Coconut Water vs Coconut Milk
Coconut is one fruit that has been used in different cultures since ages. It is used in various forms such as coconut water, coconut milk, crème of coconut, and so on. It is a fruit that gives us both its water and meat. While the water is drunk as it is, the meat is eaten raw and used in some cultures, to add to recipes to make them tastier and flavored. Coconut oil is used in some countries as a cooking medium while coconut crème is used to keep skin supple and nourished. This article attempts to highlight the differences between coconut water and coconut milk, to enable readers to make use of these different items for their own use.
Coconut Water
In most civilizations across the world, coconut water has been treated as a natural source of health and wellness. It has been in use for nearly 5000 years ago and considering its nutritional properties, coconut is grown on a commercial scale in many parts of the world. The outer part of coconut is made of fibers called its husk. On removing these fibers, we get to the kernel which is the hard covering containing the fruit. Upon breaking the kernel, we can get to the fruit which contains coconut meat and coconut water.
The liquid found inside the fruit naturally is called coconut water and it has been used for various purposes like hydration, beautification, and nutrition. Not only can one drink this water straight away breaking open the coconut fruit, it can even be injected without any fear into the blood stream. Also, called aqua de coco in Spain, the water found as natural juice inside coconut fruit makes for a refreshing drink. It is said that this water has the potential to create milk in the breasts of a mother if it has dried up.
Coconut Milk
To get coconut milk, one needs to take out all the meat and then press it mechanically and get the white liquid. Another way that produces more coconut milk is to grate the meat and then churn it after adding water in a mixer. The resulting fluid is boiled until it is foamy and then strained to get coconut milk. Boiling this coconut milk further concentrates the liquid to turn it into a cream called coconut cream.
Easiest way to obtain coconut milk is to grate the meat, add water and then churn it in a mixer. The resulting mixture is then strained using a muslin cloth to get coconut milk.
Coconut Water vs Coconut Milk
- Coconut water is naturally occurring juice inside the fruit of coconut while coconut milk is obtained after grating and pressing the meat with water.
- Coconut water is a refreshing drink that can be consumed straight from the fruit while milk has to be made.
- Coconut milk is thicker and white while coconut water is free flowing and clear.
- Coconut water is very low in calories while a cup of coconut milk gives 550 calories.
- Coconut milk is creamy and has a lot of fat content while coconut water does not have the fat.
- The flavor of coconut milk is very strong while that of water is milder.