Osaka's sari sari store, a 20-Year Coconut Specialty Store, Unveils New Coconut Milk Soft Serve

Cocowell, based in Naniwa-ku, Osaka, is introducing a new soft serve at its directly run store, sari sari store. Called Coconut Soft, the dairy-free treat is made with coconut milk and coconut sugar and goes on sale July 18, 2026.

Timed to Soft Serve Day

July 3 is known in Japan as Soft Serve Day, and Cocowell timed the launch around it, offering a soft serve option that stands apart from the usual dairy-based version — one built around coconut milk, still uncommon in Japan according to the company's own research.

What Makes Coconut Soft Different

Made with coconut milk and coconut sugar
No dairy
Plant-based
No emulsifiers or stabilizers
Served with an original rice flour waffle
Uncommon in Japan, according to the company's own research

Sales Period

Coconut Soft will be sold on Saturdays and Sundays from July 18 through September 20. Sales on days outside weekends (weekdays and holidays) will be announced as they're scheduled on sari sari store's official social media.

https://www.instagram.com/sarisari_cocowell/

A New Soft Serve Made Entirely From Plant-Based Ingredients

The finished soft serve draws its richness from Cocowell's coconut milk and its gentle sweetness from coconut sugar. With no dairy and no emulsifiers or stabilizers, the flavor comes through on the strength of the ingredients themselves, delivering a clean finish that's still satisfying.

While many soft serve products rely on dairy along with emulsifiers and stabilizers, this one is built on coconut milk to achieve a smooth texture through a simple ingredient list. It's a new take on soft serve that Cocowell says only its two decades of focus on coconuts as a specialty store could produce.

Cocowell's organic coconut milk

A Growing Global Market for Coconut Milk

Demand for coconut milk as a dairy alternative has been rising worldwide in recent years. The market is projected to reach about $4.1 billion in 2026 and roughly $14.9 billion by 2034, growing at an average annual rate of about 17%, according to Straits Research. Rising health consciousness and interest in plant-based foods have helped position coconut milk as a new option for consumers.

Coconut Soft, made with coconut milk

A Product Born From Years of Trial and Error

Cocowell has operated as Japan's first coconut specialty store since its founding in 2004, sharing the appeal of Philippine coconuts through products like coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut sugar.

The idea for Coconut Soft began with an offhand comment from a staff member: "A coconut milk soft serve would definitely be delicious!" That remark launched a development process at the company's in-house workshop, Cocowell Lab, which had already built up experience making a plant-based ice cream called Coco Ice using coconut milk.

Drawing on that know-how, the team found that achieving the right smoothness and mouthfeel using coconut milk alone wasn't easy. It took roughly five years from initial concept to finished product, with careful adjustments to temperature, ratios, and how much air was incorporated, before the team reached a result they were satisfied with.

An original rice flour waffle

An Original Rice Flour Waffle for Texture

The waffle served alongside the soft serve got its own attention to detail. It's made by pressing and baking a rice flour sablé dough that includes coconut oil and coconut sugar.

Its crumbly texture and toasty aroma are meant to complement the flavor of the Coconut Soft.

sari sari store

A New Offering From sari sari store

sari sari store has been sharing the appeal of coconut milk through its Coco Ice for some time. This new soft serve builds on that experience and know-how, and has been a long-awaited addition to the store's menu.

The result is a soft serve that Cocowell says could only come from more than 20 years spent as a specialty store focused on coconuts, made with the hope of bringing the flavor of coconut to more people in an easy, everyday way.