The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest coconut producers, exporting millions of coconuts overseas to be turned into everything from beauty products to plant-based milk.
Yet dairy still dominates most of what we drink. Walk into most cafes, homes, or supermarkets, and you’ll probably find that regular cow’s milk is still what lines most shelves and pantries. Alongside it is the growing roster of imported plant-based options like oat, almond, or soy. Coconut, despite growing abundantly in our own backyard, rarely has any space to shine.
So why aren’t we drinking more of what we already grow? Dehusk is asking the same question.
“We’re one of the biggest exporters of coconuts in the world,” shared co-founder Nadine Lustre. “Yet we send them abroad for other countries to turn them into different products, including milk, and then we buy those products back.”
Why Dehusk Believes Coconut Milk Belongs Beyond Filipino Cooking
Dehusk—the Philippines’ first locally produced fortified coconut milk brand—is hoping to make coconut milk a familiar choice, not just for cooking but also for your morning coffee, cereal, or smoothie.
The challenge, however, is convincing Filipinos that coconut milk is more than just the rich, creamy gata used in dishes like laing, bicol express, or ginataang bilo-bilo.
“When people think of gata, they expect it to be thick, heavy, and something you cook with,” said co-founder Christophe Bariou. That’s exactly why they wanted to create coconut milk that’s lighter, easier to drink, and enjoyable even on its own.
Ironically, coconut wasn’t even the founders’ first choice. Before Dehusk, Bariou had already been experimenting with plant-based milks made from oat, rice, almond, and even cashew. Around the same time, co-founder Samuel Tecuala was independently developing a coconut milk product. When the two met through a mutual connection, they realized they had been trying to solve the same problem from different directions.
As they compared ideas, coconut quickly towered to the top. Not simply because the country has an abundance of it, but because it’s already a staple for many Filipino kitchens.
How Dehusk Is Reinventing Coconut Milk
Still, the team knew that they couldn’t just bottle gata and call it a day. They wanted to create a product that could naturally fit into everyday routines, something palatable to drink whether it was breakfast or a casual coffee run in any of the city’s hottest cafes.
To do that, Dehusk’s developed a dairy- and lactose-free milk alternative fortified with calcium, iodine, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 while also offering fewer calories, sugar, and carbohydrates compared to whole milk.
Their latest offering, the Barista Blend takes things a step further. Richer and creamier than the original, it’s made to steam and froth for espresso-based drinks, making it easier for cafes (or home brewers) to swap out dairy for coconut.
Can Coconut Milk Become the Philippines’ Everyday Dairy Alternative?
With the introduction of Dehusk, will coconut milk become as common as dairy? Only time will tell.
For now, the brand is focused on establishing coconut milk as more than just the newest, niche, plant-based alternative. The launch of their Barista Coconut Milk is a massive leap toward showing that coconut belongs in more than just curries and desserts—it also deserves a place in cups of coffee, smoothies, and everyday routines.
After all, in a country where coconuts have long been a staple of our cuisine, perhaps the biggest shift isn’t creating a new product. It’s simply seeing a familiar ingredient in a whole new way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dehusk is a Philippine brand that produces fortified coconut milk designed for everyday drinking and cooking.
It’s a richer, creamier coconut milk developed to steam and froth well for coffee while also working in smoothies, cereal, and other everyday drinks.
Yes. Dehusk’s coconut milk is dairy-free and lactose-free.
Yes. Dehusk’s Barista Blend is specifically formulated to pair with espresso and create a smooth, creamy texture.
Unlike traditional cooking gata, Dehusk’s coconut milk is lighter, fortified with vitamins and minerals, and formulated for drinking as well as cooking.
