Coconut Water
Coconut water, the liquid found in the center of a young green coconut, is a staple of the Indonesian pantry. You can use it in both sweet and savory dishes.
What is Coconut Water?
Coconut water is the clear fluid found inside the center of a young, green coconut. In early development, it serves as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during the nuclear phase of development. As the coconut matures, some of the liquid remains while the rest ripens into the solid white flesh known as coconut meat.
Coconut Water vs Coconut Milk
Don’t confuse coconut water with coconut milk. They are totally different things. Coconut water is the clear liquid that naturally occurs in young coconuts. You can drink fresh coconut water straight from a young green coconut.
Meanwhile, coconut milk is a beverage made from processed coconut meat. It is traditionally made by grating the white inner flesh of mature coconuts and mixing the shredded coconut pulp with a small amount of hot water in order to suspend the fat present in the grated pulp.
What Does Coconut Water Taste Like?
Coconut water has a mild taste, with a slightly sweet sour nutty taste. Generally, it is sweet, but in most cases, the taste depends on where the palm tree is grown, the saline content in the soil, the climate, and the proximity to the sea.
Where to Buy
Since coconuts are native to Indonesia, you can easily buy them everywhere. While mature coconuts are often available, they will contain less coconut water. Therefore, you will want to buy young, green coconuts to extract coconut water from coconuts.
But if you cannot find fresh green coconuts, you can also find coconut water in most markets in the refrigerated section. It can be found in cans, cartons, or bottles, but make sure you check the ingredient label on the coconut water you buy as many brands will sneak added sugar into their product.
Storage
Coconut water spoils easily. Fresh coconut water has a shelf life of only 24 hours. If you put it in the fridge, it will last for 1-2 days. For a longer-term solution, you can freeze coconut water and use it within 2 months.
