Difference between Coconut Water and Coconut Milk

Coconut water and coconut milk both are obtained from coconut and taste delicious. Although they are obtained from the same fruit, they are different from each other in terms of their colour, taste, consistency, nutrition etc. Let us see how they differ from each other!

Coconut Water:

Coconut water is obtained from young, green coconuts. It is the clear liquid present in the center of a green coconut. It tastes slightly sweet, contains a lot of nutrients but low in calories than coconut milk.

It occurs naturally inside the green coconut. You do not need to produce it following a certain method or process. You just need to chop off the top of a coconut and pour out the coconut water in the container.

Coconut water is a rich source of potassium so it is good for athletes and gym-goers to offset electrolyte losses during a sweaty workout session. It is also good for weight loss as it has fewer calories and low fat content.

Coconut Milk:

Coconut milk is made from the white flesh or white part of a mature brown coconut. It is an emulsion of two fluids: coconut cream and coconut water. At low temperature, it tends to separates into its components and the cream rises to the top, so in order to keep it emulsified keep it at room temperature.

In order to make the coconut milk, the coconut is shredded and then simmered in water and then it is left to soak. After the water acquires the flavors of coconut, the mixture is strained in order to separate white, opaque milk from the residue. If one uses small amounts of water, coconut cream is formed and if uses water in large quantity coconut milk is produced.

Furthermore, coconut milk contains more calories and fat than coconut water and is a suitable non-dairy alternative for milk for people who are sensitive to lactose or following a strict vegan lifestyle.

Based on the above information, some of the key differences between coconut water and coconut milk are as follows:

Coconut Water	Coconut Milk
It is clear liquid with sweet and nutty taste.	It is white in colour and tastes slightly sweet.
It is not creamy and has a thin consistency.	It is creamy and has a thick consistency.
It is obtained from the green coconut.	It is obtained from the mature brown coconut.
It is rich in potassium that helps hydrate your body after a sweaty workout session.	It is less suitable as a hydrating drink after a sweaty workout session.
It is the clear liquid present in the center of the green coconut.	It comes from the flesh of the mature ripened coconut.
It is low in calories than coconut milk, e.g. a glass of coconut water has around 50 calories.	It has more calories than coconut water, e.g. a glass of coconut milk offers around 500 calories.
It has low fat-content.	It has more fat than coconut water.
It occurs naturally inside the green coconut. You just need to chop off the top of the coconut and pour out the coconut water in a cup or glass.	You are required to shred and then simmer coconut in water and then strain the mixture to get the coconut milk.
It is used less often for cooking.	It is often used for baking and in the preparation of soups and curries.