Cashew Milk vs Coconut Milk: How To Choose?

In this article, we are going to compare cashew milk and coconut milk to see how they compare in many aspects including calories, nutritional content, taste, usage, effects on weight loss, and environment.

To make this comparison as fair as possible and get a realistic picture of how cashew and coconut milk compare, we’ve used USDA’s date on products that are unsweetened and that aren’t fortified or that are minimally fortified if the completely unfortified product isn’t available.

Both cashew and coconut milk are dairy-free, and therefore suitable for vegans and people that stick to a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons, but there are also many differences between these plant-based drinks.

Let’s see what cashew and coconut drinks are, how they are produced, and finally how they compare in various ways.

What is Cashew Milk and How It’s Made?

The market for substitute milk is growing day by day. This sector, which was formerly dominated by almond, oat, and soy products, now has a range of plant-based milk, which each offers a different taste and unique nutritional advantages.

Cashew milk seems to be an ideal compromise, offering a low-calorie alternative with a creamier texture than most nut milk. It also is packed with minerals, healthy fats, vitamins, and other plant-based elements.

Cashew milk, which is available in sweetened and unsweetened variants, may substitute for cow’s milk in the majority of recipes.

Cashew milk has a range of beneficial lipids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, including cashews themselves.

This incredibly nutritious beverage gets the majority of its content from unsaturated fatty acids, which are known to improve heart health and give a variety of other advantages.

In comparison to handmade cashew milk, commercial varieties are often enriched with additional minerals and vitamins and they contain greater quantities of certain components overall.

What is Coconut Milk and How It’s Made?

Coconut milk is a type of milk that is used in many recipes and has many lovers of its mild taste.

It might be confusing to call it milk, but coconut milk is derived from coconuts and is plant-based. You can consume coconut milk, which is often preferred by vegans, or you can use it in your recipes.

The amount of calories in coconut milk is quite high.

Fat accounts for about 93% of its calorie content, including saturated fats, often referred to as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

There has been some research to suggest that the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) included in coconut milk may assist with weight reduction, as well as improve metabolism and body composition.

The richness of coconut milk may be attributed to the nutritious components that are found in coconuts.

Cashew vs Coconut Milk Nutrition and Calories

In this section, we’ll analyze the similarities and differences between cashew milk and coconut milk based on nutritional information provided by USDA.

Macronutrients

Plant-based milks mostly consist of water, and cashew and coconut milks are no exceptions.

3.5 oz or 100 g of cashew milk contains 54 calories, and consists mostly of fat (4.17 g), followed by carbs (2.92 g) and protein (1.67 g).

Speaking of coconut milk, the same amount contains 150 calories, and consists mostly of fat (15 g), followed by protein (1.25 g) and carbs (1.25 g).

The table below compares the nutrition of a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of cashew milk to the same amount of coconut milk.

Fiber

Fiber is important for our health as it keeps us feeling full, prevents constipation, lowers sugar spikes and regulates sugar levels, lowers total and LDL cholesterol, and provides many other benefits.

Both cashew and coconut milk contain almost the same amount of fiber, 0 g per b .

Micronutrients

What about micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in cashew and coconut milk?

The table below shows the most important vitamins and minerals in unfortified or minimally fortified plant-based drinks available in the market. Some of these nutrients are hard to get on a vegan diet.

Weight Loss

If you’re trying to lose weight, you probably want to know whether cashew or coconut milk is better for you.

With 150 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), coconut milk is higher in calories than cashew milk which contains 54 calories.

Cashew vs Coconut Milk Taste and Uses

Cashew milk is a nut-based milk alternative similar to almond milk. Cashew milk is a little creamier than almond milk.

Most people prefer cashew milk to almond milk because of its thick consistency and mild taste. It has a subtle nutty flavor that may complement your baked items.

Cashew milk can be used to make creamy smoothies, soups, and pasta sauces. You can use it as a cream alternative with oat milk in a cream-based sauce.

You can add cashew milk to puddings and even use it to make vegan ice cream. Cashew milk with less water can give a cheesy consistency. You can use it for your vegan mac and cheese.

It can be also used as a salad dressing as well. You can add cashew milk to your breakfast cereals and oatmeal.

Coconut milk comes in different consistencies. It can be unctuous, thick like cake batter with a strong coconut taste, or slightly less viscous with a mild coconut flavor.

Coconut milk has a creamy consistency, and you can use it as a thickener in soups and curries.

The sweet tropical scent of coconut milk is perfect for smoothies. Coconut milk is rich in MCTs. Its high-fat content can add to the moisture of your cakes, brownies, and muffins. Coconut milk can add a tropical taste to vegetable curries and lentil soups.

You can also use coconut milk for your coffee. You can store thick coconut milk in your refrigerator and scoop it out to use it as whipped cream on your desserts. Whipped coconut cream can give your cocktails an exotic touch.

Conclusion

Cashew milk and coconut milk are both plant-based, non-dairy beverages, suitable for vegans.

Cashew milk and coconut milk have their similarities and differences, but both are nutritious and a healthful addition to your diet. When available, always choose unsweetened, fortified products or try making them at home.

Plant milks, including cashew and coconut milks are easy to add to a diet, and can be used in varieties of recipes and dishes.

Fortified products will help get different nutrients, including micronutrients that are usually hard to get on a plant-based diet, such as vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium and others.

If you’re willing to learn more about these non-dairy milks, read our articles about them: Cashew Milk and Coconut Milk.

Other Cashew Milk Comparisons

• Almond vs Cashew
• Barley vs Cashew
• Cashew vs Macadamia
• Cashew vs Oat
• Cashew vs Pea
• Cashew vs Rice
• Cashew vs Soy

Other Coconut Milk Comparisons

• Almond Milk vs Coconut Milk
• Barley Milk vs Coconut Milk
• Coconut Milk vs Macadamia Milk
• Coconut Milk vs Oat Milk
• Coconut Milk vs Pea Milk
• Coconut Milk vs Rice Milk
• Coconut Milk vs Soy Milk