How to Tell The Difference Between Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream and Coconut Water

There is a lot of confusion out there about the difference between coconut water, milk and cream. Coconut water is the liquid that comes straight out of a cracked, green, coconut. Coconut milk is a thick liquid made by extracting in the fat from grated coconut meat. Coconut cream is the almost solid cream that you obtain by standing coconut milk overnight and letting the cream rise to the top. It is often already separated in a can of coconut milk.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your eyes
• A can or bottle of the liquid in question

1. Take a look at the liquid:
   If it is clear and has the consistency of water than it is coconut water and is good to drink as a healthy beverage and is 99% fat free.

2. If the liquid is white and has the consistency of thick, cows, milk then it is coconut milk and is good to use in tropical drinks and to replace milk in recipes. It is high in fat although some companies offer a "lite" version.

3. If the liquid is white and almost solid with the consistency of whipped butter then it is coconut cream and can be used to make coconut oil, as a replacement for butter or eaten as a spread.

Tips & Warnings

• You can buy bottled coconut water in health food stores if you don't have access to a coconut tree
• You can purchase coconut milk in cans from health food store, specialty Asian shops and in many super markets
• Coconut cream is available as "coconut butter in many health food stores.