Packaged Coconut Water

[Blazin'Jane]

Last night in our friendly little hfs, I saw a new product in two different brands --coconut water from 2 different sources. Is this a new phenomenon, and are these products clean and raw? Pasteurized, do you suppose? I didn't write down the brand names, but will the next time I go in there. I was just wokdering what others have found in packaged coconut water and whether it's something raw foodists want anything to do with. Thanks.

[RawYorkCity]

I would love to know the answer to this question too. I see coconut water in the store and every time it calls my name, but I'm too worried it's pasteurized.

[cara4art]

I just saw this too at Whole Foods as well. If it is clean, it would be fab for the liquid part of a green smoothie. Fresh coconut water from the coconut is supposed to be one of the most hydrating, restorative drinks going as it has a great balance of natural electrolytes in it. If the packaged stuff is any good they've got a winner for folks who might not have access to coconuts.

[Nektar]

Yes. All packaged coconut water is pasteurized. Buy the whole young/water coconut and get the real stuff.

[raweater]

Most young coconuts are the trimmed/thai/pointy ones which are dipped in cancer causing preservatives which penetrate through to the water. I can tell you raw coconut water with cancer causing chemicals is far worst than pasteurized without cancer causing chemicals. I used to buy some regularly but I think my HFS stopped selling it, and it was quite expensive. It's mostly only water and minerals so there's not much to be destroyed by the pasteurization. Remember that the ground spices you use are also cooked during grinding unless you grind them yourself. Unless you absolutely want to be 100.00% raw I say it's not a problem at all and the benefits far outweigh any destruction caused by the pasteurization.

My favorite brand is Vita Coco, the others I've tried taste bad.

[raven]

The packaged coconut water doesn't taste as good as the fresh stuff but, as Raweater says, you know that it's more pristine. It's not a mainstay for me but I use it now and then. I never use bottled juices but I sometimes grab a packaged coconut water, which can be so refreshing on a hot day or is easy to take to a Bikram class.

Suzy

[rawstrength]

I've tasted wild fresh coconut water, farmed fresh coconut water, coconut water from a white pointy coconut water in a HFS, and packaged coconut water.

Of all these coconut waters, the wild fresh coconut water is the best. Wild coconut water is not sweet, but rather mineral-y and rich like good green juice. The second best is to drink farmed coconut water fresh. However, while I love fresh coconut water while traveling, it isn't really an option here in New England. I actually prefer the taste of the coco vita coconut water that is packaged to the coconut water I get from the formaldehyde dipped coconuts in the store.

I'm a coconut conniseur ;) .

[justin]

I've tasted wild fresh coconut water, farmed fresh coconut water, coconut water from a white pointy coconut water in a HFS, and packaged coconut water.

Of all these coconut waters, the wild fresh coconut water is the best. Wild coconut water is not sweet, but rather mineral-y and rich like good green juice. The second best is to drink farmed coconut water fresh. However, while I love fresh coconut water while traveling, it isn't really an option here in New England. I actually prefer the taste of the coco vita coconut water that is packaged to the coconut water I get from the formaldehyde dipped coconuts in the store.

I'm a coconut conniseur ;) .

Excellent tips here, thanks for writing up your preference.

[Colorawdo girl]

rawstrength...so the thai coconuts are not great for us? Are they "better than" none? what are the coconuts treated with and is that a fact that they are? How would one know?

[Bananna]

ok raweater, you and rawstrength have made a good enough case for me...besides that I'd have to drive an hour just to get those Thai ones.

I give myself a 5-10% practicality/enjoyment window for just such things.

[Riiiya]

i work at a HFS and we have several kinds of coconut water. I THINK from what i read, it is not heated or pasteurised but i'm not sure- you can always go to their website or call them on a toll free number-that's the fastest!

one thing i can say- i used to buy young coconuts by cases and drink them every morning.. love coconut water- ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT STAND PACKAGED COCONUT WATER!! it is SO different

[greenfeline]

I wouldn't buy the pasteurized, what is the point if the vitamins & minerals are killed?

[LotsaRaw]

Hello,
Thank you for your interest for Vita Coco! To answer your question, our machinery uses a patented method to extract the coconut water then filter and flash pasteurize the water at 120 degrees for two seconds before packaging it in its aseptic tetra pak package. (As per FDA guidelines, flash pasteurization is mandatory for bottled beverages) ONLY this tetra pak can stabilize and give the coconut water a shelf life of 12 months and allow us to keep it 100% natural - no additives, no preservatives. Please let me know if I can assist you with a anything else.

**closer to the real thing than usual in my opinion***

[JennaBoBenna]

Hm....120 degrees? not bad...

thanks for the info!

i remember looking at the package and not seeing "pasteurized" on there at all!

[LotsaRaw]

i remember looking at the package and not seeing "pasteurized" on there at all!

JBB,

I agree - I have a case of these in my pantry, after reading the cartons - other brands specified "pasteurized", so I went with the Vita Coco - use it when I do not have fresh coconut or orange juice to add to my smoothies :)

LR

[rayofsunshine]

Thanks for this information. It gives me a much better chance of consuming coconut water.

[Ambug]

This is good to know about Vita Coco coconut water. That brand is one that goes on sale frequently at Sunflower market here in Las Vegas. Thanks for the info. :)

[Befronia]

You can click here (http://www.vitacoco.com/benefits.html) and find that it is flash pasteurized for two seconds at 120 degrees. IMHO, that would render it not raw.

[rawhippie]

so if the thai coconuts are treated with preservatives what now? no more recipes that utilitze them? that would really suck. is there such a thing as getting them/finding them organic? and while on the topic of coconuts...what is the difference between coconut milk and coconut water? (packaged) i have only found coconut milk in cans. is the milk kept somewhere else in a store typically? but what's the difference between the two anyhow?
thanks?

[Fern]

Here is a good description of the difference between coconut milk & coconut water (from Slash/Food :)).

"When you hear the phrase "coconut milk," the image that might stick in your mind is the juice that is found inside the center of a coconut. At least, that is what most people assume that it is. Actually, the liquid endosperm inside a young coconut is known as coconut water. It is fat free and low in calories, but is a good source of potassium and other nutrients.
Coconut milk is made by pureeing a mixture of coconut meat and water, then straining it to remove some of the fat. A second straining will yield a lower fat coconut milk."

[rawhippie]

many thanks! that's sort of what i thought, but was never certain:)

[Traceyraw]

Try Bob Roths Orange Groves in Florida. They ship there oranges and have an abundance of coconuts. I bet they will ship the coconuts or there fresh coconut water. I live right down the street so I just stop by and pick up a jug.

[k8sl8]

Resurected this thread as I'm always 'waiting' for the perfect coconut water. Just not practical to have fresh while traveling.

I didn't know young cocos were dipped. What is the consensus on this?? I guess if that's the case I too would choose the 120 degree flash past. process over chemicals.

Green cocos. available in FL should be the best then...

[Seductive Arts]

Most young coconuts are the trimmed/thai/pointy ones which are dipped in cancer causing preservatives which penetrate through to the water. I can tell you raw coconut water with cancer causing chemicals is far worst than pasteurized without cancer causing chemicals. I used to buy some regularly but I think my HFS stopped selling it, and it was quite expensive. It's mostly only water and minerals so there's not much to be destroyed by the pasteurization. Remember that the ground spices you use are also cooked during grinding unless you grind them yourself. Unless you absolutely want to be 100.00% raw I say it's not a problem at all and the benefits far outweigh any destruction caused by the pasteurization.

My favorite brand is Vita Coco, the others I've tried taste bad.


I really doubt the chemicals are penetrating all that 1/2 inch white fiberous "husk" outside the coconut shell. And then the coconut shell itself is so thick and hard, I highly doubt again it penetrates the water and meat inside.

Besides, even pasteurized coconut water sold in packages in the store still come from the same chemical process as the raw young ones. So you are not really escaping anything by drinking the pasteurized packaged coconut water.

[yerkim]

unfortunately, chemicals ARE penetrating the husk of the coconut. Check out Kevin Gianni's youtube channel. He interviews a woman who tested this out. She put food coloring on the coconut and when it was cut, the coconut water and meat were colored red from the food coloring. :(
I was really sad to hear this. You can even see the pictures if you visit the site. Apparently, the young thai coconuts are dipped in some sort of fungicide. yikes!!!

[nikole.957]

rawstrength...so the thai coconuts are not great for us? Are they "better than" none? what are the coconuts treated with and is that a fact that they are? How would one know?

ok raweater, you and rawstrength have made a good enough case for me...besides that I'd have to drive an hour just to get those Thai ones.

[okorolina40]

good to know - i loove coconut water... used to buy Amy and Brian brand before I went raw... then tried Zico before they went to plastic packages - yuk! i ordered some green ones online, they were.. ok.... definitely not as sweet.. hmm i think i will indeed try the vita coco -- 120 degrees is not too shabby.. i had the best fresh coconut water in puerto rico from what I remember 3 yrs ago..

thanks for this thread! I remember eating coconuts and drinking coconut water as a little girl.. mom had a fried who shipped them to us in a cases from Florida and CA i think...

[Mikey_H]

unfortunately, chemicals ARE penetrating the husk of the coconut. Check out Kevin Gianni's youtube channel. He interviews a woman who tested this out. She put food coloring on the coconut and when it was cut, the coconut water and meat were colored red from the food coloring. :(
I was really sad to hear this. You can even see the pictures if you visit the site. Apparently, the young thai coconuts are dipped in some sort of fungicide. yikes!!!

Back before I really knew how to pick out a good thai coconut I used to run into coconuts that were red on the inside, and had an almost spoiled kind of taste and smell. I've been told this means the coconut is either too immature or for whatever reason went bad, not sure which one.
Since I now know how to pick a good one out, I always get fresh white ones.
Is it possible this would explain why her red-dipped coconuts were red when opened?
I too have a hard time believing without really firm evidence that these so-called carcinogenic compounds can seep through a husk and a shell. It seems to me Coconut has evolved to resist and maybe even filter these kinds of "foreign invaders" from the outside.
But I must say, fresh "right off the tree" thai coconuts DO in fact taste different - a little less "sweet", and more "mineraly", than the ones found in the natural stores. Kinda makes me wonder, but in the meantime, I'll stick with having my fair share of the whole coconuts as well as the Vitacoco.