Coconut water is no longer a novelty. It’s the MVP of the health drink aisle. Not only is it packed with electrolytes, but it’s also low in calories and works well to rehydrate the body. Where does coconut water come from? Young coconuts. As coconuts mature, the clear liquid water inside gradually solidifies into the white coconut flesh known as coconut meat. Due to celebrity endorsements and aggressive marketing, athletes and fitness experts are turning to coconut water as an alternative to traditional sports drinks full of sugar and artificial ingredients. But the best coconut waters are made with quality ingredients by brands that value your health as much as the merit of their products.
Ready to dive into the coconut water craze? We have curated a list of the best coconut water brands according to taste tests across seven popular websites. This selection is just short of cracking open a young coconut yourself. Did we miss a bottle you can’t live without after a workout? Let us know below.
The List: Best Coconut Water Brands, According to Experts
1. Harmless Harvest
If you want the best coconut water, look no further than Harmless Harvest. Serious Eats says, “It’s the best-tasting water without lopping off the top of a nut with a machete yourself.” Since this brand never heats the product to pasteurize it, you’re left with an “intense nutty flavor” that beats the competition. The water is 100% raw and safe to drink thanks to a high-pressure, low-temperature method that takes out all the bad while keeping all the good flavor in.
Phoenix area Chef Lawrence Smith tells Delish, that this water is “best served cold after a run.” Not only is it organic, but he says it’s great for hydration or “even a little recovery after a night out.”
While this brand is higher in carbs than other brands, nutritionist Amanda Blechman explains to Women’s Health Magazine that it’s a “good hydration choice for before or after exercise.” She also loves the company’s commitment to social responsibility and fair trade.
2. Taste Nirvana
The nutty smell matches the flavor which is why it comes in at number two on our list. Tasting Table says, “The elixir has just the right amount of sweetness and a wonderful viscosity that coats the tongue and throat like a light blanket from the tropics.” You really can’t beat that description. This brand is not as easy to find as other brands, so if you see it, buy it!
If you drink cereal milk (guilty as charged!), Serious Eats says you will love the sweetness of Taste Nirvana. While it may be too sweet for some, the website says it’s both “refreshing and packed with flavor.”
The father and son team that runs this company only makes small batches, so you know it’s fresh. According to Delish, they use Thailand’s Nam Hom coconuts, which produce the sweetest coconut water without added sugar.
3. Vita Coco
This is likely a brand that you have seen at the grocery store. Executive Sous Chef Victoria Wenning tells Delish this is her second favorite option after drinking coconut water right from the source. If you’re looking for a great treat on a hot day, the executive chef of Hancock St. in NYC encourages you to put the water in the freezer to get a “slushy delight,” as mentioned in Delish’s review.
This brand does contain added sugar, but dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick says it’s minimal at less than one percent. Women’s Health Magazine points out this is one of the original coconut water brands which has plenty of electrolytes and is rich in nutrients.
If you like different flavors of coconut water, Vita Coco delivers. Tasting Table says Vita has five different flavors to choose from, including a sparkling option to give you a little extra “pizzazz.”
4. Once Upon a Coconut
Once Upon a Coconut’s version of coconut water includes bubbles and an energy boost. Women’s Health Magazine says the caffeine in the drink is less than you would find in a cup of coffee. The water also has extra vitamin C.
With a delicious flavor, Today says it is “delightfully light and well-rounded.” For every case sold, the company donates 10 percent to charity. So drink up!
You can’t go wrong with flavors like pineapple and chocolate! Tasting Table loves the tall, slim cans the water comes in but admits the sparkling coconut and energy flavor is not as good as the others.
5. C2O Organic Coconut Water
Sporked gives this coconut water 9.5 out of 10 sporks! If you love coconut, writer Danny Palumbo says you’ll love the full-bodied flavor of this drink. It also works well in a cocktail or to enhance the flavor of an entrée.
There are no added sugars in this drink, which is a thumbs up for dieticians. Women’s Health Magazine likes that it’s not made from concentrate and says it’s the perfect accompaniment for a day in the sun. So load up the cooler!
If you prefer “fragrant” tasting coconut water, Healthnews is confident you will enjoy this brand. According to the website, the company uses young green freshwater coconuts which are less salty than coastal coconuts. The drink also gets the seal of approval from the Non-GMO Project.
6. ZICO 100% Coconut Water Drink
ZICO won’t overpower your pallet with coconut flavor. According to Tasting Table, the water has a “delicate sweetness” that doesn’t taste artificial. This may have something to do with how the drink is made. The company uses Nam Hom coconuts as the base and then blends it with coconut waters from “several different Asian coconuts.”
Today agrees saying the subtle flavor makes you “want to bring it to the gym and guzzle between sets.” Writer Joey Skladany appreciated the less intense flavor after sampling some more intense brands. While intensity isn’t bad, Skladany says, “My life is intense enough.”
You can’t go wrong when water gets thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon. According to Delish people love the “light, sweet taste.” One reviewer calls it “natural perfection.”
7. 365 Whole Foods
The only store-brand coconut water rounds out our list. Tasting Table says the rich, sweet flavor is irresistible. If Goldilocks was searching for the perfect coconut water, she’d find this one “just right.”
These tall-boy steel cans come at a reasonable price point. Serious Eats says the water has a “sweet/savory balance, with no off-flavors.” You can also buy them in Tetra Paks but the water somehow tastes better from a can.
You won’t have any trouble finding this one, as every Whole Foods carries it. One reviewer tells Delish you feel as though you’re drinking “directly from a coconut!” Thankfully you won’t have to figure out how to crack it open.
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
What a waste of money…and coconuts. You don’t need electrolytes as long as your diet is somewhat healthy and you drink plenty of plain water. This fad goes right along with PH water. Your body maintains a certain range…no matter what. PH water is not going to change that.
Our ancestors did well without special waters and drinks ( and do so other animals). You can, as well.
Being from widely coconut growing region of India (I have family members who can climb coconut trees) having had coconut water only directly from coconuts all my life, it’s hard to believe packaged coconut water can be rated like this. In my head, it’s like rating packaged mother’s milk.
Thanks, now I’m going to buy it.
Dear all,
I have tried all fresh coconut, not packaged, in most asian tropical countries and the best so far in my list:
1. Koh Samui coconut
2. Pangasinan coconut(Aliwekwek Lingayen
3. Cagayan de oro barios
The rest of coconut in Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand are almost the same.
So try them when you to these places. It is less than 1 dollar if you buy from peddlers on carts.