It’s the middle of summer and unfortunately, the sweltering heat isn’t over yet. We’re all (desperately) in need of thirst-quenching drinks, and while cocktails, mocktails, and electrolyte fluids may be on your list, I’m on the hunt for the best coconut water to keep me cool—and that’s what the budget can buy this summer.
Have you ever wondered what the best coconut water is? Me neither – that is, until I stood in front of the drinks fridge a few weeks ago. It suddenly occurred to me: were there any noticeable differences between the bottles I was staring at? Inspired, I decided to test this hydrating elixir for myself. It’s time to determine the best coconut water once and for all.
How to choose the best coconut water
With so many brands to choose from, browsing the coconut water aisle can be overwhelming. To determine the best coconut water, we (obviously) want our coconut water to taste a little coconutty. We also don’t want the flavor to get muddled. Instead, the goal is to provide a taste that’s pure enough to drink on its own but also doubles as a drink mixer. There’s no funky aftertaste here—we’re going for pure, drinkable coconut water.
After our thorough taste testing, here are a few things to keep in mind as you peruse the coconut water aisle.
Look for simple ingredients
Ideally, you want the ingredient list to say “100% coconut water” and nothing else. This means there are no additives or preservatives – just straight coconut water from the coconut itself. Some brands add sugar for sweetness, or add artificial flavors or colors. Natural coconut water tastes great without anything added, so stick to simple ingredients for the best flavor.
No concentrate
Frankly speaking, concentrated coconut water is not as good as non-concentrated coconut water. The concentration process involves turning coconut water into syrup before importing it. Once the syrup reaches its destination, water is added, then packaged and sold. In the process, most of the health benefits are stripped away, so be sure to look for “not from concentrates” on the nutrition label.
Packaging is very important
Coconut water is available in cans, bottles and cartons called Tetra Pak. Even the same brand of coconut water can taste slightly different depending on the packaging. While taste varies based on personal preference, some say the freshest coconut water comes from bottles, followed by cans, and then Tetra Pak.
Thai coconut dominates
Look out for coconut water made from Thai coconuts, which has a sweet, nutty coconut water taste. Again, taste is a personal preference, but some of the most popular brands come from Thailand. Other coconuts come from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brazil, but Thai coconuts offer the best, purest flavor.
To name the best coconut waters, I teamed up with a taste-testing team to try and review all of the hottest brands. Keep scrolling to find the best coconut water for every taste preference and need!
Best Overall: Harmless Harvest
- Sugar content: 20 grams per serving, no added sugar
- Package: bottle
As for the best coconut water testers would drink themselves? Harmless harvest! Its flavor is a good balance between fruity and coconutty, and tasters rated it a winner on its own for flavor. Tasters noted that this product has the most natural sweetness of the group. The taste is slightly fruity and sweet, which tasters love. We will definitely be stocking up this summer!
Best Organic Product: Real Coco
- Sugar content: 7 grams, no added sugar
- Package: Tetra Pak
This coconut water tastes like it comes straight from the source. It’s USDA organic and has no artificial ingredients – all in all, it’s the purest tasting coconut water we love. If organic products are important to you, Real Coco is your best choice!
Best Value: Haoju Original Coconut Water
- Sugar content: 10g per serving, add 1g sugar
- Package: Tetra Pak
We all know we can trust Target to score a good deal. This coconut water is subtle, refreshing and great value for money. Since it’s not too sweet and has a fairly neutral flavor, we recommend throwing it in your gym bag to hydrate before or after a workout, taking it with you on a hike, or bringing it with you to your next yoga class.
The most refreshing: Taste Nirvana
- Sugar content: 10g, no sugar added
- Package: bottles and jars
According to our rankings, Taste Nirvana is the least sweet, but still fresh and delicious. Many tasters note that the wine has a slightly salty flavor that pairs well with certain mixed drinks. Because it’s not too sweet, it’s very refreshing on its own. If you’re looking for a subtle, not-too-coconuty flavor, this would be a perfect fit.
Best Hydrating Coconut Water: Amy and Brian’s
- Sugar content: 12g, no sugar added
- Package: able
This brand will be popular after a tough workout, so we picked it as the best hydrating coconut water. It’s slightly sweet, has no added sugar, and we also love that it’s a small family business. Keep them chilled in the refrigerator and grab a serving before heading to the gym to stay hydrated and aid recovery.
Best Chilled: Trader Joe’s Single Origin Organic Coconut Water
- Sugar content: 11 grams per serving, no added sugar
- Package: bottle
There are many shelf-stable coconut waters on the market, but you’ll find this one in the refrigerated section of Trader Joe’s. Slightly pink, not too sweet, and totally refreshing, Trader Joe’s doesn’t miss out on this coconut water. Tasters say it tastes very similar to Harmless Harvest. We consider this a huge win.
The sweetest coconut water: Goya
- Sugar content: 15 grams per serving
- Package: Tetra Pak packaging and cans
This coconut water is the sweetest of them all, fruity and very tropical. Think about it: a drink that’s sweeter than coconut water, but still enjoyable. If you want a great meal for dinner or a pina colada by the pool, choose Goya.
Best for Smoothies: Vita Coco Pressed
- Sugar content: 10g per serving, add 1g sugar
- Package: bottle
Tasters were surprised to find that the product was almost silky smooth, like coconut milk. Compared to the other options, the Vita Coco Pressed tastes thicker than the other options, probably because it contains real coconut. While some consider this product sweeter than other Vita Cocoa products, the overall ranking still places this product on the lower end of the sweetness spectrum. Tasters also thought it was the most coconutty of the batch. Due to its subtle flavor and creamy texture, this is the coconut water of choice for making smoothies.
The Best Cocktail for Summer: Iberico
- Sugar content: 23g, plus 12g sugar
- Package: Bottles, cans and Tetra Pak
For the ultimate summer party drink, look no further than Iberia. While the added sugar makes it on the sweet side, this product has a pure coconut flavor, which testers liked more than Goya. We use this coconut water to make cocktails and summer smoothies when we’re craving something sweeter. This selection is one of the few with added sugar, and tasters noted a slight vanilla flavor, which most people liked. It’s definitely on the sweeter side and blends well into cocktails.
Best Neutral Flavored Coconut Water: C20
- Sugar content: 8g per serving, add 2g sugar
- Package: able
Our staff voted C2O the winner for Most Neutral Flavored Coconut Water. Tasters said they would use the product to make healthier juices or smoothies because they believed the coconut water wouldn’t overpower other ingredients. This coconut water has a very neutral, almost subtle flavor. The notes mentioned that this feels most like drinking boiled water. C2O is also tasters’ top choice for hydration during the hot summer months.
Best for mocktails: Once Upon A Coconut
- Sugar content: 16g, no sugar added
- Package: able
This coconut water is smooth, delicious and has us dreaming of summer mocktails. While sweetened coconut water can cut down on the alcohol content in regular cocktails, this brand is light and not overpowering. This is the ideal mocktail mixer! We’re talking perfect zero-proof margaritas, mojitos, and even homemade lemonade. We’ve been drinking this coconut water every day this summer around 3pm, so it’s time for a fun pick-me-up to help us get through the afternoon slump.
