Coconut Water: a Light Refreshment with a Tropical History

Not every morning begins with caffeine. Sometimes you simply want something light, cool and clear – especially when it gets warmer outside. That's exactly why something new is coming to our menu: coconut water.

It's one of those drinks that gets talked about a lot and mixed up almost as often. High time for an honest, short look: what is coconut water actually, what's in it – and why does it suit a good morning so well?

What coconut water actually is

Coconut water is the clear, lightly sweet liquid inside young, still-green coconuts. Shake one of these nuts and you can hear it slosh. The nuts are harvested for it before they are fully ripe – that's when they hold the most water and the flavour is at its freshest.

So it's not a juice and not an infusion, but a natural product that comes ready inside the fruit. In many tropical countries it is traditionally drunk straight from the freshly opened nut, with a straw.

Coconut water is not coconut milk

The most common confusion first: coconut water and coconut milk are two completely different things. Coconut water is the thin, clear liquid from the young nut.

Coconut milk, by contrast, comes later and from another part: you grate the white flesh of mature coconuts and press it with water. The result is creamy, high in fat and white – ideal for cooking curries or soups, but far removed from the light, clear coconut water. If you want a refreshment, reach for the water; if you want to cook, for the milk.

What's in it: mostly water and electrolytes

Coconut water is mostly water. It naturally contains electrolytes, above all potassium, plus smaller amounts of magnesium, sodium and calcium – and, depending on ripeness, some fruit sugar. The exact nutritional values are on the label of each product.

But it shouldn't be overstated: coconut water is no miracle cure and doesn't replace water as a thirst-quencher. It is simply a drink with its own tropical taste – and that is quite enough.

A short journey around the world

Coconut palms grow around the equator, and everywhere they are at home, their water has long been part of everyday life. In Southeast Asia – in Thailand, the Philippines or India, for example – in the Caribbean and in Brazil, it is traditionally drunk fresh, often from street stalls, straight from the nut.

From there it has found its way around the world: as a bottled drink that makes tropical freshness tangible even far from the palms. A little bit of summer in a glass, all year round.

Best enjoyed plain and well chilled

Coconut water shows its fine, lightly nutty taste best when well chilled and plain. If you like, combine it with a squeeze of lime, a few mint leaves or fresh fruit. It also works well in smoothies or as a base for summery drinks.

Above all, one thing matters: freshness. Coconut water tastes liveliest when it's cold and drunk soon after opening – that's when the delicate sweetness comes through most beautifully, without you missing any sugar.

Why it suits a good morning

A good morning doesn't always call for strong coffee. Some days begin more quietly: with something cool beside breakfast, with a small pause mid-morning as it warms up. Coconut water fits exactly into these moments – uncomplicated, refreshing and light.

For us it's a lovely addition to the menu: a natural alternative for anyone who, alongside a Melange and a filter coffee, fancies something different for a change. It suits a summer breakfast just as well as a break in between.

Our coconut water: Coconaut

The coconut water at our place comes from Coconaut. It's made from young coconuts from the Bến Tre region in Vietnam – an area regarded as the capital of coconut water, where the nuts are harvested fresh on a regular basis. Coconaut sees itself as a natural refreshment for anyone who prefers to avoid artificially sweetened drinks – an attitude that fits well with our idea of an honest, light morning.

Alongside the classic coconut water there are sparkling and fruity versions too. Which of them make it onto our menu, you'll best discover in person at our place.

On our menu

You'll find coconut water with us in the 4th district – as a companion to breakfast or a cool refreshment to go. If you'd rather have another light option, we also serve a collagen drink. What else is on the menu, you'll see on our menu. And if you're planning a whole morning in our neighbourhood, our guide to Wieden may help.

It's worth keeping in mind for the office, too: if you're planning a breakfast or a selection of drinks for a team, you'll find the options on our catering page.