Which brand of coconut water is the *cleanest* etc.?

[veggietales]

Hi,

There are a few choices of coconut water and if possible, I would love some opinions on the *best* one.

Just the water, but from the best coconuts etc. if that makes sense?

I have a Sprouts Market (not a big deal for sure though!) and a Whole Foods in the next town which has a number of choices I believe.

If you can send me in the right direction for the most authenic tasting I can check and see if they carry it...or order it online.

I know WF carries O.N.E and the _____ and Brian (sorry! Forgot her name at the moment lol)

Thanks!
Veggietales

[snoops]

I would say the BEST coconut water is straight from the fresh coconut:) AL the others have no doubt been pasteurized. WF should carry whole Thai coconuts. Get one and crack it open baby.

[R'Mila]

I've tried a few and none of them taste the same as fresh coconut water, even the ones that are gently pasteurize. So if you only have access to the prepackaged or want an easy version, it's just a matter of personal taste.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I would say Zico, it tastes almost the same as direction from a coconut. This is only as a back up.

The best is directly from the coconut but not practical when you travel.

[veggietales]

Hi :D

I would ABSOLUTELY love to have only the fresh real coconut everyday...unfortunately, the only place within 100 miles of me that carries them (a WF) does not always have them and I can't get out of town every week and get there during their open hours :(

I guess I am looking for the *next best thing*. I want to drink it daily after my workout and provide it for my son as often as possible as well.

While on the subject, how long will a young thai coconut last? Would diluting the water by say, half be better than having the canned? I know having it straight, full strength out of the coconut is the very best, but wonder if having a little everyday by diluting could be a viable option to stretch it out and still get *some* of the benefits.

The next town we move to will have many more choices of places to shop and likely a WF within an easy 30 minute drive. *sigh*. That will be at least a year. It is surprising that our main grocery store here will not carry them. I suppose the cost is too high for them to last, and there is only one actual grocery store, no competition for them :/

What is the typical cost of a young coconut in most states? Here they are about $3.00 each.

Thanks, I know I am reaching but I am sure that having them shipped/delivered will be out of my $45 per week grocery/toiletry budget for a family of three...

Veggietales

[veggietales]

Ok, thank you :) I will give Zico a try!


I would say Zico, it tastes almost the same as direction from a coconut. This is only as a back up.

The best is directly from the coconut but not practical when you travel.

[R'Mila]

At the farmer's market and asian market in Atlanta, GA, they are $0.99. At wholefoods they are $3.50~. They don't carry them at the regular grocery stores. Walmart does have the brands you mentioned that don't have to be refrigerated until after opening for about $2/liter. They even have the juice box size at the checkout next to the sodas for $0.50.

If you got your hands on a fresh one, you could dilute if you want or use a little at a time. I juice a couple at a time and put it in a bottle and sip on it. It would probably be ok for 2,3 days max.

[DebB]

Our little local Asian market sells YT coconuts for about $1.20-$1.50 each - the price varies each week. If you buy a case (9-12 cocos in case), they give me a 10% discount.

[aviatrix79]

Hi veggietales,

Zico coconut water is pasteurized so don't bother with that. Unless you're drinking coconut water directly from the coconut immediately, it is useless. Once a coconut is cracked open and the air gets to it, it begins to ferment and all that goodness of the vitamins, minerals and enzymes are destroyed soon after. Just like fresh juice from fruit and veggies, coconut water should be consumed within five minutes. You can keep it and it will taste the same but it will already begin to oxidize so it won't be as potent. Also cracking them open is fun (well I think so anyway) and you get the added bonus of some coconut meat from them. I usually scoop it out and if it's very thin, eat it or if it's a little thicker, blend it and make coconut milk out of it or shred it and add it to a nice salad. It also freezes well so you can collect the meat and store it until you have enough. I love coconut water and have some every day. Especially while I'm fasting.

If you can find yourself an asian grocer near you, they usually stock fresher and cheaper coconuts. Asian grocers usually also stock a wider variety of greens and tropical fruits too so it's always worthwhile finding one.

Forgot to add.. you can also make kefir with it too, it's yummy.

[tiggerbounce]

I have yet to taste anything in a can that is drinkable. I end up having one or two tastes and tossing it in the garbage. Not the same. Once you taste a fresh one you will probably feel the same.

If you can find an Asian Market, you can get them fresh for around $1 give or take a quarter or so. BUT....look in the frozen section. For around $2, you can get the coconut, coconut strips, and coconut water in frozen form and keep it in your freezer for as long as you need to. Fresh ones will keep easily two or three weeks if you keep them in a cold refrigerator -- not in the door part. Keep it in the back on the shelf.

Check the bottom of the coconut. Make sure it is white and not bluish, purple, brown...those are not good. You want them to be white/cream colored. Ask them for a case from the back and make sure they are refrigerated. I went to a market once that just set them out and about half were nasty.

I can even get durian frozen in packages that way. It is already removed from the shell and I think it tastes better than the whole ones that are frozen.

An Asian market is definitely the way to go.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Funny, it is more expensive for me to buy them at the Asian market. They are popular here in my area and they know. They are $3 each even buying by case. Once in a blue moon, i can see a deal. Hopefully, i will be able to find them more affordable, they are our main staple.

[Pop Tart]

At my local health food store they carry a Jamaican brand of coconut water that is frozen in a bottle. It clearly states that it's a raw product and it tastes wonderful!

[Aleesha Sattva]

First off... (sorry folks) suggesting the best NON-RAW product is against the posting guidelines of this forum. Please don't do so.

Second... young coconuts will last 2 or 3 weeks in your fridge! So if you can get to your market once a month... you can have fresh coconuts! ;)

[aviatrix79]

I'd also like to add that if you buy fresh young coconuts, apart from having the pleasure of cracking one open yourself and drinking one of the freshest, most thirst quenching, yummiest and healthiest drinks on the planet, you also end up with these little cuties...

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp156/Aviatrix79/100_2593.jpg

I usually make a small hole under it and plant something in it. When it grows too big I pop the plant with the coconut shell in the garden. The roots will eventually find their way out and the shell will break down. In winter when herbs such as basil are difficult to grow outside, I plant some in the coconut shells and put them all along the window sill. I also give some away, with or without plants. Aren't they cute?

[Basenjimamma]

ok so let me ask y'all this...the few Thai young coconuts I have found and paid a pretty penny for have been all but good...pink on the inside, rather slimey (and I know the "flesh" is supposed to be soft in the young cn), almost fermented tasting, is that the way it supposed to taste or have I only had the opportunity to have bad ones?
Would love to find a reliable source, but our local grocery store doesn't seem to be it.

[Aleesha Sattva]

pink is not good. it means it's started (or has) turned.

white meat and clear (or slightly cloudy) liquid is gooooood.

[aviatrix79]

ok so let me ask y'all this...the few Thai young coconuts I have found and paid a pretty penny for have been all but good...pink on the inside, rather slimey (and I know the "flesh" is supposed to be soft in the young cn), almost fermented tasting, is that the way it supposed to taste or have I only had the opportunity to have bad ones?
Would love to find a reliable source, but our local grocery store doesn't seem to be it.

That's definitely gone off. If it tastes fermented then it has fermented. I'd say the coconut has been cut too early and stored too long. Is the husk a browny colour or have browny spots here and there? It should look clean and white-ish. If you can, try and find a little asian grocer. They're normally pretty fussy with their produce (because their customers are) and usually stock the freshest coconuts as well as greens.

[iwuvmydoggy]

at asian markets in my area, i haven't seen young coconuts, but i see loads of fresh durians & other fresh herbs, greens & things.. lots of asian pears by the case, various kinds of bananas & stuff.. i'll have to look around again, closer, and see if i can find any young coconuts.. here at my whole foods, they're like $6 each... you go buy a week's worth of groceries & end up spending like $400 a week. lol it's crazy.

here's a place where you can get fresh thai produce, direct from thailand (http://importfood.com/freshthaiproduce.html).. dunno if it's organic (probably not), but there it is. :) they also have thai coconuts on there.. they also have stuff like rambutan, mangosteen & galangal... also pandan leaves, which are used as a vanilla type flavoring. :) i just now noticed that their "fresh" fruit is irradiated.. :/ *sigh*

[DebB]

ok so let me ask y'all this...the few Thai young coconuts I have found and paid a pretty penny for have been all but good...pink on the inside, rather slimey (and I know the "flesh" is supposed to be soft in the young cn), almost fermented tasting, is that the way it supposed to taste or have I only had the opportunity to have bad ones?
Would love to find a reliable source, but our local grocery store doesn't seem to be it.

It sounds like you've got a bad one there :( It shouldn't be fermented tasting - it should taste very clean. And pink slimey meat - no, shouldn't be that either.

Do you have an Asian market in town? That's where I'm able to get mine.