Coconut water is the ideal drink for practicing light sports, according to an analysis carried out by the American Chemical Society. The study’s lead author, Chhandashri Bhattacharya, guarantees that it contains up to 12 times more potassium than bananas and can also benefit people who don’t exercise.
— Whenever a person starts experiencing muscle cramps, he or she can drink coconut water as it will help get rid of the pain. It’s a healthy drink, replenishing nutrients lost by the body during a moderate workout, he says.
Coconut water is a great drink for those who want to hydrate and replenish their electrolytes: it contains approximately 40 mg of sodium in 200 ml of drink. In other words, it contains more potassium, fewer calories and fewer carbohydrates. During short races or for runners needing fewer carbohydrates, coconut water may be more attractive than the isotonic drinks themselves.
But there is another way to “drink” coconut water, a little more different, which has won the hearts of drink lovers and which is even more refreshing on these hot days: in ice cubes.
When frozen cubes are added to drinks in place of standard ice, they play two roles: adding both freshness and flavor.
— It’s thinner, but it also highlights. The cocktail starts with a flavor profile, and as the coconut cube melts, it becomes a little more robust. That smoothness and rich, velvety mouthfeel adds another layer of complexity, says Blake Cole, owner of Friends and Family in California, US.
Ice cubes are easy to make: pour coconut water into trays, cover and freeze until solid. If coconut water is too sweet for your taste, Cole recommends using half coconut water and half filtered water.
These cubes can be added to water, iced tea, thawed coconut water or even fruit juices. There are those who like to prepare alcoholic drinks and cocktails with the cubes – a great option for a refreshing New Year’s Eve, for example.
Coconut water’s ability to drown out the sometimes harsh flavors of alcohol is also unmatched:
— Anything you drink alone and you think “ooh, that’s a bit intense, that’s something that helps cut out the noise a bit.” Having that alcoholic heat combined with the richness of coconut water is a really good combination, says Cole.
The expert also shared a recipe to make at home:
- 1½ cups unsweetened organic coconut water
- 2 cups diced frozen pineapple
- 1 cup of white rum
- ½ cup sweetened coconut cream
- 60 ml of fresh lemon juice
- 60 ml of quality dark rum (optional)
- Pineapple slices, to decorate
Step 1: The day before serving this drink, prepare your coconut water ice cubes: pour the coconut water into ice cube trays, cover and freeze until solid.
Step 2: To make the cocktail, add the coconut ice cubes, frozen pineapple, white rum, coconut cream and lime juice to a blender. Blend until smooth and cooled.
Step 3: Divide into chilled glasses. If desired, complete each drink with approximately 14 ml of dark rum. Garnish with pineapple slices and serve immediately.
About The Author
