I’m going to start this review off by talking about Marmite.
Now, you’d be well within your rights to enquire as to why on earth I would be talking about Marmite when the picture at the top of this article is clearly a carton of coconut water?
But, please, bear with me and all will become clear.
People fall into two camps when it comes to Marmite; you either love it or you hate it, it’s that simple. Its strong, salty, intense taste is to some absolute manna from heaven, whereas others view it as thick, yeasty food from the devil. Products with such distinct flavours have little difficulty in finding their market, but for some products there is this wishy-washy middle ground where consumers are left not really knowing what to think of it.
For me, this is where coconut water falls. I don’t hate it, yet I wouldn’t go so far as to say I love it. I kind of just think it’s OK; an acquired taste that I am still, let’s just say ‘acquiring’.
In my ongoing mission to convince myself to like coconut water, I have tried various different brands in the hope of finding ‘the’ one, but each time I’ve been left with the same, slightly disappointed, mediocre opinion. I know you can’t force yourself to like something and if it wasn’t for the fact that coconut water has so many health benefits, I probably would’ve given up on my quest ages ago.
Feeling as though I was fighting a losing battle and pretty much set to give in to the fact my taste buds just weren’t having any of it, I wasn’t exactly over the moon when another sample of coconut water arrived for review at the Art of Healthy Living offices.
How was I going to be able to review a product that I’d already decided I probably wouldn’t like…?
I decided the only way I would reignite my interest in coconut water was to remind myself of how and why coconut water is so beneficial to our health.
So, here goes…
My top 5 reasons for drinking Coconut Water:
Antioxidant Hero!
Got to love anything that helps the fight against ageing right? Well, coconut water is just the hero you’ve been looking for. Packed with age busting antioxidants that help destroy the free radicals and toxins that our bodies naturally produce, coconut water is like natures Botox. Just remember to always make sure that what you are drinking is 100% pure coconut water, as some products may mix in other ingredients, which could include chemicals and preservatives that will reverse the benefits.
Great for Weight Loss!
OK, so coconut water is never going to be as good for you as plain old H2O, but with approximately only 42 calories per serving it’s certainly a lot better for you than most other drinks. Combine this with the fact it contains 0 fat, 0 cholesterol and only naturally occurring sugars, if you were to swap your regular sugary soft drink with coconut water it wouldn’t be too long before you would notice a dramatic difference to your weight.
Bursting with vitamins and minerals!
Coconut water is literally jam packed with naturally occurring:
- Potassium – great for…Brain and Nervous System!
Magnesium – great for…Regulating Muscle and Nerve function!- Phosphorus – great for…Filtering Waste and Repairing Tissues and Cells!
- Sodium – great for…Regulating Blood Pressure!
- Calcium – great for…Bones!
Rehydrate after a Workout!
Coconut water is made up of roughly 95% water making it the perfect drink after a workout. It’s naturally refreshing taste and isotonic nature makes it as hydrating as water, enabling the body to replenish energy supplies and allow organs to properly function.
Handy hangover tip – Had a few too many drinks and feeling a bit ropey the next morning? The excellent hydration properties of coconut water are great at getting rid of a hangover, as it helps rehydrate the body and top up lost levels of essential vitamins and minerals. If you can’t handle drinking it straight, try adding it to a smoothie or a superfood juice to really sort you out for the day!
Aids Digestion
Coconut Water is high in fibre and this is great news for tummies! Modern processed foods can play absolute havoc with our digestive health and this changing diet has resulted in an increase in sufferers of IBS and other gastrointestinal problems. I’m not saying drinking coconut water is a definitive cure all, but the high fibre content helps prevent indigestion, which in turn lowers the risk of acid reflux and helps promote healthy gut health.
Right, so there you have it, 5 pretty convincing selling points right?
So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Buko, the coconut water trying to convince me to like it!
Buko literally translates as ‘young green coconut’ in Filipino, which is rather fitting as Buko is made from the young organic green coconuts grown and sourced in the Philippines. Having visited several plantations in the Philippines, Buko select the very best quality coconuts, which are grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, but they were also keen to ensure farmers were treated and paid fairly. I guess this is one of the unique selling points of Buko; one that distinguishes it from other brands of coconut water, they want to give the consumer a quality product, but not to the detriment of the people and forests who have helped make it.
Buko are associated with the rainforest preservation group Cuipo, who work with global brands to help raise awareness of the plight of our rainforests and to educate people with the hope of preserving these vital ecosystems before it’s too late. For every bottle of Buko that is purchased, Buko generously donate a proportion of the income to Cuipo and they use it to secure and protect one square meter of rainforest. For more information about Cuipo and why it is so important we help save our rainforests, check out the You Tube video at the end of this article.
Do I like Buko Coconut Water?
The ultimate question…did Buko coconut water change my opinion and can I now say I like coconut water?
Honestly?
Well, do you know what, I’m not going to say that I absolutely LOVE coconut water, but I tell you something, it has certainly moved me more towards liking it and that is an accomplishment in itself! In the Philippines the coconut palm is called the ‘tree of life’ and when drinking Buko it does feel strangely as though you are drinking some pure health giving elixir that is doing wonders for your insides. In the past, I’ve found coconut water to be a bit sickly sweet; an odd taste that I could never quite put my finger on. Buko differed in that the taste wasn’t overpowering, it tasted clean and really refreshing. I guess the best way for me to describe it is a bit like when you drink orange squash; add to much and it tastes sickly and too intense, but water it down so there’s just a hint of taste and it’s spot on. To me, Buko is that watered down squash, which I know is doing it no justice whatsoever, but it’s a simple, essence of a drink, that is merely water with a hint of flavour and I like it.
The only thing that put me off was the smell. Unfortunately, the smell of coconut water is unavoidable and it is certainly not pleasant; a bit like how you would imagine water to smell if it’s been grown in a coconut…a bit musty and stale smelling. However, I only noticed the smell when I poured it from the carton into a glass. When I drank it straight from the carton, which might I add was really easy to drink from and the 330ml size is the perfect size for lunchboxes, there was no smell whatsoever and you’d have to stick your nose right in there to even get a slight whiff.
It is without doubt one of the best coconut waters I have tried to date and if, like me, you have struggled with the taste I really recommend giving a try.
My recommendation?
Drink it chilled from the carton whilst lying in a hammock in your garden, eyes closed and imagining you’re on a beautiful tropical beach.
