Cocktails with Coconut water
Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside the cavity of the coconut, the fruit of Cocos nucifera, most abundant in young green nuts.
Taste profile
Faintly sweet and nutty, with a subtle coconut aroma and a thin, water-like body; a soft mineral note runs underneath.
How it's used
Lengthens and dilutes a drink while carrying a light coconut note, built or topped rather than shaken, and poured freely as the bulk liquid; purchased products vary from pure single-strength water to reconstituted or sweetened versions, which shifts the sweetness balance.
Substitutes for Coconut water
Where it is plain dilution, plain water or a neutral still mixer works, with a little sugar syrup to match its mild sweetness; where the coconut aroma is the point, only another coconut ingredient supplies it, though coconut milk or cream bring fat and opacity this thin, low-fat liquid does not.
Often confused with
Coconut milk / coconut cream
Coconut water is the naturally occurring clear, low-fat liquid from inside the coconut cavity; coconut milk and coconut cream are opaque, fatty emulsions produced by grating and pressing the mature white flesh. They differ in fat content, colour and body, and are not interchangeable in a drink.
