Beverage firms ready to satisfy consumers eager to toast coconut-based drinks
China DailyWorkers check the packaging process of coconut-based beverages at FreeNow's factory in Wenchang, Hainan province, on March 23. In 2022, the sales revenue of just its single product thick coconut milk — a coconut-based milk used in coffee — surpassed 1 billion yuan. Raw coconut lattes not only keep the original fragrance of coffee and give a boost but offer a taste that is closer to milk tea, satisfying young consumers' demanding taste buds, they said. Free-Now, which produced thick coconut milk that can make 600 million cups of raw coconut lattes in 2022, launched two new products this year — coconut non-dairy cream and coconut puree. "With coconut-based beverage consumption gaining increasing popularity, we will explore more consumption scenarios using a coconut base, including coffee houses, milk tea shops, homes and convenience stores," Zhang said.