taste of coconut

[BerryGirl]

I bought my first coconut (mature) this week, and tonight DH and I got the water out (which I used in a banana and frozen pineapple smoothie!) and then he cracked the coconut for the flesh. I used a fork and scratched a little up to taste it, and I have to say, it tasted weird. Not like a coconut. More like . . . bad chapstick. Do I need to let it sit for a while and dry some? Did I get a bum coconut? The water tasted fine to me-- just like I imagined it would, nice and coconut-like but not overwhelming. Is the flesh better if it's mixed up with some fruit in a smoothie? Thanks!

[Finding Me]

I'd like to bump this up.... because I'm curious as well.

I just opened a mature (brown and hairy) coconut and am not sure what to think about it. I wasn't too crazy about the coconut water inside, and the coconut meat didn't really taste too appetizing.

Can someone help with what to expect/lookfor on Young (white) and Mature (brown) coconuts. I wonder if I got a "bad" one???

Thanks!!! :D

[marigold]

often the brown ones i buy are off..smell and taste off so maybe thats what the prob was..!

[Finding Me]

Ok.. so today is my coconut testing day. Now... I opened a young coconut. The coconut water was much better than the Mature one I had just opened.
But I have a question about the meat inside it. I've read on here that the meat/flesh is jelly like and scoops out with a spoon. My coconut meat (in my Young coconut) was more like rubbery. It was definitley softer than the mature coconut, but doesn't seem the way many of you describe it. Does this mean my young coconut was bad as well?

Also, can I cut up the meat and throw it in the freezer? Does the water have to be drank immediately? Or can I save it for a smoothie for later in the day?

Thanks in advance!!! :D

[moonstone523]

Young coconuts, the meat should be kinda like rubber. It will peel off with a spoon. And the water in it should be a sweeter, non carb version of a sprite. That is kinda how I think of it.

An, old coconut, shouldn't have juice in it. And the meat requires a scraper to extract. Like no spoon is every going to scrape it out.

*this is my experience. however, i rely in thai people to pick them out of trees for me, so i am not choosing them say from a supermarket.

hope this helps.

[samadhisoul]

mature coconuts do indeed have water...just not as much-which is why you are more likely to HEAR it sloshing around when in the store.
after I tried my first young coconut, I NEVER wanted to go back to the mature ones!, the water in the mature ones is pretty tasteless from what I can recall so no sweetness...if it tasted overly sweet--throw it away!, whichc is what I would do with any weird tastes

[moonstone523]

I think i get really old coconuts. actually, i rarely actually get coconuts handed to me. i can buy fresh coconut meat already shredded.

[rawpriestess]

I've had young Thai coconuts from many sources, and they are okay, but nothing I would go buy, I got a few for free from grocers and pot lucks, and then I have Dragggon open them up and he does all that water out, scraping stuff, I have used coconut in things, and it is okay, just not great.

I think that there are so many other good things out there that I love, why eat something that is just okay?

So, if you love coconut and you like breaking them open, I say, go for it, and enjoy them, but if you are like me, and only kind of like them, and they seem like way too much work, I say eat nuts instead.LOL

I think if your coconut doesn't taste delicious,you should toss it out, just like anything else you buy.

Or take it back, it's up to you, I have no qualms taking back fruit or produce that I don't like, I just put it in a baggie, in the freezer, find the receipt, and take it back the next time I go to town, never had any store manager give me any challenges, I always get my money back.

[BerryGirl]

My husband tasted the coconut the next morning and he agreed with the chapstick flavor. I'd like to try a young coconut but I've never seen them in town, even in our really nice upscale gourmet-type grocery store. The only place I've ever seen them is on Alissa's video! So I think for now coconuts are a no-buy for me. Though I did enjoy watching my husband try to get into the coconut by hammering a (clean) screwdriver into one of the "eyes" and then making jokes about the coconut having a splitting headache! :D

[Finding Me]

Thanks everyone for answering.

I would still like to know if the coconut water can be saved or used later? The coconut meat as well? If so... how to do you store it and in what?

Thanks!!