Nature often supplies the right recipe – and with coconut water also the recipe for international success. Familiar as a basic foodstuff since time immemorial, and for ages as a refreshing drink in its Brazilian homeland, coconut water from inside the still unripe coconut has stepped up to become a trendy drink in hip bars, now also highly successfully presenting itself as a 100 % natural sports drink.
Naturally healthy
Coconut water’s success is deserved. Even if you need to get accustomed to its feint lemony-musty smell – once you have done so, coconut water’s unique health properties will win you over, since it contains various electrolytes and anti-oxidants, more calcium than bananas, and is fat- and cholesterol-free and low on calories. It keeps muscles functioning and cells young, and supplies energy – and furthermore is a fabulous remedy for hangovers. And because it can be mixed with or without alcohol plus other taste agents to make cocktails that are quite equally healthy and innovative, trendy bars are happy to use it.
Out of a Niche and into the Mass Market
Whether with sports beverages or street hype, the big names in the drinks industry long ago recognized the signs of the times and secured their share of coconut water. That the most powerful is not necessarily the most significant is shown by the example of the USA. It's Vita Coco, an independent company, which can claim about 70 % of this 30-million-dollar market. Its competitors Zico (with its Coca-Cola backing) and PepsiCo, that just recently absorbed Brazilian producer Amacoco – now have to shape up to the first and currently still strongest coconut water brand. That should be exciting, and this not just in the USA. Meanwhile, coconut water has enlivened the drinks market in quite different places – and is now well on the way to persuading the entire world of its qualities. Away from its tropical homeland, it needs no palm beaches; coconut water for all now arrives in a supermarket Tetrapak.
Allrounder coconut
- The coconut palm thrives in hot, humid tropical areas with average temperatures of at least 25° C.
- Coconut water comes from the green fruit harvested some five months before it finally ripens.
- For producing (far less healthy!) coconut milk, the flesh of the coconut is puréed with water, filtered and extracted.
- Copra is the dried flesh of the ripe coconut; and the source of coconut oil and coconut fat.
- The juice of the palm tree (palm nectar) is fermented into palm wine or thickened and eaten as palm honey.
- The extremely hardwearing bast and fibers of the coconut palm are used to make ropes and fishermen’s nets, also for carpeting or front-door mats.
- Palm wood and palm fronds are also useful, being an important building material in tropical countries, and a material for furniture.
- Coconut shells are used as decorations and also as fuel for burning.