I miss green coconuts. In India I got kind of addicted to a daily green coconut or two. Here in Europe the closest I’ve ever been to a green coconut is a can of coconut water from the Asian grocery store and it just isn’t the same.
A Green Coconut
Green coconuts are one of the best things about travelling in India, and especially South India. Seriously. The water inside the coconut is a great thirst quencher and drinking a coconut or two a day is an easy and healthy way to stay hydrated in South India’s tropical heat (it is surprisingly easy to get dehydrated during long train and bus journeys). Green coconut water is very low in fat, unlike the thick and equally yummy coconut milk inside the aged, ripe brown coconut.
What are Green Coconuts?
Green coconuts are young, unripe coconuts and have very little “meat” inside. The meat is very tender, almost like jelly. As the coconut is split open, you’ll find sweet refreshing coconut water inside. If you visit a coconut stall in South India, the coconut seller will grab a coconut, cut the top off with a giant knife and hand the coconut to you with a straw so you can drink the fresh coconut water. He’ll then cut the coconut into two halves and you can scoop the soft “meat” out with a “spoon” he’s made for you from the top part of the coconut.
A Coconut Palm
Benefits of Drinking Green Coconut Water
Those who swear by coconut water say it contains potassium, minerals and lots of electrolytes, which makes it an excellent natural sports drink. It also makes green coconut water one of the best things to drink when you’re sick and need some extra hydration. It is, apparently (I have no sources for this except hearsay in India and my own experiences) very good for the stomach too, and there have been times when I’ve been so sick with food poisoning in India that I couldn’t even keep water down; however, green coconut water was the one thing that I could drink and that would not come straight back up.
