A wide variety of cartons of coconut water line store shelves with the label “100% coconut water,” complete with pictures of green young coconuts with straws coming out of them … implying that what’s inside is just like what you get on the beach in Thailand.
Except that's not true.
If it's all 100% pure coconut water, why do different brands taste different?
This is exactly what I wondered for years when I came to Canada. In Thailand I always drank coconut water from the coconuts. When I found packaged ones here, I was shocked at how ... bland ... they were! After trying a few more brands, I became even more perplexed as to why they all tasted so different. What's going on here? Read on.
What's really in your coconut water?
It IS 100% coconut water...but it's also not what you think. Most of these cartons are actually a mixture of young (green) AND mature (brown) coconut water. What’s the problem with that? Well, mature coconut water doesn’t taste nearly as good, it's actually quite bland. In fact, growing up in Thailand we often just threw it away.
But there’s a lot of it leftover from making coconut milk commercially, as coconut milk is made from mature coconuts, so this is where they end up. Different brands use different ratios of young and mature coconut water, and the ones that are sweeter (and, by default, more flavourful) are ones that are using a higher ratio of young coconut water.
How did I know? I found this out straight from the source when I filmed the documentary below about how coconut milk is made in Thailand. As you will see, a lot of coconut water is collected in the process. I asked them (off camera) what they do with it, and the answer was a revelation.
I finally understood why packaged coconut water never tastes as sweet as ones straight from the coconut, and why different brands vary so much in how sweet they are!
In this video I also do a side by side taste test of coconut water from young vs mature coconuts. Check it out below!
Is it really that bad though?
No. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s actually good that they are not wasting the mature coconut water. And I think it's good that less-sweet options are available for people who may find pure young coconut water too sweet.
And to be honest, I've found a few brands of packaged coconut water that I'm perfectly happy with. (For those curious, I usually get "UFC" brand, and while they have sponsored a video before, this is not a sponsored post. "Chaokoh" brand is pretty good too.)
But I do think it’s a real problem when the packaging is misleading consumers into thinking that this is just like what you get on the beach in Thailand with the straw straight in the coconut - all that's missing is a mini umbrella! Ask anyone shopping for these products and I guarantee you that most people are under this false impression. After all - look at the picture on the carton!
It's not technically "lying," because it IS indeed pure coconut water, but it's certainly a bit sneaky.
How to choose the best coconut water
As I mentioned, different brands use different ratios of young and mature coconut water, and the ones that are sweeter and tastier use a higher ratio of the young coconut water.
Trial and error is the best way I think, but you can also go by the sugar content on the nutritional label (assuming that it's accurate).
I also found that brands that offer flavoured options, like pineapple flavoured coconut water and such, tend to be less sweet; presumably because they can get away with a blander base since they are adding flavours to it anyway. And as an FYI, I never buy these flavoured ones; because when I drink coconut water, I just want it to taste like coconut water!
Where can you find 100% pure young coconut water?
Outside of Thailand, you can buy whole young coconuts at many Asian grocery stores. But to be honest I don't bother with those. They have spent so much time in transit that sometimes they don't taste that good anymore (if the water is pink or purple...that's a sign that it's old). I save myself the effort, and the $$, and just get the packaged ones.
If you are in Thailand however, you can look for products that say "100% Young Coconut Water". In Thailand they sell both types, pure and mixed. They can do this because Thai people know the difference, so manufacturers can charge more for the pure one, and then consumers can choose.
Note: I have seen one brand here in Canada that indicates "Young Coconut Water" (it's from Vietnam), but I don't know for certain if that is true. It tasted pretty good, but I couldn't be 100% sure.
Want to know more about "fake" ingredients?
Check out my video comparing real vs fake sago pearls (aka tapioca pearls), and also find out about the myth about "pure palm sugar" in my Ultimate Guide to Palm Sugar video!
Strongo says
You are too beautiful.
Steven T. says
I love coconut water. I've probably had every brand there is out there, and of course, I've had it straight from the source. When it comes to coconut water, one of the leading factors for me when buying it is origin. I find that coconut water from coconuts that are from Thailand taste best usually, followed by Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Coconut water that comes from coconuts from Brazil have always rated at the bottom for me; they taste bland and dry - not what you want from coconut water, which I associate with the industrialization of agriculture there. That being said, the top selling coconut water brand I find to be the worst tasting - Vita Coco, which sources coconuts from Brazil.
I know what you said about when coconut water turns pink and it not being the freshest, but I don't think it's a factor when we're talking about commercially bottled coconut water. Packaged is not going to be as good or fresh, i.e. getting straight from the fruit. For me, the top tasting brand is Harmless, and their coconut water is pink - which I understand the chemistry involved and why it's pink (oxidation and light exposure, i.e., they don't heat pasteurize or add preservatives e.g., ascorbic acid). The other brands that I rate at the top are Taste Nirvana and C2O. Funny enough, many food and generic brands taste far better than Vita Coco or Zico, e.g. FOCO, Iberia, Coco Rico, Grace Foods, Goya, etc., which I would probably attribute to coconut sourcing, which is mainly from Thailand and the Southeast Asian region.
lisa says
I just opened a C02 coconut water I've had in the refrigerator.
It appears yellow in color. Is that normal? Best buy is 11-19-23.
4 months expired.
Pailin Chongchitnant says
The colour does vary, but I think yellow is not something I've seen. I wouldn't drink it.
Alison Kelemen says
The absolute best-tasting "to die for" coconut water is Great Value Organic Coconut Water (Walmart brand).
bonnie says
Great post Pai, I'm thrilled that I've been following you for 2 years now and your dedication to details is beautiful and not so overwhelming at yhe same time.
I'd lived a substantial time in India and I see cococnut water vendors all the time. Never tasted the same with packaged one yeah.
And every Indian friend of mine made coconut milk via blender which tasted like heaven. I'd love to see your Coconut milk rp someday. PS: if that's already there I'm yet to get to it.
Ronie says
I grew up in the Philippines in the area where there were abundant of coconut trees, the coconut juice or even the meat taste different, it varies depending on the age of the coconut and also the place where the coconut planted, environment and soil are also a factor. Plus there are different varieties as well. Hope this helps.
Jessica Lim says
Depends on the species... But generally, much younger is bland, then they hit a sweet spot when the flesh is still translucent, then it does get sweeter but the flesh harden, but then it takes another turn when the sweet is all gone as the flesh becomes coconut milk grade.
Frederick is referring and comparing to all those still within the juice stalls not yet moved on in age (under edible classification). Pauline is comparing Thai stalls and those coconut milk grade. Those Frederick would not even consider to try to scrape the flesh... The spoon may break first. Lol...
Pailin Chongchitnant says
Yes, you are absolutely right! We were indeed talking about two different things. If we're comparing within the young/green range, then yes, too young isn't as sweet as the "older of the young". Thank you for your input to help clear this up!
Nicole says
I’m with the Pauline with this one. She is correct. I’ve never heard that old coconuts are sweeter
Frederick Goh says
Hi Pauline, you got it the other way round. Young coconut water is bland and their coconut flesh inside is soft, old coconut water is sweeter and has stronger taste and their meat is thick and hard and that's where you get the milk for cooking. Do review your write up and taste the coconut again.
Pailin Chongchitnant says
Not sure how you got that idea, but there is a reason why we drink from the young coconut rather than old, and why industries put young coconut on the packaging. I don't think they would be pretending they're selling the "bland" coconut water if that were the case!
Jimmy says
Mansplaining our thai cooking queen? Are you seriously stupid?
Kevin says
Not even the fact that Pai is a cook is relevant here, just the fact she lived in Thailand says enough, not to mention the research she did at the production plantation.