We Tried 8 Different Kinds of Coconut Water — Here Are the 3 We’ll Buy Again
While it’s been around for a while now, the coconut water market truly exploded throughout the past decade with different brands popping up in grocery stores left and right. Standing in the beverage aisle and looking at the options available can be a little daunting, though. How do you narrow them all down? To help you out in that department, the Kitchn team tried eight well-known brands of pulp-free, plain coconut water and picked a handful of favorites.
How We Chose the Coconut Waters
There is a growing number of coconut water brands out there, so first we needed to narrow the playing field. We wanted to choose brands anyone can find at common grocery stores across the country, and ones that contain pure coconut water with no pulp — no added flavorings allowed. We ended up sourcing a few of the most popular brands and some of the smaller, emerging brands you’d find at places like Whole Foods or while shopping online.
How We Tested the Coconut Waters
Each coconut water was assigned a letter. From there, we poured them into individual clear glasses, and lined them up on the kitchen table. (We used Dixie cups for this and set out a bunch so everyone could pour their own coconut water.)
From there, everyone took notes and ranked their favorites. Here are the top three!
1. Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water
For a sweet and “super refreshing” coconut water, try Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water, which is produced in Indonesia. It contains less than 1 percent fruit sugar, plus lots of vitamin C. With nice and light notes of coconut, this one is markedly refreshing, something you’d want to grab to cool off on a hot day.
Buy: Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water, $16.10 for twelve 11.1-ounce cans
2. Whole Foods 365 Coconut Water
We love Whole Foods 365 brand for its incredible prices and high-quality products — and that includes this “highly drinkable” coconut water, made with 100 percent coconut juice from Thailand. One taster noted: “it tastes like I literally stuck a straw into a coconut.”
Buy: 365 Everyday Value Coconut Water, $1.99 for 17.6 ounces
3. Taste Nirvana Real Coconut Water
This widely beloved natural coconut water from Thailand was a crowd favorite. Testers noted the way it smelled “sweet and strong,” and the fact that it has an almost “popcorn-like” buttery-ness — in a good way!
Buy: Taste Nirvana Real Coconut Water, $30.96 for twelve 16.2-ounce cans
Do you have a favorite coconut water that didn’t make the list?