Choose Monkey-Friendly Coconut Milks!

Coconut milk is not local to England, but it’s popular in curries and to make ‘whipped cream and desserts’.  Some supermarkets have now pulled brands that use tethered monkey slaves (to climb trees) to retrieve coconuts, due to media publicity. But be careful as many brands (mostly Thai) still use them.

Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets.

Nature’s Charm is a good brand of coconut milk, founded by a woman from a coconut farming family in Thailand. A passionate vegan, she guarantees no monkey-slaves are used to harvest the coconuts.

Bioa Coconut Whipping Cream is great to dollop on desserts. Chill overnight then whip in a bowl. The brand also makes lite coconut milk, creamed coconut and coconut milk powder (for smoothies, soups, porridge and ice-cream).

Look for brands that offer sustainable coconuts, with a guarantee of no monkey harvesting. One good brand is The Coconut Collab, which makes yoghurts and double cre&m (doesn’t taste of coconut, you would not know the difference).

Is Coconut Milk Healthy?

It does contain saturated fat, and so some people say not to eat or drink it. However, many cultures use it with far better health than us.

It’s likely due to everything in moderation. It’s especially popular with people on live on raw food. Use it for creamy smoothies and curries and topping desserts, but don’t eat it everyday.