What is it? Where does it come from? Its rise to Popularity

Have you heard about coconut milk powder? Coconut milk powder is made from dried coconut meat. To put it simply, it’s evaporated coconut milk. 

Unlike traditional coconut milk, coconut milk powder typically comes in a resealable bag, or sometimes a can, and looks like a fine, white powder. Similar to how you can use regular evaporated milk in place of regular milk for certain recipes, Coconut milk powder is a lighter weight and more shelf-stable way to enjoy coconut milk. 

Coconut milk powder is not the same as coconut flour. Coconut flour is a grain-free alternative to flour that removes most of the liquids and fats of coconut meat and mills it into a fine flour that can be used in breads and other baked goods, whereas coconut milk powder is dehydrated coconut milk, fats and all.

Coconuts, which come from a specific type of palm tree, are often considered of the most useful trees of the world. Coconuts have allegedly been used by humans for thousands of years. The unique fruit can provide fuel, food, cosmetics, folk medicine, and many other practical uses. You can use the hard shells of coconuts to make home decor products, the water or juice to hydrate and replenish electrolytes, or make oil and milk as commonly seen in your local store.

The market for coconut-based products is expected to generate a value of over $30 billion by 2026, compared to over $11 billion in 2018. That’s quite a lovely bunch of coconuts!

Nowadays, you can find many coconut-based products at your local grocery store due to the rise in popularity of coconut-based items, but that wasn’t always the case.

It’s no wonder coconuts have become more popular. Unlike other fruits that are high in carbs, coconuts are high in healthy fats, plus several important minerals that your body requires in order to function, including manganese, which helps support bone health, copper, iron, and selenium. Consuming coconut products may also help improve cholesterol levels and decrease belly fat, according to various studies.

Coconut Milk Powder Production Process

Coconut Milk Powder is made by spray drying mature coconut meat, often by using an emulsifier to help turn the spray dried coconut meat into the fine white powder. It’s important to note that some manufacturers use a dairy-based emulsifier, so always check the ingredients if you are following a strict dairy-free or vegan diet.

Coconut Milk Powder Uses

Coconut Milk Powder has a lot of uses! Unlike the canned alternative, it takes up very little space in your pantry while still being something you’ll grab more often than you might think. 

Here are a few ways you can put coconut milk powder to use in your home:

Make a creamy curry using coconut milk powder in place of heavy cream or canned coconut milk.

Add to a DIY homemade hot chocolate mix to add a natural and nutritional sweetener.

Bring it on camping trips as a shelf stable and portable alternative to traditional dairy-based creamers.

Blend it into your smoothie to add a nutty and delicious taste.

Enjoy instant paleo golden milk with coconut milk powder, ground turmeric, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.

Use in place of canned coconut milk when making a tropical pina colada!

Store a bag in the desk drawer of your office anytime you need some creamer but can’t get to the office fridge. 

Make your own vegan friendly instant chai latte mix with powdered coconut milk, sugar, unsweetened black iced tea, powdered vanilla or instant vegan vanilla pudding, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, nutmegs, and white pepper.

Use coconut milk powder as a base in any sauce that calls for canned or store bought coconut milk.

Sprinkle it into your yogurt and add fruits and granola for a delicious and tropical parfait!

When it comes down to it, you can use coconut milk powder any time a recipe calls for coconut milk. There are also a few ways to use coconut milk powder as part of our natural skincare routine...but we’ll get into that later.

How to consume it?

How you consume coconut milk powder depends on how you’re using it.

If you’re wondering how to make coconut milk from coconut milk powder, it’s as easy as adding water.  You can use as little or as much water as you would like to your desired thickness, depending on what you’re making. For example, you will want to use less water when using coconut milk powder to make a curry dish, but you will likely need more water when making a hot and creamy drink.

Sometimes, you don’t even need to add water to use coconut milk powder. You can sprinkle some of the dry powder in smoothies, on top of yogurt, or whisk it into a sweet glaze for baked goods such as cakes or doughnuts. When using it as a creamer in coffee or tea, you just have to pour in a few tablespoons based on your desired taste and stir until combined.

In coffee?

Yes, you can use coconut milk powder in your coffee as a way to enjoy a creamy taste without any dairy!

If you’re looking for a lactose-free creamer for coffee, lattes, or tea, coconut milk powder is a great option for you. Most coconut milk powders have no added sugars, but the natural sweetness of coconut meat makes a nice addition to your coffee.

Simply scoop a few tablespoons into your warm drink of choice based on your desired creaminess and stir until combined. 

Since it’s shelf-stable, coconut milk powder is a great alternative to traditional creamers when you’re traveling, when you don’t have access to a fridge, or when you’re heading anywhere that may not have dairy-free creamer options readily available. It’s much easier to add to coffee than canned coconut milk since you only need to use a tablespoon or two at a time!

Coconut Milk Powder Ice Cream

If you’re following a vegan or dairy-free diet, or simply have sensitivities to dairy, coconut milk powder ice cream is a way to enjoy your favorite sweet treat without all of the dairy.

You can find plenty of recipes online, but most of them require you to blend coconut milk powder with coconut milk, some kind of sweetener, and some vanilla. You can always mix in other goodies such as chocolate chips or sprinkles too! While many recipes require an ice cream maker, some just need a blender and access to a freezer. 

Not all recipes will explicitly list coconut milk powder as an ingredient. For example, this chocolate coconut milk ice cream recipe uses a full-fat coconut milk as the base ingredient, plus cocoa powder, honey (or maple syrup) and vanilla extract. You can use coconut milk powder to make the same amount of coconut milk required for this recipe by following the instructions on your coconut milk powder packaging.

Is Coconut Powder Keto?

Coconut is a common food in many keto diets, which focus on high fat and low carb foods. Coconut is naturally high in fats and low in carbs, so coconut milk powder is typically considered keto as long as there are no added sugars.

Some coconut milk powders sneak in added sugars that may not comply with your keto lifestyle. We recommend checking the nutrition facts of a coconut milk powder brand prior to purchasing to ensure it’s compatible with your keto diet. 

Raw Coconut Milk Powder

Not all coconut milk powders are raw. 

Raw coconut milk powders extract the raw material from coconuts, micro encapsulating the properties of the ingredients in their own fiber to maintain great natural taste and benefits. 

Non-raw coconut milk powders may use additional ingredients to turn the coconut meat into powder. 

If you want a coconut milk powder that contains no added ingredients in order to keep it shelf-stable, always make sure the packaging mentions that it is raw.

Vegan Coconut Milk Powder

At first glance, it’s easy to assume that all coconut milk powders are vegan. Unfortunately, that’s not true. 

Some brands will use a milk or casein based ingredient in order to turn the dehydrated coconut meat into the fine powder you see on the shelf at your local grocery store. It’s always best to make sure a coconut milk powder is labeled vegan prior to purchasing.

Coconut Milk Powder for Skin

Coconuts are a very versatile fruit. From shredded coconuts in a dessert, to coconut milk powder mixed into your coffee, there are so many ways to make use of this natural superfood.

Believe it or not, you can even use coconut milk powder as a natural ingredient in your skincare routine! Surprised? Just think about all of the times you have read about using coconut oil in your hair or on your skin. 

You can reap the benefits of this fatty fruit in coconut milk powder form, too. Here are a few ways:

Use coconut milk powder to make coconut milk by adding water, then combine it with olive oil to remove makeup with a cotton pad.

Do an at-home spa treatment by combining coconut milk powder and a few other ingredients to make a gentle and natural face mask that leaves your skin feeling fresh and smelling good!

Take a relaxing and deliciously fragrant milk bath by combining coconut milk powder, herbs, and other scents.

Mix coconut milk powder with natural clay, brown sugar, and your favorite skin-safe essential oil to make a DIY face cleanser that can also be used as a mask once a week.

How Long Does Coconut Milk Powder Last?

Coconut milk powder tends to last longer than regular coconut milk since it is a dry and shelf-stable product. It has been known to last for up to two years after the purchase date.We recommend checking the label of your coconut milk powder to find the manufacturer’s “best by” date. 

If you want your coconut milk powder to last long and maintain its delicious flavor, follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Most brands recommend you store your coconut milk powder in a cool, dry place and keep sealed as tightly as possible for maximum freshness.

If you squeeze the bag or package regularly, it can help to prevent the caking and clumping that typically occurs with naturally made coconut milk powders.

The Best Coconut Milk Powder Mix on the Market?

Not all coconut milk powders are created equal. Essenzefruits’ Pure Organic Coconut Milk Powder is the best mix on the market in our humble opinion!

Made from natural coconut fibers and produced in organic facilities, Essenzefruits uses its patented Cool Dry System™ to preserve and dehydrate its organic powders without any harmful additives or additional ingredients. This means that the only ingredient in its Pure Organic Coconut Milk Powder is the powder from coconuts - that’s it!

Essenzefruits’ Coconut Milk Powder is USDA certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, plant-based, and packaged in a BPA-free resealable bag. There is no sugar added to this coconut milk powder, making it friendly to many different lifestyles including keto and paleo diets. 

Just like coconuts, Essenzefruits’ Coconut Milk Powder is a superfood containing many natural fibers and nutrients, including those very important prebiotic fibers that can be hard to get from other foods in your diet.

It can be served hot or cold! To enjoy, Essenzefruits recommends taking 2-3 level tablespoons of its coconut milk powder and adding it to 3oz of water in a blender. If you want a thicker texture, you can add ice or your favorite fruits to make a healthy shake. You can also sprinkle it directly onto yogurt, or mix 2-3 level tablespoons, or more depending on our desired taste, to your coffee, latte, or tea.

Essenzefruits believes that health is a human right, which is why they aim to popularize the global consumption (and enjoyment!) of clean label, plant-based superfoods. Essenzefruits unlocks the power of nature in all of their products, making them more accessible by providing shelf stable alternatives to the most popular superfood items found on the market.

Grab a bag of Essenzefruits' Organic Coconut Milk Powder today and start reaping the benefits.