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How To Buy The Healthiest Coconut Water And Avoid The Worst!

I love coconut water! When I’m traveling in the tropics, there is nothing better than drinking water straight from a coconut. Mother nature designed the perfect vessel for a drink that is so refreshing, slightly sweet, and keeps you hydrated in hot climates. You’ve probably heard that coconut water makes an excellent hydrating drink that replenishes electrolytes and can replace nasty chemical-filled Gatorade and Powerade – but there really is more to it than that. How do you buy the healthiest coconut water and avoid the worst?

The Best Coconut Water

Coconut water is one of the healthiest drinks on the planet

Coconut water contains a unique combination of B vitamins, vitamin C, micronutrients, and phytohormones that are exceptionally beneficial to your health.  A scientific review of coconut water, published in the journal Molecules, highlights some of the ways that coconut water replenishes your body:

  • Helps to prevent heart attacks
  • Lowers high blood pressure
  • Can have anti-aging effects
  • Fights free radicals to help prevent cancer
  • Contains trans-zeatin which can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease or dementia

That being said, I don’t want you to think it’s okay to pick up just any coconut water off of the shelf.  Packaged coconut water is really flooding into the market recently. You can find it in bottles, cartons or powdered, frozen, flavored, carbonated, and sweetened. With all these choices it can be confusing and difficult to know if you are choosing the best one.

It usually costs at least $3 bucks a bottle, so it’s not exactly affordable- and if I’m going to spend my hard earned money on some, I make sure it’s worth it!  Primarily, I look for coconut water that is the least processed and still has the majority of its nutrients intact. This is always going to be directly from a fresh coconut – but, of course that’s not always available.  If you haven’t already heard, Pepsico and Coca-Cola have their own versions of coconut water – (O.N.E., Zico, Naked) – and you can only imagine what the corporations have done to it.  

How To Ruin Coconut Water

Using a concentrate instead of fresh juice:  Some coconut water companies get away with saying their drinks contain “100% Coconut Water” that’s “All Natural” even though it’s made from a reconstituted concentrate. Just like other juices in the store, they heat fresh coconut water and reduce it to a syrup. It’s cheaper for them to import this coconut water syrup, which they later add water prior to packaging. Any juice that has been heated to this extent loses a significant amount of its nutrients and its beneficial enzymes are denatured (i.e. the enzymes don’t work anymore).

Taking water from mature coconuts: This is a biggie. Young coconuts on the tree are usually green with an abundance of water in the center that is full of nutrients. Anyone that drinks coconut water straight from a coconut is drinking out of one of these young coconuts. As they begin to age, the nutrients in the water begin to seep into the meat of the coconut, and the water becomes less nutritious. It’s essentially watered-down. This also happens when young coconuts are picked and allowed to lie on the ground in the sun, for an extended period of time. While older “mature” coconuts might be used to make coconut oil, coconut milk and other coconut products, the coconut water from older coconuts is often discarded because it’s lacking nutrients and doesn’t taste the same. As the popularity in coconut water spiked recently, companies realized that they could buy up the water from mature coconuts  and could get it cheaper than young coconut water. This is why it’s important to drink young coconut water and not get scammed into drinking the watered-down and less nutritious version.

Adding “natural flavors” or sweeteners: Young coconut water is refreshing and sweet, so there is absolutely no need to flavor or sweeten it – unless you are trying to hide something. Guess what happens when they use mature coconuts for their water? It tastes acidic, so they mask this taste with natural flavors or sweeten it up with sugars. I’ve heard that some companies use a centrifuge system to remove the acidic taste, but it’s a safe assumption that if you see a plain coconut water on the shelf with any natural flavors or sweeteners added it is from mature coconuts and not worth your money.

Pasteurizing it with heat: Coconut water is very delicate, naturally perishable, and should be kept cold. Have you ever stopped to wonder why most bottled and boxed coconut waters on the shelves aren’t in the refrigerated section? I recently checked out one of these bottles and noticed it didn’t expire for 2 years! This is because most coconut water at the store is heat pasteurized, which literally means that it’s been cooked to a very high temperature to kill bacteria and extend its shelf life. It has been shown that heat also destroys some of the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and also denatures enzymes – stripping its benefits and much of its flavor. If coconut water is from concentrate, this would be the second time it’s heated. Obviously, your best bet is to seek out and find unpasteurized raw coconut water. This can be hard to find, but there is another way to kill bacteria while keeping the nutrients intact:  HPP (high pressure processing). Without using heat, HPP is best way to preserve the goodness in coconut water, while extending its shelf life a little to make it more available commercially.

Dipping whole coconuts in formaldehyde or sodium metabisulphite: It’s been reported that some non-organic coconuts may be preserved for transport to the U.S. by dipping them in chemicals, including formaldehyde a known carcinogen. This leads to the possibility that these chemicals seep into the coconut meat and poisons the water. Some of my favorite organic cafes avoid this by getting frozen coconut water shipped directly to them. 

We called up several of the most popular coconut water companies and asked where they source their coconuts (young vs. mature), if they dip them in chemicals, how they pasteurize them, and about additives and preservatives that they may use. We got a variety of responses, and it’s almost surprising to me how much some of these companies have screwed up something as basic as coconut water. I found several brands to avoid, because they are so heavily processed that the final product barely resembles natural coconut water.

Coconut waters to avoid at all costs:

Naked Juice Coconut Water – Although it’s not from concentrate, Naked told me that they use “mature” coconut water that is flash pasteurized with heat.  The plain variety doesn’t have any additives, but all of the flavored ones have added natural flavors. This is also a Pepsico brand – a company that spent over $4 Million dollars to fight GMO labels – so they aren’t getting any of my business.

O.N.E. Coconut Water – This is another Pepsico brand that is flash pasteurized with heat. The flavored waters “with a Splash of Fruit Juice” contain natural flavors and “sugar” as an ingredient.  As it doesn’t say “cane sugar” on the label, this could very well be from GMO sugar beets.  

Pepsico told me that they couldn’t confirm whether their sugar is GMO because:

the exact source of the sugar in our coconut water cannot be confirmed because we source our ingredients from around the world and that information is not available at this time. Please know that all of our products comply with all applicable food laws and labeling requirements. O.N.E. Coconut Water relies on the regulatory agencies charged with safeguarding our food supply when sourcing ingredients for our products”. 

They are relying on the FDA’s regulations to protect us, although the FDA themselves say that the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring the safety of the ingredients used in their products, including GMOs. 

O.N.E. Coconut water

Zico – They sell two entirely different coconut waters depending on which packaging you choose. The waters in the bottles are made from concentrate and are a “blend of Asian coconuts” with natural flavors added. On the other hand, the ones in the tetra-pak cartons are not made from concentrate, have no additives, and contain only Thai coconut water that is packaged in Thailand. A bit confusing, isn’t it? While the tetra-paks (boxed) seem like a good choice, they use “Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization” to give it a long shelf life. This means it’s heated well above boiling point to 280 degrees Fahrenheit, which “kills everything” according to Scientific American, including beneficial nutrients. Plus, in case you didn’t hear the news, they were recently acquired by Coca-Cola – a big supporter of GMOs who have spent over 3.2 million to prevent GMO labeling.

CocoZona –  We called and emailed them on several occasions, and they never replied to any of our questions – not even a peep! I always find it alarming when a company refuses to stand behind their product and isn’t transparent about their practices, especially since some companies have been caught lying about what’s really in the bottle. So, at this point, we know little more than what’s printed on the bottle of CocoZona, and the ingredient list reveals that it is made from concentrate. That’s enough reason to stay away from it.

Vita Coco –  Don’t be fooled by all of those celebrity endorsements! Their waters are not made from concentrate, but they are all pasteurized with heat. Many of the flavored versions contain added sweeteners and the Cafe versions contain carrageenan. Even the seemingly plain 100% pure version contains added “fruit sugar.” Watch out for their coconut waters targeting kids, which are loaded with added sugar and many different natural flavors – they are not 100% coconut water! According to their website, Vita Coco Kids is also ultra high temperature pasteurized.

Vita Coco Kids

GOYA – This brand is heat pasteurized and contains added preservatives. Some versions are sweetened with sugar, which may be GMO.  Because I vote with my dollars, I avoid any GOYA brand product as they spent over $56K to fight GMO labeling in California.

C2O – They told me they heat pasteurize their water up to 120 degrees celsius once the product is in the can for as long as 5 minutes. Although, they use no additives or concentrates, the length of this high heat processing puts it squarely on my avoid list.

Purity Organic –  It’s made from concentrate and flash pasteurized with heat, so some of the goodness has been destroyed. It’s organic I know, but not all organic products use the best practices!

Coco Libre (Organic) – It’s  made from concentrate, flash pasteurized with heat and has added “natural flavors.”

How do other popular coconut waters stack up?

Munkijo (organic) – This water isn’t from concentrate, contains no additives or added sugars and their young coconuts are sustainably grown and harvested. But I’m sorry to report they also use ultra high heat pasteurization to process their waters, so it’s far from the best on the market.  

Coco Hydro by Big Tree Farms (organic) –  I really like Big Tree Farms’ mission geared towards sustainability. Their unique version of coconut water is powdered and comes in packets that travel easily. So, there is no pasteurization involved, you just add water to reconstitute it. However, the process they use to evaporate the water uses heat, so it is not considered raw and some of the nutrients may be destroyed in the process.

Taste Nirvana (organic) – No concentrates or additives in this brand, and their young coconuts are sustainably grown, harvested and organic (though not labeled as such). I really like how it’s packaged in glass bottles. They are the only company that told me they use a “steam sterilization” process which is a combination of steam and pressure.  

Amy & Brian (organic) – Other than the fact that they flash pasteurize the water, all other aspects are good – no additives, no added sugars, no concentrates. They also told me that their young coconuts are not treated with any chemicals or pesticides.  I have to admit though, I’m not a fan of the cans they are in, even if they are BPA-free.

Harvest Bay (some varieties are certified organic) – They flash pasteurize their water for about 2 seconds at 120 degrees, and it’s not from concentrate. Some of their waters are now organic, and they are all non-GMO project verified. Although they add no sugars or additives to their plain version, most flavored varieties contain added sugar or natural flavors, so I’d avoid those.  

Whole Foods 365 – They confirmed they don’t use a concentrate, however they heat pasteurize their water which comes “from around the world depending on availability”. Their water is also packaged in cans, which I don’t like!  

Trader Joe’s – Their water is not from concentrate, but it is pasteurized. I have yet to hear back from them in regards to how they pasteurize their water (whether they use flash or ultra processing).  They fortify their water with added vitamin C, which is a red flag that it has been heavily processed. 

My top picks for packaged coconut water:

***This chart contains examples of the coconut waters we researched, however, there are many more available on the market or may be available in your neck of the woods. Please use this post as a guide to find the best coconut water in your area.***

The Healthiest Coconut Water

While the best coconut water is straight from a young coconut picked from a tree, these packaged waters below are as close to the real thing as you can get. They don’t use any heat processing or concentrates, so they aren’t cooking your coconut water.  Some of them use HPP to kill bacteria, and a couple of these brands serve it up completely raw and unpasteurized.

Harmless Harvest (organic) – I’ve written about this brand before, and it’s no secret that they are my favorite. I had the pleasure of meeting with the founders of Harmless Harvest and I’m blown away with how open and honest they are about everything. They’ve become a success not because of marketing, but because of their good practices. In fact, they hardly spend any money on marketing at all (and bloggers are not compensated either). They source their young coconuts from small organic agroforestry farms that pay a fair wage to their workers. The coconuts are then frozen and shipped to the U.S. for packaging, after which they use HPP processing to kill bacteria and extend the shelf life to 60 days.  Because it’s so minimally processed, some of the waters turn pink when the naturally occurring antioxidants or phenols are exposed to light – and you won’t find this in pasteurized coconut water. You can find this at Whole Foods and most natural food stores in the refrigerator section.

Juice Press (organic)  – This water is totally raw. It’s not pasteurized or processed with HPP. Their coconuts are shipped frozen to the store and then they ship it fresh to you with a 3 or 4 day shelf life.

Exotic Superfoods (organic)  – Another fave, this water is 100% organic and raw. It is not processed with any heat or HPP – but it’s kept frozen to preserve freshness.  

Liquitera (organic)  – This bottled raw coconut water is also organic, without any pasteurization. It’s only available at their stores in New York.

Vital Juice (organic)  –  It’s never heated or frozen, and it’s preserved with HPP, 100% organic and non-GMO project verified. It is currently only available at stores in Washington and Oregon with plans of expansion, and you can also order it online on Amazon. 

Unoco (wild coconut)  – Made from wild coconuts (not from a plantation) and processed with HPP without any additives. It’s only available in California right now.  

Suja (organic) – Suja makes a coconut water blend, Tropicaloe, which is made from freeze-dried coconut water mixed with pineapple, apple, aloe, lime, mint and spinach juices, all preserved with HPP.  This juice is exclusively sold at Whole Foods stores.

Keep in mind that while I think coconut water is amazing, I don’t drink it every day, I use it as a treat or on days I am very active and sweat hard!  

If you know someone who loves coconut water or needs a great substitute for soda, Gatorade, Powerade or other unhealthy drinks – please share this post!

We must educate as many people as possible about their choices to change the marketplace. When we change the marketplace and start spending our money on the best and safest brands, we change the world! 

Xo,

Vani 

 

 

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545 responses to “How To Buy The Healthiest Coconut Water And Avoid The Worst!

  1. Please let me know what you can find out about this brand below. Need to know the quality of it and is it safe?

    Swansons Ultra Coconut Water Concentrate.. Guaranteed purity and potency.
    Directions: mix 1 tbsp with 8 oz of water and shake before use Refrigerate after opening. 8 oz. container Total Price: $9.99 16 servings

    Question: is this made with heat?????

    Ingred: coconut water, ascorbic acid (Vit C)

    I sure would appreciate your input. Thanks! B Harmon

  2. Vani,

    Thank you so much for this amazing information. I am getting ready to do an unbiased product review for a new coco water on the market called BodyArmor. Did some digging and found out they are owned by the millionaire behind vitamin water, which I think was bought out by Coke. Crazy! I have some great fuel now to go into this event and will circle back around with you to let you know how it goes. Thanks again. You are amazing!

    Cory Warren aka “Real IronDAD”

  3. Harmless Harvest and the pink water… Not sold my family has generations of experience in with coconuts and their waters. No one has ever seen coconut water naturally turn pink… EVER. This is something they must be doing to the water some way they are treating it that makes it pink. Either leaching from the plastic or something they are adding to it. It was hard for me to explain to my family about pink coconut water just to find out from them if this was a natural thing.

    Other sources I have found mention pink = rancid

    1. I would like to know if there is a video or some kind of documentation of the changing process from clear to pink? Sorry that I am so weary after all companies get away with saying things like “natural” yet many items would not be if man did not interfere with it.

    2. No its the bacteria count. Micro count in Harmless is too high. Causes the product to turn pink. Its a good product but it needs to be kept frozen and then chilled, however the shipping and logistics create temperature change and bacteria growth.

      1. I’ve traveled extensively all around south-east asia including Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, etc. I assure you that sometimes the coconut water from the young coconut that I’ve cut down from the tree myself is pink inside- and it is totally safe and delicious.

  4. I am writing to enquire about a delicious coconut water under the brand JTs, it is available in most places in Australia now, it says it is 100% young green coconut water, nothing added, and is flash heated at 120 degrees celcius for 2 seconds….I have found it to be extremely hydrating and tastes like real coconut water, but I would love to know if this brand is actually any good, or do they to work under unethical practices?

    1. oh and also it is $4 Australian for a 520ml can, they do have it in the fridge and on the shelves, it’s $10 for a carton.

  5. What about Amazon Coconut Water sold at Costco? My husband drinks 5+bottles/day & it seems a bit much to me! HELP!!! Do i need to put a stop to this addiction of coconut water of his????

    1. About folco.
      sorry not good.
      vietnamese coconuts, many additives.
      product in can is sterlized, denudes any nutritive value

    2. The thing is, I live on very low income, as well as in northern MN USA where we have no access to fresh coconuts, and must but packages or imports. I can’t afford 4-5 dinars pet beverage, so I but Coco brand a lot, instead of sodas, or Powerade, and I can get the huge can for under a dollar, which I can afford. I say that it is far better than nothing, which is what I would be drinking otherwise. We do have access to Harmless Harvest at all our many co ops, but it costs over five dollars at times. I have tried it when I have money, tho. I have never gotten a pink one. I have gotten imported coconuts, that were pink or light purple inside however, but tasted just fine. Foco may be processed, but some vitamins remain, and is better than no coconut. I cook with coconut oil all the time, and but boxed coconut creams. Coconut is one of my favorite things, and I wish I did not live in sub zero temps, because nothing can grow here over half the year, and never coconut.

      1. Foco brand that’s supposed to say, Foco regular with young coconut flesh floating in it, as well as Foco roasted. Sorry, my auto correction changed it around on me so I am commenting.

  6. Hi , thanks for the info . As I come from Kerala in South India , I was very pleased to see the coconut water packages flooding tje market these days . I have been fortunate to drink this everyday wen I was young . Now in uk , it’s hard to get hold of this and I have bought the packs of the shelf . It’s definitely processed , as coconut water has a shelf life of only 1-2 days before it turns to toddy. The Thai and Indonesia brands do taste almost close to the real one . But not sure again of the quality . If u do get info of the best coconut drink available in U.K. , do let me know . Once again thanks .

  7. Nooooooo! I love vita coco though… Oh well now I know. I will look into organic coconut water if I can afford it

    1. I live in Hawai’i on Maui island where fresh coconuts are readily available. I recently bought a Vita-Coco that was on sale and I was in a hurry. Awful!! So awful I had to ready the label and realized that although it says all natural has added sugar! Auwe!! And pasteurized?? Destroying the enzymes makes it practically valueless and at such a high expense. So grateful for this article and will now go back to going out of way to us fresh coconuts only. ‘Nuf Sed!!

  8. I grew up with coconut water my whole life in South America !!! I have never seen pink coconut water … But I did noticed when I bought one from whole foods in the shell that was from Thailand it was sort of pink so it’s possible depending on what part of the world it’s grown it may be possible!! Raw hamerless is not bad but still curious how it can be on the shelf for so long??

  9. Anything in a bottle is really a joke !! If God wanted the coconut in a bottle he would have done that from the beginning of times!!! It’s funny how all of a sudden everything is Organic and especially how everyone is ranting and raving about all these delicious fruit !!! But the truth is there is a variety for a reason everything in moderation … I remember as a child in South America if you use use coconut oil to cook with you would not want your neighbor to know since it was embarrassing ….they assume you were poor and could not afford real oil! Lol today everyone wants to cook with it !! You can make your own coconut oil grate coconut then add some water squeeze milk out completely then put the milk water in fridge….leave overnight then take the cream off when it separates and you can put in the sun for virgin coconut oil! Or you can cook it down until it turn to oil but it will take away the virginity of the coconut…

  10. Just found your site. Love it! Thank you for doing all the “grunge” detail work, and as an added bonus, you ask the right questions and have a solid b.s. meter! Love Harmless Harvest. Wouldn’t mind your take on “fermented” coconut water that you make at home using HH. Probably the ultimate in a healthy beverage.

  11. Do your research, people. Mine tells me “flash” pasteurization is no better than the longer kind. There are no degrees of death. I know I didn’t want to hear this, because in the case of coconut water that means paying three times the cost to get the raw unheated variety. Wishful thinking won’t improve your body’s health.

  12. VitaCoCo for kids- Awful product! Parents beware mold was found inside my daughter’s carton. The only way I found out there was mold is because it wouldn’t fit through my daughter’s straw as she tried to drink it! Please check each carton before giving it to your little .

  13. We can supply Pure Sri Lankan coconut or King Coconut water. If anyone interested giving us an order we are so glad to serve you. Pls do not hesitate to contact us.
    Tel: (+94) 777 35 77 40

    1. KOH is pretty big in Asia and Europe. It is made using Thailand’s Amphawa young coconuts so its naturally sweet and so there is no added sugar or juice. Also, the bottling facility is close to the farms and the product is packed very soon after cutting the coconuts. So there are no preservatives. If you drink other coconuts you may have a slight burn at the back of your throat. That is the sulfites or KMS. KOH doesn’t have any. KOH is UHT flash pasteurized so although its not HPP like Harmless, it’s safe and has a shelf life. KOH is back in Costco now.

    2. Hi Vani,

      This is great! You have done an amazing job identifying the elements that make great packaged coconut water and that make lousy coconut water. I was especially impressed with you getting deep as how we clean the coconuts before we cut them. I work for KOH Coconut so of course I am biased. But I would invite you to talk with us anytime.

  14. I live in Hawai’i on Maui island where fresh coconuts are readily available. I recently bought a Vita-Coco that was on sale and I was in a hurry. Awful!! So awful I had to ready the label and realized that although it says all natural has added sugar! Auwe!! And pasteurized?? Destroying the enzymes makes it practically valueless and at such a high expense. So grateful for this article and will now go back to going out of way to us fresh coconuts only. ‘Nuf Sed!!

  15. Trader Joes has an organic coconut water that is not from concentrate.. It is green with lines.. Any thoughts on that one? I noticed the one from Trader Joes that you have on your list/chart, is not organic..so I’m assuming it’s a different one?? I’m looking for one I can buy close to home. :/

  16. Have you tried Paradise 100% Coconut water that is made in the Philippines? it taste really good ! They also have an Organic option to this one and it taste even better! It’s like you’re drinking it straight from a coconut tree!

  17. VANI PLEASE HELP!!!

    Hey how are you? I love coconut water, my mum and I buy the stuff in bulk! We have tried a few different brands. Today she brought home a few 1 liter cartons of ‘Tipco’ coconut water. The label claims the only ingredient is 100% coconut water! But the thing is that it is soooo sweet! Please if you know anything about this particular brand of coconut water (Tipco) let me know

  18. i respectfully disagree with a number of points made in this article. i don’t drink coconut water for nutrition. if i want nutrition i eat a kale salad, etc. i drink coconut water for hydration and electrolyte replacement. i want it to be pure so i favor organic and i want it most definitely to not make me sick, so pasteurized works just fine by me. and i want it to be reasonably priced which most of the ‘raw’ waters are not. for me Trader Joe’s organic not from a concentrate coconut water, 17 oz. for $1.49 is delicious and exactly right. Please note i own no stock in the company 🙂

  19. I looked through the page, but couldn’t find any information – do you have any information on how Blue Monkey stacks up?

  20. Hello I am a big consumer of coconut water from exotic superfoods, raw and organic it really tastes like you are drinking from the coconut but I noticed in
    A couple of times that some of them, after i open it in a couple of days it starts
    To turn pink, I read your posts but in no where there is an answer of WHY does this happens? Can you please reply if you know the reason.
    Thank you so much..

  21. Hi Vani, This is great. You have done an amazing job identifying the factors that make an excellent coconut water and that make a lousy coconut water. I was impressed that you went even as deep as how clean the coconuts before cutting. I work for KOH Coconut and invite you to try or learn about KOH which is supplied to Costco around the world. KOH is 100% from Thailand Coconuts grown Amphawa river area and includes both mature and young coconuts. We use the mature coconuts to create stability and ensure its not too sweet. The amphawa young coconut is so sweet that we also don’t add any sugar or flavors like you pointed out the other big guys do. KOH presents itself to be an excellent quality water at good value and ambient shelf stable. Although its not Organic and its not Raw, KOH fits many of your criteria for good coconut water. No preservatives like KMS, no added sugars and no flavors. Regarding your comments on packaging: We looked at the HPP option but didn’t like the bacteria count after shipping (pink bottles). We decided that flash pasteurized Aseptic Tetra is the best option because HPP is not stable and Steel Cans and Glass both need to be sterilized which then completely denudes any nutritive value. For Organic, We have had difficulty getting real certified organic coconuts in Thailand. Each time, our team visited the new farms it turned out it wasn’t actually organic and there was bait and switch issues that caused us to reject the farm. But we now have plans to plant our own farms in response to the demand. But that will take some years 🙂 Again thank you for you indepth investigation on the coconut water products and we invite you to enjoy KOH COCONUT Water and Milk products. Brett

  22. Just tried Taste Nirvana today. It is very good, I like the flavor a lot. This is especially good news because where I live it extremely hard to find organic anything.

    The closest Whole Foods is more than a 1/2 hour away, and the closest Trader Joe’s is also a 30-45 minute drive. (I live in a southern suburb of Detroit) Eating organic here is a challenge. Even the local supermarkets have a just a tiny section of way-overpriced organic foods. So when I come across something organic, I more than happy 🙂

    I always thought the other coconut juices sold here tasted odd. With the exception of Bolthouse Farms Mango Coconut juice. (which they quit selling here, recently.) So, it’s nice to find a replacement in Taste Nirvana.

    By they way, how Bolthouse Mango Coconut juice rate?

    thank you.

  23. It’s crazy how coconut water, a staple in Vietnamese (and bigger Chinese) grocery stores, is now some kind of new phenomenon. You can find them in the frozen section in a plastic container. It’s the water + meat from a young coconut. Comes with a straw and little fork taped to the side.

  24. Thank you for all your fine research. I recently started drinking Vita Coco which is one of my daughters favorite and I really like it.
    However the product that I use it says PURE COCONUT WATER, never from concentrate. Under ingredients: coconut water, less than 1% natural fruit sugar, vitamin C.
    The Vita Coco you you reviewed here has other ingredients added.
    Do you have any comments on the Vita Coco I am referring to?
    I buy my Vita Coco at Walmart which is around the corner from me.
    Waiting for your reply.
    Thanks,

    1. HI Milton Santiago…. I am just now drinking my first coconut water in years…
      I have the Vita Coco you do & didn’t realize it wasn’t Organic as I bought it
      in an organic store…. Above someone did discuss the pasteurization of this…
      but what you and I have is the best of the brand….that much I do know. I wish
      there were helpful comments to all the posts here…I am looking for the best
      organic coconut water & find so many conflicting aspects of what others are
      adding to this information… the pkging of brands…glass bottles (I didn’t know
      that their needing to be sterilized killed the nutritional value of the coconut
      water once put in them….)…anyway….I’ll keep researching until something
      worthy is found and available… Thanks for your comment/question. This post
      is 4 yrs later…. can you come back and add to what you now know? 🙂 Cheers !

  25. I’m highly skeptical of the “flash pasteurization” process. Quite a few raw fooders think this is ok, because some nutrients are left intact (maybe wishful thinking). The fact is, the chemistry and synergy of the food changes even if by only a small amount, and I fail to see how this is still a “raw” product. Coconuts on trees in Thailand are not subject to 150 degree heat (or whatever the setting is). Does anyone know for a fact which enzymes are affected, if not all, or are the comments from people just what they want to believe, in saying its still a “health promoting” food?

    I like Harmess Harvest coconut water and hope their claims of being truly raw is accurate. Too many of us fall into the trap of believing that because something is “more healthy” than something else, then it must be good for us. Just because a product has 5 crap ingredients instead of 10 doesn’t make it life-rejuvenating.

  26. I actually just finished a bottle of trader joe’s 100% pure coconut water. The label reads as follows: Trader Joe’s Pure Coconut Water is extracted from coconuts grown exclusively in the lush coconut groves of Thailand. Each 12 Oz. Bottle of coconut water is made from 1.5 coconuts. We use a cold water pressure method called HPP (high pressure processing) that safely pasteurized our coconut water while maintaining it’s natural flavors and quality. Also, under the nutrition facts it says it is not a significant source of vitamin c, so it is actually not infused with vitamin c. Also, I purchased this bottle yesterday and it expires on March 18, 2015 and it must be kept refrigerated and once opened consumed within 24 hours.

  27. I think this article is phenomenal. What do you know about King Coconut Water?

    It’s hard to find a coconut water that actually holds truth of its worth. The trick is finding a coconut water that has not been blown up by celebs and fake labels. I came across a case of King coconut water right from Lanka beverages and it tastes great. I gave it a bunch of my co workers and they loved it. It a bit sweeter than green coconut water. So my question is can you tell me about this water? It’s not heat pasteurized or anything like that either… Oh and where can I get it in the US? Thank for any insight : )

  28. What do you know about Natural Cabana? The labeling says ingredients: young coconut water. (Product of Thailand) It also states 100% pure and natural not from concentrate.

  29. What are your thoughts on natural cabana coconut water from thialand says young coconut and 100%???

  30. Great article. Now I’m really grateful to live in Asia where fresh young coconuts are in abundance and at only approx USD1.50 a pop. At first I thought that the packaged ones are convenient and they can save space in the fridge (storing 4 coconuts at one go doesnt really leave that much space in there). Well your article has proven that it’s really worth the extra effort to get the real thing – too much to compromise with the processed version!

  31. I did not see Waterhill Naturals in your review. This Coconut water is fresh and NON GMO verified. It is cold pasteurized and has zero added ingredients. Some will turn pink when its gets older but only a few. Pink does not mean you are special. They also have a line of deli meats that have just hit the market that are spectacular.

  32. It appears that no one has heard of Organic Cocozia. I use it for my smoothies, and I’ve never noticed a problem. My husband loves it straight out of the carton though, but of course as John from Discount juicers say “Freshest is Bestest”.=)

  33. Hi. How about the INVO coconut water? The bottle says that it is 100% natural and never ever heated?

    1. I LOVE Invo coconut water, it says never heated and it comes straight from the coconut so I think (hope) its ok. The one with pineapple is so yummy!

  34. I am very confused about all things coconut.. I used to be in great shape but I have never been one to care about what I put into my body until recently. Now that I have not done much exercise in the past decade I have put on a few dozen extra pounds. Now at 32 its time to get back in shape. I just bought my first coconut water today. I wish I had read this first though. I didnt know what to look for or buy so I went with the one that said not from concentrate and didnt have anything in the ingredient list except coconut water. It is C2O brand.

    So short version… what should I buy? Are you saying Harmless Harvest is the way to go? First impressions are that coconut water is a bit sweeter than I typically care for but I’ll power through it if its worth it.

    Also, I was going to buy some coconut oil, but I am equally confused about that. Do I literally just eat it off the spoon straight from the container? Do I use that exact same product to cook my food instead of olive oil? Do I put that exact same stuff on my face as a moisturizer?

    Very Confused.

  35. I bought Badia brand coconut water – ingredients say coconut water, young coconut pulp, sodium metabisulphite – it is called “the clear liquid from a young green coconut” – I bought it at Publix. Should I pour it down the sink??

  36. I’ve been in HK for the last 3 years and the two brands I’ve become familiar with here are Malee Coco and Koh Coconut. You can get a 1L box for about $3.60US and $4.25US respectively. No info on Malee in this article and thread. Both say 100% natural coconut water and taste fine to me. Koh says specifically “Not from concentrate” and “finalist world juice awards” for whatever that’s worth. I’m addicted either way. It’s the best ice cold immediately after a run.

  37. I’ve tried all of the coconut waters from local stores and only ever liked Coconut O.N.E. because tasted the most natural (compared to Vita or Zico, mind you). But today I bought a Coconut O.N.E. to find that they’ve changed their ingredients so that it now tastes like a disgusting pina colada mix! So I started to do my research and find that the brand is owned by Pepsi! In fact, most of them are owned by huge corporations who jam them full of sugar and flavor so that the same people who buy their sodas will buy their coconut water too. Well I am not that person, so this has been a huge disappoinent.

    I live in Texas so I obviously can’t get any of the quality brands listed here. Luckily I’ll be moving to Oregon at the end of the year, and I can’t wait to try Vital Juice and all of the raw, organic, west coast products.

    Thank you for doing such amazing research and providing every piece of information on these coconut waters that I could possibly ask for! I wish we lived in a world where you didn’t have to dig so hard to decipher the lies on food labels, but we do, and people like you make it slightly less horrific.

  38. Kirkland has come out with their own coconut water “KOH Coconut”, where does it belong on your list? I really enjoy and appreciate your list because it was so easy to be fooled but I trust your opinion and want to make sure this new option is good.

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