Coconut Milk And Nata De Coco Drink: 7 Easy Recipes To Make At Home

A coconut milk and nata de coco drink is chilled coconut milk, a little sweetener, and chewy cubes of nata de coco served over ice, and the basic ratio is about 60 g (¼ cup) of nata de coco to 240 ml (1 cup) of coconut milk. That ratio comes from a simple serving suggestion by Tando Beverage (nofollow), and it works as the base for every recipe below.

This guide explains what the drink is, which coconut milk to use, seven easy recipes from classic to milk tea, coffee, and basil seeds, how to stop the drink from separating, and how to store the ingredients. The recipes are serving suggestions written by the Nico Brands content team, so adjust the sweetness to your taste.

What Is A Coconut Milk And Nata De Coco Drink?

A coconut milk and nata de coco drink combines the creamy taste of coconut milk with the chewy texture of nata de coco, a translucent jelly made by fermenting coconut water. Nata de coco consists of water and cellulose, has a chewy, jelly-like texture, and is often added to drinks, ice cream, puddings, and fruit mixes (International Coconut Community). Coconut milk is different from coconut water: it is the liquid pressed from grated coconut meat, so it is richer and creamier (Wikipedia – Coconut milk). The nata de coco adds texture rather than a strong flavor, so the coconut milk and the sweetener set the taste of the drink.

Which Coconut Milk Works Best For Nata De Coco Drinks?

For a light, drinkable result, use a carton coconut milk beverage as it is, or dilute canned coconut milk with water, because canned coconut milk contains about ten times more fat. Coconut milk beverages sold as milk substitutes are coconut milk diluted with water or coconut skim milk, with added ingredients (Wikipedia – Coconut milk).

Coconut milk type	Energy per 100 g (3.5 oz)	Fat per 100 g	How to use it in drinks
Canned coconut milk	197 kcal	21.3 g	Mix 1 part with 1 part water for a lighter drink
Coconut milk beverage (carton, sweetened)	31 kcal	2.1 g	Pour straight from the carton
Coconut cream	330 kcal	34.7 g	Spoon a small amount on top for extra richness
Homemade coconut milk	Varies	Varies	Use the same day for the freshest flavor

Nutrition values: USDA FoodData Central, FDC IDs 170173 (canned coconut milk), 174116 (coconut milk beverage, sweetened), and 170580 (coconut cream, raw).

To make coconut milk at home, grate the white flesh of a mature coconut, mix it with a small amount of hot water, and squeeze out the liquid (Wikipedia – Coconut milk). For the nata de coco, drain the cubes from their syrup and rinse them if you want a less sweet drink.\

What Are 7 Coconut Milk And Nata De Coco Drink Recipes?

The seven easiest coconut milk and nata de coco drinks are the classic version, a fruit version, milk tea, a smoothie, a grass jelly version, iced coffee, and a basil seed version. Each recipe makes one glass, and every recipe is dairy-free as written.

Recipe	Main add-in	Time
1. Classic	Sugar or syrup	5 minutes
2. Fruit	Mango, pineapple, or strawberry	5 minutes
3. Milk tea	Black tea	10 minutes, plus cooling
4. Smoothie	Banana and mango	5 minutes
5. Grass jelly	Grass jelly cubes	5 minutes
6. Iced coffee	Brewed coffee	5 minutes, plus cooling
7. Basil seeds	Soaked basil seeds	35 minutes, including soaking

1. Classic Coconut Milk With Nata De Coco

The classic recipe uses only coconut milk, nata de coco, sweetener, and ice.

• 240 ml (1 cup) coconut milk beverage, or 120 ml (½ cup) canned coconut milk mixed with 120 ml (½ cup) water
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or simple syrup
• Ice cubes

1. Stir the sugar into the coconut milk until it dissolves.
2. Put the nata de coco and ice in a tall glass.
3. Pour the coconut milk over the ice, stir, and serve cold.

2. Mango, Pineapple, Or Strawberry Coconut Milk With Nata De Coco

The fruit version blends fresh fruit into the coconut milk for color and natural sweetness.

• 180 ml (¾ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 80 g (½ cup) chopped mango, pineapple, or strawberries
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• 1 tablespoon sugar or agave syrup
• Ice cubes

1. Blend the coconut milk, fruit, and sweetener until smooth.
2. Put the nata de coco and ice in a glass.
3. Pour in the fruit coconut milk and top with a few pieces of fruit.

3. Coconut Milk Tea With Nata De Coco

Coconut milk tea replaces dairy milk with coconut milk and uses nata de coco instead of tapioca pearls.

• 1 black tea bag
• 180 ml (¾ cup) hot water
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
• 120 ml (½ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• Ice cubes

1. Steep the tea bag in the hot water for 5 minutes, then remove it.
2. Stir in the sugar and let the tea cool.
3. Add the coconut milk and stir.
4. Pour the tea over the nata de coco and ice.

You can use green tea, oolong, or matcha instead of black tea.

4. Banana Mango Coconut Smoothie With Nata De Coco

The smoothie is thicker than the other drinks, so serve it with a wide straw or a spoon.

• 1 frozen banana
• 80 g (½ cup) chopped mango
• 150 ml (⅔ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• A handful of ice

1. Blend the banana, mango, coconut milk, and ice until smooth.
2. Stir in the nata de coco after blending, so the cubes stay whole.
3. Pour into a glass and serve right away.

5. Coconut Milk With Nata De Coco And Grass Jelly

Grass jelly is a dark jelly made from a plant in the mint family, with a mild, slightly bitter taste, and it is often served chilled in drinks (Wikipedia – Grass jelly). The sweet coconut milk balances its bitterness.

• 60 g (¼ cup) grass jelly, cut into small cubes
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• 180 ml (¾ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 1 to 2 teaspoons palm sugar syrup or pandan syrup
• Ice cubes

1. Mix the grass jelly, nata de coco, and syrup in a glass.
2. Add ice and pour in the coconut milk.
3. Stir well before drinking.

6. Iced Coconut Coffee With Nata De Coco

Iced coconut coffee pairs the bitterness of coffee with creamy coconut milk.

• 60 ml (¼ cup) brewed coffee or 1 espresso shot, cooled
• 150 ml (⅔ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Ice cubes

1. Put the nata de coco, sugar, and ice in a glass.
2. Pour in the coconut milk.
3. Pour the coffee slowly over the top to create a layer, then stir before drinking.

7. Coconut Milk With Nata De Coco And Basil Seeds

The basil seed version adds a second texture, because soaked basil seeds develop a soft gel coating around a crunchy center. Soak 2 teaspoons of basil seeds in 120 ml (½ cup) of lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes, until they swell and turn gray (Indian Healthy Recipes).

• 2 teaspoons basil seeds, soaked
• 60 g (¼ cup) nata de coco, drained
• 180 ml (¾ cup) coconut milk beverage
• 1 to 2 teaspoons syrup
• Ice cubes

1. Drain the soaked basil seeds.
2. Mix the basil seeds, nata de coco, and syrup in a clear glass.
3. Add ice, pour in the coconut milk, and stir.

How Do You Stop A Coconut Milk Drink From Separating?

A coconut milk drink separates because the fat in coconut milk rises to the top, so stir or shake it right before serving. Coconut milk left to stand for about an hour separates into a top layer of coconut cream and a bottom layer of coconut skim milk, and canned coconut milk contains thickeners and emulsifiers to prevent this inside the can (Wikipedia – Coconut milk). Blending the coconut milk with the sweetener, as in the fruit and smoothie recipes, also keeps the drink smooth for longer.

How Should You Store Coconut Milk And Nata De Coco?

Keep coconut milk cold and covered, keep nata de coco in its syrup in the refrigerator after opening, and drink the finished drink soon after you make it. Fresh homemade coconut milk spoils quickly when exposed to air and becomes rancid after a few hours at 28 °C to 30 °C (82 °F to 86 °F) (Wikipedia – Coconut milk). Move opened canned coconut milk to a covered container in the refrigerator and follow the storage instructions on the label. Soaked basil seeds keep for about 2 days in the refrigerator (Indian Healthy Recipes).

Should You Buy A Bottled Coconut Milk Drink Or Make Your Own?

A bottled coconut milk drink with nata de coco is more convenient, while a homemade drink lets you control the sugar, the richness, and the amount of nata de coco. Ready-to-drink coconut milk drinks with nata de coco are sold in bottles and cans by supermarkets and online Asian grocers. If you buy one, check the label for sugar per serving and the nata de coco content. If you make your own, you can use less sugar, choose a light or rich coconut milk, and add as much nata de coco as you like.

Where Can Cafés And Distributors Source Nata De Coco For Drinks?

Cafés, drink shops, and distributors can source nata de coco in bulk or as ready-to-drink juice drinks from Nico Brands, the brand portfolio of Nico Trading Company Limited, a Vietnamese manufacturer and exporter of nata de coco drinks. For drink shops, the bulk nata de coco topping comes in 3.2 kg boxes, four boxes per carton, and in 10 kg bags. For retail, the Nico Nico juice drink with nata de coco and, for the United States and other Zuni Zuni markets, the Zuni Zuni NFC juice drink with nata de coco contain 15% nata de coco and 30% or 55% not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice. Orders start from one container, with FOB, CFR, or CIF terms from Ho Chi Minh City port. If you want to make the jelly yourself, follow the guide on how to make nata de coco from coconut water.

Coconut Milk And Nata De Coco Drink: Key Takeaways

A coconut milk and nata de coco drink needs only coconut milk, nata de coco, sweetener, and ice, in a basic ratio of about 60 g (¼ cup) of nata de coco to 240 ml (1 cup) of coconut milk. Use a carton coconut milk beverage or diluted canned coconut milk for a light drink, then turn the base into a fruit drink, milk tea, smoothie, grass jelly drink, iced coffee, or basil seed drink. Stir before serving, because coconut milk separates, and drink it soon after mixing. For more ideas, see the health benefits of coconut milk with nata de coco, more nata de coco recipes, a nata de coco cocktail, and what nata de coco jelly is.