Tips to choosing the best coconut water
5 easy steps to choose correctly
Coconut water is one of the planet’s most refreshing and hydrating beverages. It has a delicious flavour and is rich in electrolytes. Fortunately, for Canadian fans, coconut water has flooded the market in recent years, making it more accessible than ever. You can find it in a wide array of packaging: bottles, cartons, cans, powdered and frozen. But with all these choices it can be an overwhelming decision to choose the best brand. Here are 5 pointers that will help you select the best coconut water to quench your thirst and replenish lost nutrients.
- Go natural
If you can find fresh coconut water where you live, count yourself lucky. Fresh is best, not just for taste, but also because raw coconut water contains living enzymes which aid digestion and metabolism. Here in Canada fresh coconut water isn’t available that often but you can look for green coconuts in grocery stores for the real thing. If you end up traveling to the islands, stop at a market or road side stand to enjoy coconut water straight from young coconuts. You can even try the coconut flesh, also known as jelly, by eating it as a snack or throwing it in a smoothie or salad.
- Avoid concentrate
Some brands state that their beverages contain 100% coconut water but their coconut water is actually made from reconstituted concentrate. It’s a lot cheaper for a brand to cook fresh coconut water into a syrup and then add water just prior to packaging but less processing is always the best choice so look for the ‘not from concentrate’ claim on coconut water labels.
- Avoid added flavours or sweeteners
In its natural state, coconut water from a young green coconut is already sweet, so there is absolutely no need to add anything else to it. Sugars and flavourings are usually added to mask the bitterness and acidic taste found in coconut water derived from mature coconuts. Stick to brands that offer pure ingredients and stay away from additives.
- Avoid chemicals
Many brands add chemicals such as metabisulphite. These preservatives make the coconut water last longer on shelf and keep the colour consistent. Make sure that you choose brands that only list coconut water as the sole ingredient. Brands that use organic methods of growing and harvesting their coconuts are the best choice to ensure that you consume the healthiest coconut water.
- Avoid coconut water made from mature coconuts
Mature coconuts are best used for making coconut milk, oil and other coconut products. When used for coconut water, their nutrients are noticeably watered down and they have a more acidic taste, forcing brands to use additives to mask the taste (see tip #3). To ensure that you are getting the most out of your coconut water (especially for athletes), make sure you choose brands that use young green coconuts.
Not long ago coconut water cravings could only be satisfied while visiting a tropical country. Now you can find Grace Coconut water in all major grocery stores in the international aisle. We hope you enjoyed our top 5 tips to help you choose the best coconut water. Don’t forget to always read the ingredients list!
Written by: The Fancy Nancy
