Selecting The Best Tasting Coconut Water

By Jocelyn Davidson


Coconuts are usually associated with tropical islands and sunny days. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why coconut water has become very popular over the past few years. Products in many forms are flooding the market. It is often difficult to find the best tasting coconut water amongst all these products.

Various factors affect the taste of products. Even the country of origin may have an influence as coconuts are sourced from countries like Thailand and Brazil. The way they are stored, packaged and shipped may also have an influence on the flavor. Commercial products go through various types of processing before being ready for consumption and these can alter the taste.

The nutritional benefits of coconuts were discovered long ago in countries like Brazil and Thailand. They were used by indigenous people for many purposes. The liquid from coconuts has less sugar than many fruit juices and a number of sports drinks on the market. It also contains less sodium and is a very good source of potassium. The fact that it helps with hydration after exercise is one of the reasons it has become so popular.

However, there are many industrial processes that can strip away nutritional value. Commercial products usually go through various processes such as heating, filtering, pressing and centrifuging. For example, when fresh liquid is heated to reduce it to a concentrate, enzymes are denatured. When it is pasteurized or cooked at a high temperature to kill bacteria and extend shelf life, the same thing happens. It is worth finding out what processes the product has been through in production because the less processed the product, the more nutrients are retained.

One factor that can really influence taste is age. The liquid from more mature coconuts does not have the same taste as that of young, fresh ones. Some nutrients from the liquid have gone into the meat and so the liquid is also less nutritious. Those who use mature coconuts often have to add some form of sweetener to make the taste more palatable.

What most people are looking for is a taste as much like the natural taste as possible. This is a slightly sweet, nutty taste that is naturally refreshing. Some products taste quite different to this due to the additives used. In taste tests, products have been described as anything from sickly sweet to sour and soapy.

These products are not only found at supermarkets and health shops but are also available from many online stores. Reading customer reviews can be helpful and it is easy to compare a number of products to find the tastiest and healthiest ones out there. Ingredients are listed and it is important to check these to find out what additives, if any, have been used.

When selecting a product it is important not to just go on price. Some expensive products do not have the best taste. On the other hand, neither do some cheap ones. Nutritional value is also an important factor to consider. The best choice will be one that ticks all these boxes for you - the right price, taste and nutritional value.




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