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Coconut water

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Coconut water is a clear liquid found inside young coconuts. It comes from the fruit of the coconut palm tree.

Young Coconut Drink
Young Coconut Drink

This liquid is very important for the growing fruit. It helps hold the inside parts of the coconut in place. As the fruit gets older, the liquid changes. The inside parts turn into a solid layer called endosperm. This layer eventually settles into the coconut pulp. Many people prefer the taste of water from young coconuts. In the Philippines, people call this buko juice.

Fresh coconut water
Fresh coconut water

Getting the water out is a special job. Farmers usually harvest the coconuts while they are still green. They might bore a hole into the shell to reach the inside. Because of the pressure, the liquid might spray out a little.

Fresh coconut water
Fresh coconut water

You can also find street vendors selling the drink. They use large knives called machetes to cut them open. You can drink it fresh or chilled. Some people even buy it in cans or plastic bottles. These drinks sometimes have coconut jelly inside them.

People use coconut water to make many different things. It can be fermented to create coconut vinegar. It is also used to make a jelly food called nata de coco.

Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c. 1950. Port of Spain
Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c. 1950. Port of Spain

The liquid is mostly made of water. It is about 95% water and 4% carbohydrates. These carbohydrates provide food energy for the body. It also has small amounts of vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are all under 10% of the Daily Value.

There is a history of using this liquid in medicine. In Cambodia, people used it during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. During this time, they used it instead of saline. Doctors do not recommend this practice today. The Documentation Center of Cambodia noted that untrained nurses gave it to patients.

Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c. 1950. Port of Spain
Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c. 1950. Port of Spain

In southern India, some stories describe a custom called thalaikoothal. In this custom, elderly people drank too much coconut water. This caused them to have a fever and die.

Some companies have run into trouble with the law. They made claims about health benefits that were not true. The United States Food and Drug Administration says these claims are wrong. Some said the water could lower cholesterol or fight viruses.

Young Coconut Drink
Young Coconut Drink

One company named Vita Coco faced a lawsuit in 2012. People said they lied about how many electrolytes were in the drink. The company denied doing anything wrong. They settled the lawsuit for US$10 million. It is important to check if health claims are real.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Young Coconut Drink.jpg
Young Coconut Drink.jpg
File:Fresh coconut water.jpg
Fresh coconut water.jpg
File:Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c. 1950. Port of Spain.jpg
Coconut-water vendor on donkey cart, c....
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