One of the hardest parts of being a new vegan (or even an old seasoned vegan) is trying to keep up with all the new products out there. I must have spent over $50 looking for the "right" vegan cheese my first year being a vegan and I have over 50 vegan/vegetarian cookbooks in my arsenal but not all the recipes are the greatest. I’m the first born so I’m used to being a Guinea Pig and now I’m your Vegan Guinea Pig. So here are my recommendations and critiques. Let me know what you think!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Not-So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt

I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Turtle Mountains So Delicious Ice Cream made with coconut milk is just as the name states "purely decadent". The bad news is this same great taste does not translate into their coconut milk yogurt.

The blueberry and raspberry flavors were good but not great, certainly not worth the $1.99 spent on each of them. In general they were way too sweet and had a bit of an after taste that sticks with you until your brush your teeth. The vanilla was completely inedible. The slight aftertaste of the blueberry and raspberry flavors was the entire taste of the vanilla flavor. Everything was wrong with it. Too sweet and yet tart at the same time. I was starving so I tried to finish it but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, instead I just brushed my teeth to get the taste out of my mouth and left the house hungry.

If you feel like shelling out $1.99 for yogurt that is just ok then I would recommend the blueberry and raspberry flavors. Steer clear of vanilla. But honestly, that money can be better spent elsewhere.


Update: It's very rare that I reject a comment on this blog but I have to say for this particular review I've had to reject at least 4 from people with some really mean-spirited comments regarding my review. And trust me using the term "mean spirited" is an extremely watered down version of what has been written - all this over a little coconut yogurt review. I wanted to take this time to clarify my review, especially for those who just read the title but not the entire review. I really liked the blueberry and raspberry flavor (hated the vanilla). But overall I don't recommend this yogurt not based on the taste but on the cost. I had a little extra food income this month so I splurged and bought some blueberry, passionate mango and strawberry banana flavored coconut yogurt. At Whole Foods it was about $1.89 and at Publix/Krogers it was $2.59! And that's just for one little cup of yogurt! Frankly, that's absolutely ridiculous.

What makes the whole situation even worse is that I'm now head over heels in love with the strawberry banana flavor and in a semi-like with passionate mango. I wake up in the morning wanting a cup but who can afford $2.59 each morning for just yogurt? I've also heard rumors that there's a pina colada flavor out there that I would love to try. Really the only flavor that I don't like is vanilla. As you read above. It makes my tastebuds revolt against me.

So hopefully this has cleared up my position on coconut yogurt and the hate mail can stop now.

44 comments:

  1. I am shocked by your assessment, I have been eating this non-stop since I discovered it. I think it is the MOST AMAZING dairy free yogurt out there!!!!! It is so much better than soy yogurts.

    I have turned dozens of people on to it and they have all been thanking me and are avid consumers now. I am sorry you don't seem to like it as much as me, because I find it the best thing I have ever tried.

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  2. I found the blueberry and raspberry to be good, but like i said not great and definitely not great for the price. I've heard some places that it's $2.50 which makes my $1.99 seem tame. I'd rather have Ricera or Goodbelly any day. Cheaper, no saturated fat and no after taste.

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    1. i have to agree with Vegan Guinea Pig. Today was the first time I've tasted this kind of yogurt. I spent 1.65 ea. bought the blueberry and plain. I was not impressed at all with either. I after reading everything thats in it ---wow

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  3. While I agree that the coconut milk yogurts are way too expensive, I think they are freaking awesome. In my opinion, the vanilla flavor is what dreams are made of!
    ....As far as Ricera, I couldn't even swallow the one spoonful I put in my mouth. And I hate to waste food.

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  4. New Guinea Pig rule to vegan yogurts: If you love Ricera you probably won't be in love with Coconut Yogurt and if you love Coconut Yogurt you probably won't be in love with Ricera. If you are in love with another vegan yogurt then...well...there's no rule for that yet so stay tuned!

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  5. I've never tried ricera. I do like the coconut yogurts though. I love coconut so that might be why. They are expensive though so I can't really get them as much as I'd like. Our downtown coop stopped carrying them because people wouldn't spend the money.

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  6. agreed I tried the vanilla and the cinnamon ones and they were awful.

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  7. Hey!
    I live in Atlanta and am also a vegan! Well, a raw vegan for the most part. I found your blog through heathy's!

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  8. I have to disagree -- I thought the raspberry was really good, and the vanilla amazing! I tried the chocolate, though, and was not impressed, even though it sounds like it'd be great (chocolate AND coconut? what's not to love???). I also found the vanilla is great for recipes that call for (sweetened) soy yogurt.

    Locally it's $1.79 a container, but I've also noticed that it went up in price here from $1.49. At $1.99, it's a bit pricey for regular consumption.

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  9. I too am shocked at your assessment. I loved this yogurt. I have tried, Wholesoy, Ricera, Stoneyfield (which is NOT dairy free - what a shame), Silk, Wildwood - you name it...I think the Coconut Milk Yogurt is by far the best I've put in my mouth.

    I'm sorry you don't like it...maybe you just had a weird batch? I'm bummed I have to drive 30 minutes to find it.

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  10. Just to clarify I did say that both the blueberry and raspberry were good (the blueberry being my favorite) however, for me, it is not worth the $1.99 price tag. The most scathing part of my review is about the vanilla flavor which I found absolutely detestable. I just wanted to make sure I clarified that point.

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  11. I'm enjoying a cup of Raspberry So Delicious Coconut Yogurt now....it's to die for! Vanilla and Pina Colada are my favorite flavors...I love this yogurt much more than Soy yogurts. I give it 5 Thumbs up, 2 snaps, and a smile :)

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  12. pina coloda is absolutely amazing.

    (don't try it, cause you will want to buy more and you'll be spending your rent on it.)

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  13. I think this yogurt is amazing. You're right it is pricey so most of the household eats soy yogurt. But I have a daughter that cannot eat dairy or soy so it's worth it for me to buy this for her. I know there is rice yogurt but it's just not that good. Of course, I hold the belief that anything is better with coconut. The frozen dessert is one of the most delicious things Ive ever eaten. (though I can't understand why anyone would be nasty in their reply just because your opinion differed. People act weird on the Internet)

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  14. Yikes, I'm sorry you got nasty comments. I have only tried the plain, and I think that's really good. I don't usually buy flavored yogurt.

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  15. You should probably stick to soy pudding with the panda on the box. :)

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  16. Whole Foods has it on sale this week 4 for $5 if that's any consolation...

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  17. Correction to the Whole Foods sale price... 3 for $4

    I stopped in to pick up all the flavors they had -- blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, strawberry banana, chocolate, pina colada, passionate mango, vanilla, plain -- but I don't see paying even the "sale" price on a regular basis when I can usually find regular yogurt for $0.50 or less. I cringe at the soy yogurt prices. Ah well.

    FYI, also saw rice milk yogurt there, have you tried it yet?

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  18. Thanks for the heads up on the sale! I'll probably pick up exactly three (whichever flavor has the longest expiration date so I can make it last!)

    As far the rice milk yogurt goes I assume you're talking about Ricera. I've reviewed it not once but twice. Check the review out here http://veganguineapig.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-ricera-obession.html

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  19. I'm nursing my daugher that has had a reaction to the dairy in my diet. This blog was very helpful. Thanks!

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  20. There is this amazing Raw and Vegan Coconut Yogurt in Portland, Oregon that just came out! I think you can get it online too.... It's kinda pricey but it's a small business so it's sooo fresh, just young thai coconut meat and cultures, there's no weird additives or preservatives or any kind of sweetener.... www.CultureBiota.com

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  21. I'll admit I have never actually tried coconut yogurt straight (the idea of yogurt, dairy or not, really freaks me out), BUT the vanilla coconut yogurt is AMAZING as an egg replacer in cakes and brownies. One carton can be substituted for two eggs...

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  22. I personally like blueberry, raspberry, and the strawberry banana. I'm not a big fan of the mango, and the pina colada was really disappointing. Not at all like what I expected.

    The most popular in our local Whole Foods are the raspberry, blueberry and strawberry banana. I'd love for the price to come down a little bit, but it is what it is.

    So, you can eat the mango and, if you end up liking it, the pina colada. Maybe I'll share the strawberry banana with you. ;) (It just depends on who gets there first, huh? grin) I'll get the raspberry and blueberry. We'll both be happy. LOL

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  23. BTW, the chocolate is really not so good, IMO. I expected chocolate and got something that tasted more like lemons with a hint of chocolate. (shudder) Of course, everyone's taste is different... :)

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  24. I have been eating the strawberry/banana and the raspberry yogurt every day for several months. I love how these two flavors taste. I am lactose intolerant and because of estrogen issues I prefer not to eat soy. I do not consume products that use artifical sweetners such as Splenda. So I thought I would have to give up yogurt completely until I discovered the coconut milk yogurt. My family typical eats the S.A.D. and they turn up their nose at anything they even think might be healthy. They absolutely love the coconut milk yogurt. I also have digestive problems. After eating the yogurt on a daily bases the abdominal/digestive problem was greatly improved! I do agree that it is a bit pricey but for me the benefits I've mention far out way the cost factor. I typically have to sub. it for other food items. Purchasing enough for an entire family to eat daily is impossible. So it would be nice if the company would lower their price.

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  25. Hi,
    Been vegan for about 8 years now...and I love the way this yogurt tastes (all the fruit flavors, I never liked vanilla yogurt ever, from any brand,even when I wasn't vegan)...but I hate the cost. I hate the priciness of a lot of vegan specialty items (fake meat, etc.) and I rarely eat them...I've become a mostly beans and rice person.

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  26. My son has autism, and we have had him on a very restrictive diet where he cannot have gluten, dairy and soy, amongst many other things. He has had severe GI issues since he was a baby. As we are healing his guts, he has been doing amazingly well. And I really feel stumbling across this yoghurt, one he can actually have, he has made remarkable improvements. I give him one to two plain yoghurts a day, along with other probiotics and supplements. Worth every penny in our case.
    I actually tried it too, and it tastes pretty good to me too. It is different, but good different.

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  27. I can't eat dairy or soy so you cam imagine how thrilled I was to discover coconut yogurt. Everyone has different taste buds I guess because I absolutely love the vanilla, the pina colada is awesome and the strawberry banana addictive. I found the raspberry and blueberry too sweet for my taste and I don't care much for the mango flavor. I also enjoy the plain, it is slightly sweet, I cover it with caramel sauce and pretend it's flan! But my real problem is that several times I have opened up the container to find mold growing. So far in the vanilla, strawberry banana and the mango. I buy this product from Fairway and take it right home into my fridge and eat it with 2-4 days tops. Has anyone else had this problem?

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  28. I read your updated comment and can say that my guess is people can be extremely protective of something that changes their life. For me, this yogurt has helped me get through one of the most intense colitis flare-ups of my life. I also use real coconuts, but I don't have time to crack open coconuts daily. The yogurt is expensive and it frustrates me that they don't make a large container of the plain. I eat mostly plain and my son loves the vanilla, which I think is tasty, but a bit on the sweet side. One of the best additions to a smoothie, and for a yummy breakfast -- plain coconut yogurt with chunks of fresh blood orange, sliced banana, and sprinkles of kamut puffs and hunza raisins. I think they've made a fantastic discovery with coconut yogurt, and it truly has helped me to satisfy the need for sweet in something that is not harmful to the body. And, the health benefits of consuming coconut on a regular basis are impressive. Everything in moderation and $2 a yogurt is a bit pricey, but most of the yogurts in my health food store are too expensive. I appreciate finding this blog.

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  29. I'm totally in love w the strawberry banana as wellll

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  30. I just wanted to thank you for your review. I stumbled across your blog after googling for an organic vegan coffee creamer and discovering So Delicious. When I saw that it makes yogurts, I googled its yogurts and found your blog. I have digestive issues and have been trying to find a yogurt I like that isn't loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. I tried the cheap ones and the expensive ones. The regular ones. The greek kinds. Then I finally tried So Delicious Plain. Voila! A yogurt that I actually like! It's a miracle, LOL! I agree, it's a bit pricey. My Whole Foods had it on sale for $1.50 a cup. But I spied a larger container for $3 so I'm going back to buy that one. Thanks again!

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  31. Oh what I would do for a $3 container! I'll have to keep on the look out for that.

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  32. OMG, you have to try the chocolate flavor.
    I agree, 1.99 is highway robbery for yogurt. 1st time I tried the Vanilla I threw it away, but now I love it.

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  33. If you can find the pina colada flavor, no matter the price, buy it!!!

    Also, I'm obsessed with strawberry banana. OBSESSED!

    I generally only eat So Delicious half of the time so that I'm not habitually spending $1.99 on yogurt. Still looking for a soy yogurt I can stomach.

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  34. Have you tried that Pina Colada flavor yet? If you haven't, definitely go for it. Absolutely the best yogurt i've ever tasted :)

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  35. i completely agree with this blogpost. this yogurt just isn't any good. stoney field's low fat vanilla is my favorite yogurt, but i'm looking to get off of dairy.

    and to the commenters on So Delicious's payroll: try to be a little less obvious

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  36. I've only tried the plain one and immediately fell in love with it knowing I'd never go back to regular, Greek or soy yogurts. The reason I don't bother trying the flavored ones is that if you're going to spend more money on better quality yogurt, you're only ruining the health factor by eating flavored yogurt. I'm picky about coconut flavored things since I grew up in the Caribbean and know what a fresh ripe coconut tastes like. The So Delicious plain coconut yogurt hits the spot. (As a side note: too much soy yogurt or milk is bad for u btw).

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  37. Just to add to my previous comment and respond to an earlier question about "mold". I did notice the inconsistent texture and flavor of the product and just today I saw a bright orange-ish red spot sitting on top of my plain yogurt when I opened it!(?!?) I took a picture with plans to email the company that makes this brand. That's how I stumbled across this blog , while googling about it. I like the product a lot but I may need to stop buying it if the quality control is not up to snuff!

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  38. I live in Canada and Whole Foods JUST got this in. I mean I saw it in Hawaii while traveling 2 years ago and tried the little ones and thought they were ok. And they just didn't have them here. Now they are in Vancouver at Whole Foods. I bought blueberry and vanilla.

    I just tried blueberry and it tastes gross really. And I love the So Delicious Coconut Icecream, I love the Cherry Amaretto flavour. So amazing.

    But I am regretting this blueberry yogurt. It's $3.99 for 1 lb (454 g) container. And I don't know what to do with it now. My husband thinks it tastes normal. I do not, it's bitter or something and really thick and not in a nice Activia way. When I ate dairy that was my favourite yogurt. I don't eat dairy now and hate soy yogurt and soy milk but I try the coconut products sometimes just for a treat or in a recipe.

    Agreed, disappointing. Sad people can be so angry based on an opinion of liking or not liking something.

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  39. I personally love these yogurts. I think coconut is one of those flavors though that not everybody likes. I also like the fact that there are active cultures in this yogurt and it is produced by an independent company (not owned by a larger company unlike Silk or Stoneyfield).

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  40. I just tried the vanilla coconut yogurt today...Meh, it was fair. You are right about it being very sweet. I'm lactose intolerant, but can somehow stomach Greek yogurt, so that's what I stick with. The Soy and Coconut yogurts have a texture that I just don't care for, in addition to the expensive price. I tried it this time because I'm on a fast and cannot have dairy, anything with added sugar, or soy. At this time, I don't care about the fat content since I need some in my diet, but 6 grams for a cup of yogurt??!

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  41. I don't care for it either, plus it's made with carrageenan, which has been linked to inflammation, intestinal problems and glucose intolerance, leading to diabetes.

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  42. The plain greek yogurt is delicious, I normally put a dollop of vanilla in with plain greek, and it's much more bearable. But I agree, the vanilla just isn't that great.

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  43. I love the So Delicious Coconut Milk Vanilla flavor. It's really good!!! I'm sticking with it.

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