I mentioned coconut water recently as one of the best hangover cures. It got me thinking about this mysterious beverage again, and how much I hated it the one time I tried it.
Motivated by curiosity, I did some research. I found several coconut water reviews which listed Vita Coco as the best-tasting coconut water. (Most of them listed Zico, the coconut water I had tried, as the worst-tasting.) I bought a little square container of Vita Coco at the store and I had to admit, it was quite tasty.
Coconut water is all the rage right now. It's basically poised to become the pomegranate juice of 2014. It's being touted as a cure-all, as "nature's sports drink," and as a healthier replacement for soda and fruit juice. How much of these claims are real?
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What even is coconut water?
Many people's first thought is of coconut milk, that thick, white, delicious liquid that comes in cans and makes amazing desserts and soups. But coconut milk is made by squeezing out the moisture from grated coconut meat.
On the other hand, coconut water is the liquid that is inside the center of young coconuts. This liquid is clear, slightly thicker than water, and filled with a surprising amount of nutrients including potassium, antioxidants, magnesium, calcium, and more. And strangely enough, it does not taste very much like coconut.
Not to make it sound gross, but coconut water is basically the coconut's amniotic fluid. This water nurtures the cells of the coconut, which (as the fruit matures) grow and deposit themselves inside the wall, becoming the coconut meat.
In many tropical parts of the world, people have been drinking coconut water for ages. Street vendors in places like India and the Pacific Islands sell young coconuts. When you order one, they chop it open for you with a machete and hand it over with a straw.
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Why drink coconut water?
Compared to say, a can of Coke, coconut water may not seem very tasty. However, it is reportedly packed full of nutrients (several times more potassium than in a single banana). Unlike soda, it has no artificial coloring, flavoring, or sweeteners added. And although it has as many electrolytes and hydrating potential as most sports drinks, it has only a fraction the sodium.
Everyone knows we should drink a lot of water. But some people don't like to drink plain water. It is, admittedly, not the most exciting drink in the world. For athletes and those who need hydration but don't want to drink water, coconut water is an excellent compromise.
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Why does some coconut water taste so nasty?
I wish I knew! The taste of coconut water varies widely from one brand to the next. I strongly recommend you sample one before buying an entire Costco-sized flat of the stuff.
And sometimes you can just "get a bad one," so if you get a skunky one from a brand people recommend, you may want to try another one before passing judgment.
Because coconut water contains no artificial stabilizers or preservatives, it can go bad on the shelf. This is particularly a problem in places where there isn't high turnover for the product, like small corner grocery stores. It can also go bad if the store hasn't stored it properly, so it's kind of a crapshoot there. Always check the "best by" date, it's important.
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Any down sides to coconut water?
The cost is pretty high. Prohibitively high, for many people. It currently runs around $3 for a 16-ounce carton, roughly twice the cost of soda or most energy drinks.
Coconut water does have calories, about 60 calories per 8-ounce serving. The calories come in the form of natural sugars and carbs found in the coconut water, which give it its characteristic light, sweet taste. However, those calories can add up quickly if you drink more than one a day. And people on a strict low-carb diet will want to use their own judgment on whether the carbs are worth it.
What about some of the other coconut water health benefits?
Some of the health benefit claims for coconut water are a little "out there." These claims, I would recommend you take with a grain of salt. In some corners, coconut water is being touted as the cure for acne, the common cold, cellulite, eczema, and more.
Main image courtesy Flickr/juicyrai
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