My Wally World Find

My First Young Thai Coconuts

I actually screamed out loud when I saw these at our local Wally World. I had heard that the Superstores carried them but I never would have guessed that our smaller store would too. I paid $2.98 per coconut.

Believe it or not this is the first time I have purchased a young Thai coconut. I adore fresh coconut water but have only had it from our local green Florida coconuts. Take a look at what you get from the water of a young Thai coconut. (Info compiled by John Kohler).

"It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!

• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories

• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk

• Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk!

• Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blood plasma

• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.

• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

"Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue... and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural!", according to Mortin Satin, Chief of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!

Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.

Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg."

(Data is based on a 100ml drink.)

Here are the nutritional facts on an actual label as well as some cool products. I want the opener tool! You can see John Kohler demonstrating just how to use it in the video on this link.

 I've had raw recipes made with it but I've never bought or opened one up myself.
Here is how I opened up my coconut:
First I shaved off the husk, saran wrap intact, with my large serrated bread knife. It was recommended to leave the plastic wrap on so you won't be touching the husk as you open the coconut. It has been said that they dip the coconut husk in a anti fungal solution.

You want to shave off the husk until you see the hard inner shell.

Next I used my largest chef's knife and with the base of the blade I struck the top of the shell four times, making a square pattern.

With the final blow, I kept the knife in the coconut and then pried the top right off.

Thirdly, I strained the coconut water and was happy to see that there was 12 oz of water.

Lastly, it was time to scrape out the young meat from the shell. I simply used a spoon to do the job.

If ever you open a young Thai coconut and do not see bright white meat it may be a bad coconut. Never eat or drink from a coconut that has signs of pink, purple, or gray meat. It may have had a leak and become spoiled. Discard those, water and all. And always take a tiny sip of the water before adding it to a recipe. It should taste light and sweet.
I decided to make a simple coconut milk.

After tasting the water I added it to the Blendtec along with the coconut meat and blended till smooth and frothy.

What a luscious, living cup of deliciousness it was!  Soon I will be showing you the young Florida coconuts I got from a landscaper across the street. I'm telling you, if ever you want something don't be afraid to just ask; you never know who will say yes.

+JMJ+ Today I am grateful for being in the right place at the right time.