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Editor’s Note: Since I wrote this post back in 2010, I have gone completely dairy-free to help combat my autoimmune thyroid disease. You can read more about my health journey here. That said, this post is timeless and the creamy coconut milk tonic is uber satisfying for those who have had to give up dairy!
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I try not to eat a lot of dairy (unless it’s raw milk products) because of the congestion I get when consuming pasteurized milk products.
But, I still like my cereal, the occasional cup of hot chocolate, or a glass of cold milk with dessert. So, I knew I had to find a substitute.
I don’t drink soy milk, and I’m not a huge fan of the nut milks on the market (though almond milk will do in a pinch).
I discovered Sally Fallon and Mary Enig’s recipe for coconut milk tonic in her book, Eat Fat, Lose Fat. I then discovered the Nourishing Gourmet’s version of the drink and was instantly hooked!
Rich & Creamy Coconut Milk Tonic
This recipe is designed to help extend your canned coconut milk. As we all know, the price of coconut milk has skyrocketed over the last couple of years. I know I have seen at least a $1.00 increase in some brands, and much more in others.
Of all the packaged coconut milks on the market, my favorite is the Aroy-D coconut milk and coconut cream that comes in the tetra-paks. I find that the taste and texture is far better than most canned varieties. But, since that one can be kind of hard to find, I also like Native Forest’s brand, as it is packaged in BPA-free cans.
You could always make your own coconut milk if you prefer. It’s easy to do and very cost-effective, but it won’t be as thick and creamy as canned coconut milks. It’s important to note that most commercial coconut milk products do contain thickeners and stabilizers like guar gum, xanthan gum, and others. If you are sensitive to these, making your own coconut milk at home may be your best bet. If you make your own, you won’t need to add any additional water, but you could add some flavorings of your choice if you like.
Confused about all the different coconut products? We’ve got coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut manna, coconut milk, coconut cream … the list goes on and on. Check out my comprehensive Coconut Ingredient Guide for Beginners.
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2 Coconut Milk Tonics
It's way cheaper to make your own coconut milk tonic than to buy from the store. Here are two very easy and very delicious recipes that you can whip up in just a few minutes.
Ingredients
- Sally Fallon’s Coconut Milk Tonic:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (or about 1.75 cups)
- 1 3/4 cups filtered water
- 2 tablespoons pure Grade B maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of dolomite powder* (*Dolomite powder is an inexpensive and easily absorbable of calcium. One teaspoon will have the same amount of calcium as one quart of milk.)
- Nourishing Gourmet’s Coconut Milk Tonic:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (or about 1.75 cups)
- 1 can coconut water
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (learn how to make your own here)
Instructions
Instructions for Sally Fallon’s Coconut Milk Tonic:
- Mix all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat until dolomite powder is dissolved.
- Pour into a glass jar and store in the fridge. Will keep for up to a week.
Instructions for Nourishing Gourmet’s Coconut Milk Tonic
- Mix ingredients together and store in the fridge. Will keep for up to a week.
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Both versions are delicious and very nutritious, especially if you’re like me and can’t drink store-bought milk. Try them out and let me know what you think!
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In the second recipie, can you tell me what size can of coconut water to use?
Sure! Sorry about that. It kind of varies. I like using Taste Nirvana’s coconut water best and it comes in a 17oz can, I believe.
Thanks so much! I’m interested in trying this!
I cannot find dolomite powder anywhere! (I live in BC, Canada) I tried the second recipe and it was so yummy and refreshing that now I want to make the first recipe. I could order it online I guess but I want it now! (hehe)
Do you know what could I use instead of the dolomite? Thank you!
I have a hard time finding dolomite as well. I’m not sure of a substitute for it. It’s mainly to get the calcium. It’s not truly necessary for the tonic, so you can leave it out if you want. If you’re getting plenty of calcium from other sources, then you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll have to look for a substitute and I’ll report back if I find one!
Hi Jessica!
I use the NT coconut milk tonic recipe which I double and keep in a pitcher in my fridge. I always make it the same way each time, just as written with the same ingredients, same brands, etc. Sometimes it comes out well with everything staying pretty much emulsified and needing just a bit of a shake before I pour it. Sometimes, though, the tonic separates and the fat from the coconut milk rises to the top and hardens with the watery part at the bottom of the pitcher. With the fat hardened at the top, the only way to get it to mix back together is to scrape/pour all the tonic out of the pitcher and heat it back up. Is there a way to keep this from happening? I can’t figure out what I’m doing or not doing that’s causing this to happen!
Hi Amanda – That happens to me too. I don’t know of any way to keep it from happening unfortunately. I just always give the jar a good shake before using and that seems to re-combine the liquid pretty well. I have started using Natural Value coconut milk since it has no additives at all and it does not seem to set up as firm as the coconut milks that use guar gum, etc. Hope that helps! 🙂
I am in LOVE with this drink! It fixes the itch for dairy!!! <3
Yay! So glad you love it! 🙂
Have thought that coconut milk is fattening & not so good for health like high cholesterol.
Hi Isabella – Thanks for stopping by! Coconut is a healthy fat and is perfectly fine to consume. I would encourage you to read the following articles, which talk about the saturated fat myth of heart disease. Fat does not cause high cholesterol and heart disease. That myth was based on nothing more than poor science and bad politics.
https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2014/06/saturated-fat-phobia-lacks-scientific-basis/
https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/04/the-saturated-fat-myth-eat-more-butter-and-coconut-oil/
If you were to give this to a child with a dairy allergy. Do you suggest the one with coconut water vs water?
Also, people act like on many blogs that grain free is like a magic cure for their Hashimoto’s. I’m new to this. Was that at all true for you? I’m sure it would indeed help, but it’s hard to believe it would cure it.
Hi Kristine – Thanks for stopping by! It really wouldn’t matter regarding coconut water versus water. Whichever you prefer. And, LOL, you hit a sore spot for me when it comes to the grain free dogma. 😉 Here’s what I think (and, since this is such a complex topic, there is far more than I could ever write in one single comment). 🙂
As far as grain free being a magic cure, no, I do not believe that it is. I don’t believe in “magic cures” AND I don’t believe that there is one single path to healing Hashi’s or any other chronic illness. I think that when it comes to healing we have to move away from this “one size fits all” approach and really go into what works for the individual and what dietary changes would best support this person. This is at the core of the work I do as a nutritional therapist and health coach.
I think that the most important thing to consider here is the role that gluten plays in raising thyroid antibody levels. For me personally, I don’t react to gluten on a physical level (as in having noticeable physical reactions like bloating, gas, etc.). But, I can see an impact on gluten and my thyroid antibodies when we run bloodwork. When I eat gluten, by antibody levels rise. When I remove gluten (and dairy), they go down.
So for me, avoiding gluten is important. And I am going to venture to say that it is also going to be important for others with autoimmune disease. But, I don’t believe that the gluten, in and of itself, is the devil (I believe it is the fact that our wheat has been hybridized so much AND that we treat our wheat fields with tons of toxic chemicals like glyphosate). Just like I don’t believe that all grains are the devil either and that automatically eliminating them all will cure whatever it is you’re dealing with. Some grains are cross-reactive with gluten, meaning that the proteins from those grains can trigger the same response in the body that gluten does, even if gluten is not present in those grains.
I personally avoid most grains, but not because I believe they are bad, but because I have taken the time to understand that most of them simply don’t work for my body. If they did, I would have no issues consuming them. But I have spent a lot of time being my own personal investigator and really figuring out what foods work for me and what don’t, regardless of what any doctor or expert has told me.
Again, this is all going to come down to individual tolerance, health status, and health goals. We forget that each person is unique and their dietary needs are going to be unique. Yes, there are some great general practices that can help the majority of people, but we really do need to be paying attention to ourselves and our needs. Many people eliminate grains and they simply feel better and maybe they also notice improvements in their labs. But, I also know people who have eliminated every food they were told to and never saw any improvement. So there is always, ALWAYS going to be more to healing than diet alone.
Does that help at all? Sorry to be a little ranty. 🙂 I write a lot about dietary dogma and all this drive for a “one size fits all” approach to health on my other site here: https://jessicaespinoza.com/blog/ in case you wanted to every check those posts out.
Hi,
I’m keen to make the Nourishing Gourmet’s Coconut Milk Tonic, and was hoping to make my own ‘pure vanilla extract’. Unfortunately the link to the directions for making pure vanilla extract isn’t working. Hope you can fix it!
Regards,
Lynn
Hi Lynn! Thanks for stopping by! I think this is the link you are looking for: https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2013/04/how-to-make-your-own-homemade-vanilla-extract/. Hope that helps!! 🙂