Sunday 25 July 2010

Vita Coco Coconut Water with Peach and Mango

Made by: Paraipaba Agroindustrial Ltda. (for All Market Inc.)

Origin: Brazil

Imported into the UK by: All Market Europe Ltd





Vita Coco with Peach and Mango is a matt yellow colour. The drink is cloudy and still, and contains a fine puree of fruit floating in suspension. The colour fades to clear at the rim of the glass.

An odd lactic aroma on the nose reminds us of a calpis (fermented milk) drink. It manages to shake this off eventually and here you have peaches running the show, with a sliver of green mango skin in the background.

A different story on the palate, where the elements integrate and the coconut is allowed to breathe, just, between layers of peach. There is plenty of that soft, round texture that typifies these drinks, together with the sappy green freshness that prevents them from becoming too cloying. The whereabouts of the elusive Mango is hard to pin down here but is hardly missed. Short, clean finish.

Another useful addition to the Vita Coco stable. For those who like their coconut water on the fruitier side...


Packaging claims: Hydrate naturally, more electrolytes than leading sports drinks with 15 times the potassium, has more potassium than two bananas, 100% natural

Ingredients: Natural coconut water, mango puree, peach puree, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

Price: Should be about £1.70 for a 330ml Tetra Pack carton, available from Selfridges & Co and health food stores, and also online (eg www.aqua-amore.com)

Vita Coco Coconut Water with Pineapple

Made by: Paraipaba Agroindustrial Ltda. (for All Market Inc.)

Origin: Brazil

Imported into the UK by: All Market Europe Ltd





The rising tide of interest in coconut water, the natural juice of young (green) coconuts, has become something of a media phenomenon in the USA of late, with Europe set to follow. Coconut water is already a well-established health and hydration drink in Asia, Central and South America. We decided to extend our research into the growing number of coconut water variants now available...

Vita Coco with Pineapple is a pale, off white colour with a matt orange hue. The drink is cloudy and still, and contains a fine puree of fruit floating in suspension. The colour fades to clear at the rim of the glass.

Now on the nose this really works. Scents of coconut and pineapple are complimentary and combine perfectly. Lazy ripe pineapple is given an edge here with the green sap of the coconut.

Hard to fault this on the palate also, there is none of the 'low tide' vegetative flavour encountered in the plain variant (bit.ly/bAYg7U). What you have is fresh, green, salty sweet young coconut and milky pineapple, in a soft, roundly textured duet. Short, clean finish.

A satisfying drink from Vita Coco, and a lesson in understatement.

Packaging claims: Hydrate naturally, more electrolytes than leading sports drinks with 15 times the potassium, has more potassium than two bananas, 100% natural, hydrate and feel good

Ingredients: Natural coconut water, pineapple puree, coconut puree, ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Price: Should be about £1.70 for a 330ml Tetra Pack carton, available from Selfridges & Co and health food stores, and also online (eg www.aqua-amore.com)