Coconut Water

Green Coconut Water is very popular in Brazilian beaches. Served cold, coconut water is deliciously refreshing. Some people tend to mix up coconut water and coconut milk. They are completely different. The water is found in green and young coconuts. Coconut water is clear, with high mineral and sugar content. Coconut milk is white, oily, and high in calories. The milk is prepared by squeezing coconut meat from mature coconuts. Coconut milk is used in many cuisines, in Brazil it's found in several seafood dishes as well as desserts.

When here I arrived last week the first thing I said is "I'm going to drown in coconut water while I am here". I have tasted virtually every brand of bottled coconut water sold in the US and they don't taste anything like fresh coconut water. Before the water is bottled, it goes through a pasteurization process that destroys some of the nutrients almost all of the delicate flavor.

Some interesting facts about coconut water:
- has more potassium than a banana
- it is more nutritious than whole milk with less fat and no cholesterol
- it is a natural isotonic beverage with almost the same level of electrolyte balance as we have in our blood
- can be used as an intravenous solution
- athletes use coconut water to replenish electrolytes lost in perspiration. It works just as well as and even better than some popular commercial sports drinks

There is no other way to drink coconut water; unopened shells should be kept in ice for a short period of time. When you are ready to drink, punch a hole on the shell and drink from a straw.