It is true that coconuts, next to avocados, are one of my top 5 favorite foods.  Not only are they delicious, healthy, and extremely nutritious, they are also very functional.  In this past year coconuts have rightly pushed their way into the market and here are the top 7 coconut products in the stores and how to use them.

Until the popularity of coconuts, it used to be difficult to find tasty replacements for gluten-rich flour, butter, milk, sour cream and oil.  Over the last few years coconuts have quietly flooded the market and almost every home.  They are the perfect alternative to cow’s milk; make a creamy whipped “butter”; the milk can be cultured to create a yogurt to replace sour cream; the meat can be dried and ground into a delicious flour for baking; the oil can replace any oil or butter in baking, sautéing or spreading.

Plus, don’t forget about the young Thai coconuts!  They are one of the most perfect survival foods, rich in almost everything!  The water is hydrating and delicious in raw deserts while the meat can be pureed into the yummiest pudding or smoothie.

Here are the top rated coconut products to be stocked in local health stores, according to the Natural Food Merchandiser…

1. Raw cold-pressed Coconut Oil – Deelish flavor and has a high smoking point which means that you can cook with it at a high temperature, compared to olive and other nut/seed oils.  Coconut oil spread over sprouted bread or tortilla with Celtic Sea salt sprinkled on top tastes just like butter (my son’s favorite).  The great thing is that your body does not store coconut oil as fat rather it burns it as energy!  Nutiva makes a great product.
2. Coconut Flour – This is the perfect alternative to baking with gluten-rich flour such as wheat.  Breads, desserts and even pancakes made with coconut flour are perfect for diabetics, those with gluten sensitivities, someone watching their weight and anyone needing extra energy for workouts and activities.  This high fiber low carb/sugar “flour” is my favorite to bake with or even use in raw deserts and crackers.  You can grind up shredded coconut in your blender to a flour consistency or try brands such as Bob’s Red Mill’s Coconut Flour.
3. Coconut Milk – When I realized that So Delicious had come out with half gallon containers of coconut milk, it made me so happy.  I avoid soy milk as much as possible, almond milk tends to make me feel bloated and hemp milk has a unique after taste that doesn’t always mix well with other flavors.  Coconut milk is neutral in flavor and can be used in any recipe in place of regular cow’s milk.
4. Coconut Water – The water in young That Coconuts, also known as green coconuts, is very different from coconut milk.  It has very few calories, fat, or sugar but is loaded with minerals, electrolytes, especially potassium, enzymes, and protein.  This water actually mimics the makeup of your blood, making it a universal blood donor!  My favorite is to buy the young coconuts fresh and drink the water straight.  There are many brands now selling coconut water in cartons, such as Zico, One and Vita Coco.  Be sure to buy brands without added sugar.  I recently had a recommendation about Nirvana coconut water who sells a coconut water with actual pieces of the coconut meat and no added sugar – this is a must try
5. Coconut Yogurt/Kefir – The healthiest form of cultured milk rich in probiotics is probably in the form of kefir and yogurt.  Most healthy would be coconut water kefir – pricey and very tangy in taste but extremely beneficial to the digestive tract.  So Delicious makes a coconut yogurt and kefir.  The plain yogurt is a great replacement for sourcream in recipes and the kefir is a great drink, especially for kids (I add it to my sons bottle combined with coconut water and goat milk).
6. Coconut bars & Ice Cream – In the dessert department are crazy delicious & creamy deserts.  Coconut Bliss makes amazing coconut milk ice cream bars and various flavored ice creams.  They actually taste better than the traditional products made with cow’s milk!  There are also companies who make great raw coconut milk based ice creams.  You could also try making it yourself: Freeze coconut water or sweetened coconut milk in Popsicle trays or puree coconut milk with fruit and freeze for a tasty sorbet/ice cream treat.
7. Coconut Butter – There is nothing more decadent than coconut butter.  The flesh of the coconut is pureed into a thick butter consistency and can literally be eaten by the spoonful.  It can be used in place of butter in baking or even blended with raw cacao powder and agave to make delicious raw truffles.  I prefer brands that make raw coconut butter, such as Artisana, but there is also another popular coconut butter called “Melt”.

Get creative and try these products out!

Related posts:

1. Lemon Coconut Tea Bread
2. The Best Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes
3. How to make Raw Young Coconut Milk
4. Raw Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream Popsicles
5. Raw Coconut pudding, Almond Cream & Cashew Pudding!