Manufacturers: Everything you need to know about buying organic coconut milk and cream in bulk

 With the growing demand from consumers for coconut products, manufacturers increasingly need to consider how they can use coconut milk and cream, and also how they can buy high quality coconut products in bulk.

Here we take you through everything you need to know about why your customers are demanding coconut milk and cream, but also why it is a versatile and excellent ingredient for your products – from food stuffs such as curries and frozen desserts, through to drinks and dairy-free ice cream. We also explain what to look for when choosing a supplier and how to use coconut cream in bulk.

What can coconut milk and coconut cream be used for?

Organic coconut cream and coconut milk is sold as a liquid product. As its name suggests, it has a creamy silky texture. The only difference between coconut cream and coconut milk is the water content, or corresponding fat content.  Typically a coconut cream sold in bulk has a fat content of 24% (+/-3 %) and a coconut milk has a fat content of 17% (+/-3%).  Most products coconut creams/milk are UHT treated, which mean that they have been processed at a very high temperature to ensure they are stable and food safe.  They also tend to be aseptically packed to preserve freshness.  This means that once opened and the seals are broken, the product needs to be kept in cool temperatures and used up quickly. 

These products can be used in a huge number of ways. Indeed, it is their versatility which makes them so attractive to many manufacturers. Some of the products you can use coconut milk and coconut cream in include curries, soups, desserts (including frozen ones), smoothies, plus dairy-free drinks, yoghurts, confectionary and alcoholic mixes. Coconut cream is an excellent thickening agent and is a healthy way of creating a rich, creamy and decadent texture, without dairy.

Vegan & Organic

The Coconut Company bulk coconut cream are both vegan and organic. They can be used in products which you can label as vegan and organic, catering to this important and influential section of the market.

Veganism is a booming trend in the UK. In the last 12 months, the number of vegans in the UK has grown by a staggering 40%. Manufacturers need to cater for this shift. Even with many vegetarian products, manufacturers have relied on dairy-based creams and milks as staples on their ingredient lists. Coconut milk and cream will enable manufacturers to cater for the growing demand for vegan products, with ease.

Additionally, with the rise in veganism, there is a growing demand for manufacturers to create and provide more mainstream product equivalents. For example, one of the biggest trends of 2021 is for vegan sweets. Manufacturers will need to use plant-based thickening agents to create creamy-style sweets, but also other confectionery such as vegan chocolate.

Additionally, sales of organic products rose by 12.6% in 2020. Consumers are increasingly seeking higher standards in their food, with greater interest and awareness in terms of what they are putting in and on their bodies.

Organic coconut milk and cream will help manufacturers work within these adapting market demands.

The ingredients of coconut milk and cream

We’ve explained previously how coconut milk and cream are made. Our organic coconut cream is completely pure, containing only the extract of the organic coconut kernel and then mixed with water. It is a UHT treated 24% fat cream without any additives. It is packed aseptically to preserve freshness.

We also sell organic coconut milk powder. This is still organic and vegan, but we have to add small amounts of organic tapioca maltodextrin and organic gum acacia to the dried coconut milk to prevent it from clumping and to help preserve the product. These plant-based stabilisers help to ensure a useful powder texture.

However, fundamentally, both organic coconut milk powder and organic coconut cream from The Coconut Company are clean and pure products, with no added nasties.

How to use organic coconut cream

Organic coconut cream is very simple to use. It can simply be added directly to the product being made. As we say, it can be used in a range of food products including curries, soups, sauces, smoothies, pastries, desserts, confectionary and chocolate.

From the date of manufacture, the coconut cream has an 18 month shelf life. It should be stored in a clean and dry environment, out of direct sunlight. It’s best to store the coconut cream at 4-30°C. This will ensure the stability of the product and that it doesn’t deteriorate. The cream may separate if left in the same position for a long time, but simply agitate the carton to restore the consistency. We don’t recommend freezing the coconut cream before you use it, although it can be used in frozen products.

Once opened you will need to use the coconut cream within 72 hours in whatever recipe you’re making. Once opened it needs to be stored at 0-4°C.

Prior to opening a new container, it is important to shake the contents as separation is not unusual. Whilst we don’t recommend freezing, if the cream has been frozen, shake it thoroughly once thawed before use.

Certifications

It’s vital that you trust your suppliers to bring you the very best standards. At The Coconut Company we take this very seriously and are currently rated ‘AA’ grade by BRC (the British Retail Consortium). We work with producers in Sri Lanka to ensure that only the highest standard organic coconut cream is given The Coconut Company name.

In addition, we bring manufacturers peace of mind by meeting the criteria to be awarded various certifications. Our organic coconut cream is also produced at a  BRC certified operation, ensuring high quality products and excellent traceability throughout our supply chain. Furthermore, our coconut cream is certified organic and kosher too.

Nutritional information

When choosing ingredients to use in your products, it is vital that you can reassure your consumers regarding the nutritional composition of the original ingredient. Product specifications are given for all of our bulk coconut products. Please do shout!

Our coconut cream is produced in a facility that does not handle any allergens at all, so you can rest assured that the cream you buy is allergen-free. 

How to buy organic coconut products in bulk

If you are interested in using the Coconut Company to supply your manufacturing business with bulk amounts of organic coconut milk and cream, or other coconut products, you’ll be joining many other conscious and savvy clients. From big high street names to independent cafes, we value our relationship with each and every customer.

Please browse our bulk coconut products and do get in touch if we can help.