Pineapple & Orange Cocktail with Thai Coconut Water
This, my friends, is one of several ways to use those young Thai coconuts you’ve been seeing at the market, but had no idea what to do with. I am totally smitten with these mysterious, unusual palm fruit (botanically, the coconut is not a true nut) and I devour them every chance I get. While shopping at the market over the weekend, a friend purchased several and was gracious enough to stop by and drop off a few for me.
To show my appreciation of her precious gift, I decided to prepare a little treat to share with her and another friend. I was in a juicing mood, so I juiced a few of my favourite fruits and blended them with the coconut water to create this delicious, tropical-tasting cocktail. It was quick and easy to prepare and with the unseasonably hot temperatures we’re having here in Houston, it was the perfect drink to refresh the palate and energize the body. My guests were well pleased!
Once these babies are opened (instructional video below), their liquid and the flesh can be used easily in a variety of raw food and other recipes, such as smoothies, yogurt, crackers, and desserts. While the life water from these fresh, young coconuts is simply delicious on its own (as is the tender flesh inside), it also makes an excellent addition to fresh juices. Nothing can match the bright, fresh flavor of freshly juiced fruit!
Unlike the typical, fully-matured brown coconut that most of us are familiar with, young coconuts usually have less “meat” than mature coconuts and are completely filled with a transparent, nutrient-dense liquid. The meat is extremely tender and the water inside is much sweeter than that of mature coconuts. Highly acclaimed for its high-electrolyte content, this life water provides excellent hydration and recharges your energy naturally, much better than any sports drink. These young coconuts are also an excellent source of vitamins and trace minerals and are among the most hydrating and nutritionally complete foods on the planet.
An amazing, lesser-known fact about young Thai coconuts is that the molecular structure of their liquid is almost identical to human blood plasma, hence my reference to it as life water. Both the water and the flesh, which is softer than that of older, brown coconuts, provide a host of health benefits, including their high lauric acid content. Lauric acid is antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial, and has been shown to boost the immune system. Do yourself a favor and Google them to find out more.
Pineapple & Orange Cocktail with Thai Coconut Water Recipe
Source: My mix!
Serves 4 | Raw Vegan
Mise en place:
2 young Thai coconuts
2 large juicing oranges
1 medium lime
1/2 medium pineapple
1-inch piece of fresh gingeroot
Juice the pineapple, oranges, ginger and limes and pour into a large pitcher. Open the coconuts, pour their water into the juice mixture and stir well. Serve immediately over ice or refridgerate until well chilled. Enjoy!
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