We know all about the difference between coconut milk and cream but lately we've been hearing lots of people talk about coconut water and juice. What are they, exactly, and is there a difference between them? And does it matter whether you buy it in a bottle, carton, can, or shell?
The short answer is no, there is no real difference between coconut water and coconut juice. Both refer to the clear, slightly sweet and refreshing liquid found inside young green coconuts. (Sometimes it also contains pulp or jelly.) Although coconut water/juice has long been enjoyed in tropical regions, it has only recently become all the rage in the US. Unlike coconut milk, the water/juice is fat free and low in calories. It's also full of electrolytes, such as potassium, and low in sodium, leading it to become known as "nature's sports drink." Besides drinking it straight up, coconut water/juice may be used in a variety of recipes.
We generally consider the juice straight from a young coconut to be the tastiest, while other brands or packaging are just a matter of preference. (Stephanie recently gave a positive review to Real Coconut Water from Taste Nirvana.) Some people find the canned varieties to be too metallic tasting. Another thing to look out for is added sweeteners, preservatives, or flavorings. Also keep in mind that brands targeted at the US market tend to be more expensive than those found in Southeast Asian and Caribbean markets.
To learn more about the health properties of coconut water and how it is farmed, check out this article from Mother Jones:
• Is Coconut Water Really Better Than Sports Drinks?
Related: What's the Difference? Coconut Milk vs. Cream
(Image: Flickr member PUWANART licensed under Creative Commons)
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I'd never heard of coconut juice until the relatively recent introduction to the US market. It's always been coconut water to me. Having said that, I've tried packaged versions, like the first image shown here, that brand to be exact. Yeah, a waste of my money (priced too highly) and I wasn't happy with the flavor. I accidentally picked up the mango flavored one and I didn't taste any coconut water in it. Not to mention additives there were some additives too.
Nothing like coconut water poured fresh from a coconut.
(I'll never understand American food producers's need to flavor something that is perfectly fine by itself and is consumed that way elsewhere in the world.)
I don't like either of those brands, but I buy the kind with pulp from Thailand at the Thai/Viet groceries sometimes.
Been drinking coconut juice as a treat for years after being introduced to it in college (many moons ago). Asian grocery stores carry it and it's way cheaper than the new trendy US brands.
I tried one that contained added sugar and hated it. The unsweetened one was good, though. Like Anita83 said, I don't get why we'd need to mess with something that tastes good as is.
I totally agree! When I was on vacation in Brazil, there was a coconut lady who would open up young coconuts for you to drink. They were the best cure for a hot sunny day! Since I've been back, I haven't found anything "store bought" that compares.
I tried the water pictured above and hated it. It didn't taste coconut-y, just kind of sour and odd.
I hope when I get to a chance to try out O.N.E it will be a good substitute to fresh coconut when I move back to the states. Living in Vietnam, fresh coconut has become and everyday staple in our household. The current price over here is about 71 cents for one.
recently tried O.N.E. - I didn't like it. I was so excited to find it in the health food section of my local grocery (I live in Mississippi, options do not abound) and grabbed the plain/regular and the guava. Guava was okay, no coconut flavor at all though. The plain was coconut-y, but sour not sweet. Not really refreshing either. Nothing like what we had on the beach in SE Asia. :(
HI, I'm from Brazil and here ordering coconut water or coconut juice is two completely different things. The water is the clear liquid you describe above and the juice is made with the coconut blended with water.
And the bottled version of coconut water don't do justice to the real thing.
Has no one tried Amy & Brian's (the one pictured on the right) ???
It's the only one I've ever tried that I can drink at all. The rest just taste rather gross. I typically drink the green/white can (exactly the same as blue/white, but has pulp). There are only two ingredients: Young coconut juice and young coconut pulp... that's it!
Other brands I've found in asian food stores which are less expensive tend to have preservatives and/or sweeteners in them, but come closer to the taste of Amy & Brian's than other 'mainstream brands' (ie Naked, O.N.E., etc)...
I'd like to hear other people's thoughts on Amy & Brian's, and if you have one you like better, please pass it on!
Although it seems a bit silly, it absolutely drives me nuts that people call it coconut water. It comes from a fruit (even though the USDA classifies the coconut as a nut for allergy purposes), so doesn't that make it a juice?
I am from Guam where coconut trees abound everywhere and we NEVER called it coconut water.
Anyhow, yes, coconuts are amazing!!! I completely agree with the comments that there is nothing like cracking a coconut open and drinking the juice straight from the coconut.
Growing up, I remember my dad always talking about how you could live off of the coconut tree. Back home, our ancestors used to use the coconut leaves to weave shelter, make little baskets for cooking rice, etc.
Bottom line...coconuts are AWESOME!