Best Coconut Water

Tasting coconut water in the Food & Wine test kitchen; Photo: Darcy Strobel

In the space of a few years, bottled coconut water went from surprising celebrity food product to supermarket staple, with new brands rushing to satisfy growing demand for the healthy refresher. F&W sampled the most familiar products, and while nothing replaces the pure flavor of a freshly tapped coconut, one brand comes close with a price to match. Here, the newcomer and other options to suit every buyer’s taste.

 

Editors’ Pick: Harmless Harvest, 8 oz for $2.49

“My fave—fresh coconutty flavor! “Light and not too sweet.” “I like the clean flavor.”

 

Taste Nirvana, 9.5 oz for $1.89

 “Vanilla-y—I like the pulp.” “Very sweet.” “I prefer mellow coconut water.”

 

Zola, $2.08 for each 17.5 oz can in a 12-pack

“Smooth balanced, not too sweet—pleasant.” “Sweet—a little husky, as in I taste the husk.” “Tastes like raw corn.”

 

UFC, 1 litre for $3.99

“Tastes like it has some other fruit ‘flavor’ than coconut, smooth taste.” “Orange-y.” “This is pretty good.”

 

Coco Libre Organic, 11 oz for $1.99

“Mildly sweet.” “Perfectly nice.” “Slightly salty tasting.”

 

VitaCoco, 11 oz for $1.99

“Decent sweetness—a little flat.” “Funny yellow color.” “Kind of a pineapple tinge to it—mellow, I like.”

 

O.N.E., 11 oz $1.99

“Light coconut flavor.” “Milky.” “If pale could taste like something, this would be it.”

 

Zico Natural, 11oz for $1.49

“Tastes sour/sweet.” “Sweet, but don't really like the aftertaste.”

 

Pure Naked, 11 oz $1.99

“Watery and bland—color is awful.” “Thin and flavorless.” “Almost tastes like the inside of a water bottle.”