Top Pick Of The Week

August 9 , 2011

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A favorite among the flavored coconut waters tasted,  Vita Coco with Tangerine hit the spot. Image courtesy Vita Coco.
WHAT IT IS: Liquid from the interior of immature (green) coconuts.
WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: The terms “coconut water” and “coconut juice” are used interchangeably. Plain coconut water is about 46 calories a cup (varies by brand; flavored waters are higher). Much higher-calorie coconut products include coconut nectar, a sap from the tree (analogous to maple syrup); coconut milk, pressed from the dried meat of the mature coconut; and coconut cream, a thicker version of coconut milk (less moisture).
WHY WE LOVE IT: It's another option for a refreshing drink that’s low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.
WHERE TO BUY IT: At retailers nationwide.

 

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Page 7: Best Coconut Water (Continued)

 

The brand reviews continue below, in alphabetical order. Favorites are highlighted in red; kosher- and organic-certified brands are highlighted in blue.


Phenom Water

  • Coconut Source: Indonesia.
  • Overview. I didn’t find any of these sports drinks palatable. All had a salty, minerally taste I couldn’t stomach. I tried most flavors in this line, but not all; the company also offers a Coconut Water Hydro and an Orange Guava Passion Mega V. The first ingredient in all the types I tried is water. All have too many ingredients to list, including coconut water concentrate, purified stevia extract, vitamin C, B vitamins, and sodium metabisulfite as a preservative; some blends include caffeine and/or amino acids.
  • Açaí Peach Energy. Per 8 ounces: 21.2 calories, 3.3 g sugars, 70.5 mg sodium, 242.1 mg potassium.
  • Blueberry Pomme Antiox. Per 8 ounces: 21.2 calories, 3.3 g sugars, 70.5 mg sodium, 242.1 mg potassium.
  • Coconut Water Mega V. Per 8 ounces: 45 calories, 7 g sugars, 150 mg sodium, 515 mg potassium.
  • Lemon Mojito Energy. Per 8 ounces: 45 calories, 7 g sugars, 150 mg sodium, 515 mg potassium.
  • Pineapple Punch Mega V. Per 8 ounces: 21.1 calories, 3.3 g sugars, 70.5 mg sodium, 242.1 mg potassium.
  • PhenomWater.com.

 

Taste Nirvana Real Coconut Waters

  • Coconut Source: Thailand.
  • Coco Aloe. Ingredients: coconut water, aloe vera, fiber. Per 8 ounces: 58.8 calories, 7.6 g sugars, 35.3 mg sodium, 504 mg potassium. Slightly cloudy liquid with pieces of pulp (probably aloe pulp) floating in it. No aroma. A slight sweetness. I don’t care for the texture of the aloe pulp, but that’s an individual preference.
  • TasteNirvana.com.

  • Varieties continue below.

The review continues below. Favorite brands are highlighted in red; kosher and/or organic brands are highlighted in blue.

     

INDEX OF REVIEW

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MORE TO DISCOVER

Taste Nirvana Coconut Water (Continued)

  • Coconut Water. Ingredients: coconut water. Per 8 ounces: 42 calories, 7.6 g sugars, 35.3 mg sodium, 504 mg potassium. Slightly cloudy liquid, almost no aroma. A slight sweetness that disappears quickly. Very pleasant.
  • Coconut Water with Pulp. Ingredients: coconut water, coconut pulp. Per 8 ounces: 63 calories, 7.6 g sugars, 35.3 mg sodium, 504 mg potassium. Slightly cloudy liquid with floating bits of pulp. Slightly sweet, with a little texture from the pulp.
   Taste Nirvana Coconut WaterTaste Nirvana bottles coconut water with and without pulp. Photo courtesy Taste Nirvana.
  • Coconut Water + Mango Peach Juice. Ingredients: coconut water, mango puree, peach puree, natural flavors. Per 8 ounces: 56.8 calories, 10.7 g sugars, 99.4 mg sodium, 326.6 mg potassium. Mango aroma, looks like a pale orange juice. Slight peach-mango flavor.
  • Coconut Water + Pineapple. Ingredients: coconut water, pineapple juice, natural flavors. Per 8 ounces: 56.8 calories, 10.7 g sugars, 99.4 mg sodium, 333.7 mg potassium. Slight pineapple aroma. Looks like pale pineapple juice. Faint coconut taste, minimal pineapple aftertaste.
  • TasteNirvana.com.

Vita Coco

  • Coconut Source: Brazil.
  • Not Made From Concentrate.
  • Kosher Certification: Star-K.
  • Coconut Water (A Favorite). Ingredients: coconut water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Per 8 ounces: 43 calories, 10.8 g sugars, 28.4 mg sodium, 482.8 mg potassium. No aroma. Almost clear in color. Slightly sweet, slightly nutty. Delicious!
  • Coconut Water with Passion Fruit. Ingredients: coconut water, passion fruit purée, vitamin C. Per 8 ounces: 50.4 calories, 13 g sugars, 28.8 mg sodium, 489.6 mg potassium. Slight passion fruit scent. A yellow, somewhat opaque liquid. Good sweet-tart passion fruit flavor.
  • Coconut Water with Peach & Mango. Ingredients: coconut water, mango purée, peach puree, vitamin C. Per 8 ounces: 57.6 calories, 13 g sugars, 28.8 mg sodium, 475.2 mg potassium. Orange-y, opaque liquid with a slight fruit aroma. Some mango flavor; no peach or coconut taste.
   Vita Coco’s pure coconut water earned a “delicious.” Photo courtesy Vita Coco.
  • Coconut Water with Pineapple. Ingredients: coconut water, pineapple purée, vitamin C. Per 8 Ounces: 56.4 calories, 15 g sugars, 28.2 mg sodium, 484.1 mg potassium. Faint pineapple aroma. Opaque white liquid with a yellow tint. Slight pineapple taste.
  • Coconut Water with Tangerine (A Favorite). Ingredients: coconut water, tangerine purée, vitamin C. Per 8 ounces: 50 calories, 12.1 g sugars, 28.6 mg sodium, 528.4 mg potassium. Orangey, opaque liquid. Citrusy and refreshing, with a subtle orange taste. A favorite.
  • VitaCoco.com.

Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water

I was unable to try every flavor in the Zico line; the flavors I tasted are listed below. The company also offers coconut water in Natural (unflavored), Chocolate, Lima Citron and Passion Fruit. Per 8 ounces, all of the flavors below contain 34.2 calories, 6.8 g sugars, 91.2 mg sodium, 324.3 mg potassium.

  • Coconut Source: Not specified.
  • Kosher Certification: OU.

  • Coconut Water. Ingredients: coconut water. Per 8 ounces: 42.6 calories, 9.9 g sugars, 42.6 mg sodium, 475.7 mg potassium. Almost no scent. Slightly cloudy liquid with a yellow cast. Some sweetness, with a strong, almost minerally taste that disappears quickly.

  • Mango. Ingredients: coconut water from concentrate, natural flavor, citric acid. Aggressive mango aroma. Somewhat opaque liquid. Mango taste is overwhelming.

  • Piña Tropicale. Ingredients: coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid. Too strong a pineapple aroma. Somewhat opaque liquid with a yellow cast. There is a pineapple flavor here, but it doesn’t taste natural.

   Zico Coconut WaterZico is available in plastic bottles as well as Tetra Paks. Photo courtesy Zico.
  • Pomberry. Ingredients: coconut water from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid. Slight fruity aroma, somewhat opaque liquid. Vaguely fruity taste with some minerally flavor.
  • Zico.com.

 

Special Thanks:

  • Devon Golem, Rutgers University
  • Justin Guilbert and Gus, Harmless Harvest
  • Frederick Schilling and Ben Ripple, Big Tree Farms
  • Tamara N. Ward, FDA Office of Public Affairs
  • Dawn Weatherwax, Sports Nutrition 2 Go
  • Irwin S. Zonis

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