but not particularly distinctive.

In curry

Integration: Blends well without splitting.
Body: Adds a nice creamy texture.
Flavour: Becomes more nutty and slightly overpowering in the curry. The coconut flavour tends to dominate rather than integrate.
Balance: Slightly too rich and forward.
Finish: Lingers more than expected.

Final verdict: Pleasant on its own, but the coconut flavour can overpower dishes. Better suited to simpler or milder recipes. 3.5/5

Aldi Asia Specialties coconut milk

Sample price: $1.69 (400ml) at Aldi
Ingredients: Coconut kernel extract (75 per cent), water, stabiliser (412, 466)   
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Bright white and slightly creamy. Looks full but not overly thick.
Aroma: Fresh and clean. Reminiscent of young coconut.
Taste: Lightly sweet and fresh. Lacks deeper nuttiness or richness.
Texture: Smooth and slightly velvety.

Overall: Clean and fresh, but on the lighter side.

In curry

Integration: Blends well, though small specks of coconut are visible.
Body: Slightly thin – it doesn’t add much weight to the sauce.
Flavour: Mild and subtle. Coconut sits in the background while other flavours take the lead.
Balance: Slightly too light, but still supportive.
Finish: Clean and short.

Final verdict: Fresh and light in style, but lacks richness. Better suited to lighter dishes. 3/5

Pandaroo coconut milk

Sample price: $2.25 (400ml) at Woolworths 
Ingredients: Coconut extract (45 per cent), water, emulsifier (435), stabiliser (466)
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Bright white and quite thin. Slightly foamy after shaking. It doesn’t cling to the spoon.
Aroma: Sweet and fragrant, leaning slightly towards vanilla and dessert-like notes. There is a slightly artificial coconut aroma.
Taste: Very mild coconut flavour. Slightly artificial with a faint metallic edge. Reminiscent of a diluted nut milk. 
Texture: Thin, watery and not very creamy.

Overall: Light and diluted with a slightly processed flavour profile.

In curry

Integration: Blends well and does not split.
Body: Adds minimal body; curry remains quite thin.
Flavour: Coconut flavour comes through in a slightly artificial way, hitting first before the spices follow. Feels disconnected rather than integrated.
Balance: Light in texture but the flavour feels sharp and slightly synthetic. Doesn’t support the dish well.
Finish: Short and not particularly clean or moreish.

Final verdict: Thin and slightly artificial. Lacks body and doesn’t bring much to the dish. 2.5/5

Coles coconut milk

Sample price: $1.70 (400ml) at Coles 
Ingredients: Coconut milk (50 per cent), water, stabiliser (guar gum)
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Off-white and slightly thick. Clings to the spoon.
Aroma: Lightly sweet with an almond-like note. Fresh and fragrant.
Taste: Mild and delicate with a slight almond-like nuttiness. Not overly coconut-forward.
Texture: Slightly thick with a faintly gummy mouthfeel.
Overall: Gentle and subtle, but not very coconut-driven.

In curry

Integration: Blends well and does not split.
Body: Thin and slightly gummy. Missing true creaminess.
Flavour: Very mild. Coconut flavour sits behind the tomato and spices.
Balance: Too light and slightly artificial in texture.
Finish: A mild coconut taste that drops off quickly.

Final verdict: Mild, but doesn’t deliver on coconut flavour or the creaminess you would expect from coconut milk. 2.5/5

Woolworths Essentials coconut milk

Sample price: $1.70 (400ml) at Woolworths 
Ingredients: coconut extract (50 per cent), water, thickener (guar gum)
Product of Thailand

First taste

Appearance: Milky-white with a thick, uniform look. No bubbles. Appears stabilised, almost artificially thickened.
Aroma: Light, fresh and slightly sweet – similar to young coconut.
Taste: Very mild flavour. Texture dominates; slightly gummy and artificial-feeling. Coconut flavour is faint.
Texture: Gummy and slightly slimy rather than creamy.

Overall: Feels processed, with texture being the main drawback.

In curry

Integration: Blends well and does not split.
Body: Adds very little body. The curry remains thin with a slightly odd, gummy consistency.
Flavour: Coconut flavour is barely noticeable. Tomato and spices dominate.
Balance: Underwhelming – lacks richness and presence.
Finish: Flat with little coconut character.

Final verdict: Light and processed. Lacks flavour and has an unnatural texture. 2/5

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