Coconut: The New Soy.
There are times when I stand in the freezer aisle at my favorite grocery store, and gaze longingly at the ice cream section. The milk and yogurt are shelved in that same aisle, directly across from the ice cream, creating an unfair conundrum. How does one who can’t have lactose survive in a lactose-loving society? The answer, until recently, was soy. For some time, it’s been the only option for ice cream and yogurt. Even if you don’t love soy, you tell yourself that soy isn’t bad, because really, what else are you going to do?
I was delighted to discover that Turtle Mountain saw the unjustness of it all, and have released a full line of coconut products. Vegans, lactose intolerant folks and those with soy allergies rejoice! (The rest of you can rejoice too!)
There are honestly far too many flavors and varieties to list everything, but here’s a rundown of what you’ll find in the coconut product line:
Purely Decadent Ice Cream in flavors like cookie dough, mocha almond fudge, passionate mango, 21 flavors in all. There are five that are completely gluten-free, and six that are sweetened with agave.
Sandwich Minis, which are quite possibly the perfect size for an ice cream sandwich, these are available in banana split and coconut flavor. These were my personal favorites!
Ice cream bar minis, vanilla and coconut almond. Again, a really great size when you have a sweet craving, but don’t want a full dessert.
Coconut milk yogurt, with active cultures. This is available in six flavors, and probably the only part of the whole lineup that I wasn’t crazy about. I’ve yet to find a non-dairy yogurt that I really love though. The texture is pretty close to a non-fat dairy yogurt, but I felt like the taste was a bit tart.
Plain and vanilla flavored coconut milk by the carton. The plain has a consistency that is very similar to soy milk, but a much milder taste. This would be quite suitable for use on cereal, or as a milk substitute in most cooking and baking. Both work well for coffee, both drip and espresso based. I asked the owner of the coffee shop downstairs to steam some for me, and he said it foams in a way that is similar to rice milk. (If you’re looking for a stiff froth on a cappuccino this probably isn’t the right choice, but it’s great for a latte!)
All of these products are available in local markets and supermarkets alike, check with your retailer for availability and price.
