Coconut Water

[Jax]

Honestly I'm not obsessed with coconut stuff................ok I lied!!!! :o:o It's just that it really reminds me of tropical shores, white sand, blue skies, azure clear water and tropical breezes, with me bombing around on a jetski and stopping off for a cocktail or two *sigh* ;)

Sooooooooo I wanted to try this coconut water lark due to the natural hydration and all the lovely goodies that it contains..........but can't find any young coconuts so far, and I keep reading about the joys of them in these raw books from the US :(:(

LOL so back to Google I go and find Dr Martins (http://www.coconutty.co.uk/), Zico (http://www.zico.uk.com/) and Vita Coco (http://www.vitacoco.com/) hmm but which one they all sound yummy :eek: Luckily I just happened to find some Vita Coco in an independent health shop (we don't have many round here so it was a revelation to me!) but at £179 a carton I couldn't help thinking if I liked it it's going to be an expensive habit!! A couple of weeks later and I found the Vita Coco in our Holland & Barrett for £1.29 :870:

So now I know I like coconut water (lol not a surprise I guess! :o ) I went a head and bought some, well a lot really :eek: I bought 24 x 330ml for £42.99 + free delivery from these guys (http://www.hotsellersdirect2u.co.uk/ziconatural/zico-natural.html). I haven't received yet as Sarah Jane that owns the company rang and said it was stuck at customs, she's rang again this week to say that it should be with me on Tuesday...................fingers crossed guys!! ;) LOL they seem really nice at Hotsellers so hopefully I'll see my delivery.

[Jax]

LOL I have just had the Zico coconut water delivered!! :597: So that's 24 x 330ml cartons at £1.79 each, which is on par with the Vita Coco in the independent health shop, but 50p dearer than Vita Coco in Holland & Barrett (which I didn't know stocked it til after this order :rolleyes: ). But then I've got 24 cartons which the shops didn't look as if they had :D

So taste test - I would say that Zico is not as sweet as Vita Coco, and my 17yr old reckons that Zico isn't as 'strong' as, and the after taste better than Vita Coco. I think what he feels is the strong essence is maybe the coconut flavour, I'd go so far as to say that you wouldn't really know that Zico was coconut water.

But Sarah-Jane at Hotsellers said to me she has a lot of people who grew up on real coconut water come back to her and say this is the closest product to the real thing and that they had tasted real coconut water and then a range of products and had felt the same. LOL I've never tasted real proper water so I have to just compare the products................hm I may have to order a Dr Martin's for a real test ;)

In the meantime, they also sent through lots of coconut info which I'll put in a seperate post under this one in case you aren't bothered about it while I guzzle more Zico :7834: :p

[Jax]

Zico Nutrition.................................... Vita Coco Nutrition ........................ Dr Martin's Nutrition
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/ziconutition.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Vitanutrition.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/drmartinsnutrition.jpg

This info comes from the Coconut Research Centre (http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/)

Coconut water values are included in a table that is on a pdf file - click the 'Nutrition Facts' button on the left of the site. It also includes the nutrition values of coconut milk, oil and dessicated coconut etc. I have included a cut down version of the large pdf at the bottom of this post to get straight to the point!

On the Research site, there is a whole list of conditions that coconut is believed to assist, but for me personally I think coconut has really helped to kill off the Candida and the water works as a good pick me up after drinking the night before!

Coconut water is also apparently meant to really rehydrate sports enthusiasts (that's the ones that DO sport and not just watch it) better than the sugary fake sports drinks.

[Emma]

i love love love coconut water - there's a chinese supermarket in glasgow that stocks the green coconuts, i usually end up buying 2 crates!!

[haverawcake]

As far as I understand the Dr Martins is the best (though most expensive) option as it is the only one that is extracted without contact with air - they manage to get it out of the coconut and straight into the carton with the juice still thinking it is in the coconut. It is organic too. I have read a lot of stuff about coconuts going rancid quickly so feel happier with this method of extraction. But we do not drink it daily - though my children would if they had half the chance! It also reminds me of Thai beaches!

[Jax]

Brilliant haverawcake, that's exactly the info I was hoping people would post as it's not really easy to come by..........and some companies will just tell you what you want to hear (call me a cynic, I don't mind ;) ).


Emma - would you be so kind as to perhaps post a link or address for the Chinese market so that anyone who is in the area can find it? TIA :D

[ani]

the problem with Dr Martins (I think it's that one - the one Shazzie sells)
it is sooooo good I bought a box and was having at least 2 a day :O

[Jax]

So that's 24 x 330ml cartons at £1.79 each, which is on par with the Vita Coco in the independent health shop, but 50p dearer than Vita Coco in Holland & Barrett (which I didn't know stocked it til after this order :rolleyes: ). But then I've got 24 cartons which the shops didn't look as if they had :D

Hmm not impressed, the local Holland & Barrett have now increased the price to £1.79!! :eek:

[Jax]

Don't forget if you do buy any water in the Tetra packaging to recycle the carton if at all possible - more on recycling the Tetra Pak here (http://www.rawinuk.com/showthread.php?t=436) ;)

[Carrot Top]

I noticed a few weeks ago that Waitrose (Romsey, Hampshire branch but probably others!) now stock 1 litre size of Vita Coco... It is currently on offer for £2.84 a litre - yum yum!

[Kirsteen]

I've seen the litre size too. What I'd like to know is, once you open it how long will it keep. I can't drink it all at once as i tend to put it in smoothies ans only have about one a day.

[Carrot Top]

Kirsteen, I've just checked the packaging of the 1 litre sized Vita Coco in my fridge & it says 'once opened refridgerate and consune within 3 days'. Hope that helps. I don't have difficulty consuming it within 3 days! :7834:

Also, before anyone 'rushes' into Romsey Waitrose to stock up whilst the special offer is on.... I made a boo boo, it is the WINCHESTER branch of Waitrose that is stocking it. I shop in both! (I was in Romsey Waitrose today & they don't stock it..... yet. I've asked them to!)

[ani]

i bought a box of it a few weeks back
then someone told me it wasn't raw
i do remember having the conversation on
another forum a while back now :(.
i am still drinking it though and it is great in smoothies.
i get through a whole one a day.
about 1/2 in smoothie and the rest in a glass.
:party0006:

[nuttyjen]

I can totally understand the fascination and love of Coconut water :party0007:

My favourites are Zico Coconut Water and Vita Coco Coconut Water!

I'm a keen runner and drinking this stuff instead of sports drinks has really given me extra fuel and makes me feel super too.

I buy all my coconut water from a company called Aqua Amore - here is a link to their coconut waters (http://www.aquaamore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=234&zenid=99b3cc14e58faa2777d511e24b787326) - they even create mixed cases so I can have a variety which I appreciate.

Saying that, I wish the 1L cartons werent as rigid as they are, I refer the rounder shapes in the coconut water tetrapacks!

At last a healthy drink that doesnt taste like medicine...and its totally Raw :first:

[Rawalchemist]

Biona have just brought out canned coconut water - I have ordered a case of 12 from our wholefood store - cost of £1.48 per can...as this is my first ever taste of coconut water I will let you know what I think of it, and will perhaps try some of the others too for comparison...

[Jax]

OO thanks for that rawalchemist, what size is the can??

[Rawalchemist]

I think they are the 330ml ones like fizzy drinks but could be wrong - I shall let you know when I pick them up...

[Rawalchemist]

Well, the Biona Coconut water is lovely and I love it... heehee - mixed it with green smoothie yesterday - nom nom

[Jax]

I think they are the 330ml ones like fizzy drinks but could be wrong - I shall let you know when I pick them up...
Were they this size in the end rawalcemist??

[Vicstar01]

It was lovely in that smoothie honey, but strange taste on its own... i will try it again tho just to make sure as its soooooo good for you!
:tea:

[Rawalchemist]

yes Jax - cola can size so lots of yummy drinkies xx