What is the best coconut water? Well, it should taste like you cracked open a fresh coconut and poured that sweet, sweet juice directly into your mouth. We’ve tasted more than 20 coconut water brands in search of the best tasting coconut water.
But before we get to the best coconut water ranking, let’s talk about blood.
I once heard that coconut water was very similar to human blood. In fact, I heard it was used in place of blood in emergency blood transfusions during World War II. And, while a quick Google will let you know that such a rumor is not true (though, per NPR, one man was successfully given coconut water intravenously in the Solomon Islands one time), I like to think about it whenever I’m drinking the electrolyte-packed beverage. Why? It feels nourishing. Let’s leave it at that and not pull at that thread any more. (Cut to me LARPing as a vampire with an IV bag of coconut water.)
What types of coconut water we sourced
We wanted to find the best coconut water to drink, period, but that means different things to different people. Some people want coconut water with pulp, some specifically want Thai coconut water, others demand pink coconut water, and others still are searching for sparkling coconut water. We tried multiple brands of each varietal and came up with a complete ranking of all the best of the best coconut water brands to buy.
What we looked for in the best coconut water
When it comes to everyday coconut water, I certainly don’t think the best coconut water tastes like blood—no matter what my fantasies are. But I do want there to be some salinity to balance out the sweetness. If it’s too sweet, I can’t pretend I’m drinking something that’s good for me (like blood). Give me a little tinge of salt, of vegetal earthiness and I’ll feel like I’m doing my body good.
Flavored coconut water should taste like a flavor, sure, but mostly it should still taste coconutty. And sparkling coconut water, well, that’s a bit tougher. It should taste like the best coconut water (non-sparkling) but with bubbles. And those bubbles shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying pure, thirst-quenchy coconut goodness.
The Sporked team poured out tetra pak after tetra pak of coconut water to find the best coconut water brands on the market. Here’s the best coconut water to drink, whether you like pink coconut water, coconut water with pulp, or even sparkling coconut water.
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- Strange Water Sparkling Coconut Water
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Here’s the thing about sparkling coconut water: It’s weird! I tried a few sparkling coconut water brands in our most recent coconut water taste test and I’m still not totally sure why sparkling coconut water exists. However if you are the reason, if you are the target audience, then this is the best sparkling coconut water to buy. It has a pure, savory, toasty coconut flavor, and very tiny bubbles. It’s super strange! But the can does look great.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Kirkland Signature Organic Coconut Water
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Kirkland Signature’s coconut water—aka Costco coconut water—is like water+. It’s not too sweet (even though there are 13 grams of sugar per serving) but it’s also not too coconutty. It’s water—but with some flavor. And that’s a good thing. It’s extremely refreshing, so it’s some of the best coconut water to drink as a workout beverage or as something to drink on a super hot day. It’s also great if you like coconut but you don’t love coconut. There is just a kiss of coconut flavor in this coconut water.
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Amazon
- Taste Nirvana Coconut Water with Aloe
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Looking for a sweet treat? Keep on moving. Taste Nirvana is the best tasting coconut water for savory savorers like myself. It’s extremely refreshing, soothing, and cooling. It’s aloe after a sunburn. And, appropriately enough, it also contains jiggly aloe cubes. They’re not for everyone, but if you’re a boba fan or just someone who likes stuff in their drinks, this is a great option. I was a bit nervous about the addition of aloe but I thoroughly enjoyed sipping down the wobbly chunks. If that sentence didn’t creep you out, then this is the best coconut water brand to drink.
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Walmart
- El Mexicano Coconut Water with Pulp
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If you do want a sweet, sweet, sweet coconut water, then El Mexicano is some of the best coconut water you can buy. It straight up tastes like a melted coconut popsicle. And it’s also the best coconut water with pulp that we tried; the tasty little chunks add chew to your beveraging experience. “The chunks feel exciting,” said Sporked’s Jordan Myrick. “I love the texture and love the flavor.” And that’s coming from someone who absolutely does not like coconut water.
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Amazon
- Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Water & Watermelon Juice
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I was skeptical of this flavored coconut water. Watermelon-flavored things often end up tasting more like a Jolly Rancher than the actual melon and that’s not the flavor I want when I’m drinking coconut water. But Harmless Harvest does it right. The watermelon juice in this flavored coconut water tastes like actual, fresh watermelon juice. And it blends with the coconut water really well. It’s extremely refreshing and totally unique. It does contain 18 grams of sugar, so it’s a bit of a treat. But it’s well worth the splurge.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Water
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Why is some coconut water pink? Oxidation, baby! If you slice an apple, it turns brown. If you leave coconut water to come in contact with the air, it turns pink! So why isn’t all coconut water pink? Because most coconut water has been processed. Harmless Harvest is less processed, which means it maintains its pink color. So it’s not just a pretty drink. It’s also more pure. And it’s just plain good. Harmless Harvest is on the sweeter end of the coconut water spectrum, but it’s reliably crisp and chuggable. And, of course, it’s some of the best pink coconut water.
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Target
- Coco Joy Natural Coconut Water
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If you don’t think you like coconut water, try this one then get back to me. It’s sweet but not sugary. So you can get your fix without feeling like your chugging liquid coconut candy. And its packaging is very pleasing, as well. It tastes like pure, tropical coconut—like something you would get at a beach resort. It’s the best coconut water to pair with a bright white string bikini on a poolside afternoon.
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Walmart
- Vita Coco Pressed
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After our initial coconut water taste test folks told us to try this one—and we tried and failed to source it for our follow up taste test. But we managed to score a tetrapak for our most recent best coconut water taste test, and I’m so glad we did. This stuff is rich and coconutty and tropical and so good. It’s also not too shockingly sweet. It’s not like you are drinking coconut milk—but it does taste like fresh, liquified coconut flesh. And that makes sense, because it’s coconut water mixed with a little bit of coconut puree. This isn’t the best coconut water to quench your thirst, but it is the best coconut water when you need a little treat.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- C2O Organic Coconut Water
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In our original ranking of the best coconut water brands, C2O took the number one spot. We loved how bold and balanced and full-bodied it was. But in our follow up coconut water taste test, we not only found a new number one best coconut water, but we also found a better version of C2O coconut water. C2O Organic coconut water is the best organic coconut water on the market. It has a deeper, richer flavor than the original C2O. I think that’s because it’s made specifically with cane sugar rather than regular sugar. It almost tastes like there’s a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg in the mix. It’s warm and cozy—those are weird things to say about coconut water, but trust me, it’s some of the best tasting coconut water ever.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Amy & Brian
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While Copra is still our number one best coconut water brand to buy, Amy & Brian comes close. If you can’t find Copra, this is the one to choose. It’s super clean and refreshing. The flavor is a balance between rich, tropical coconut and a grassiness that I really like. It’s definitely not super sweet, it’s simply cooling, refreshing, and gulpable. It’s simple and pure and it’s made entirely with Thai coconuts, which are known to be more flavorful than other coconuts. My only quibble? The name. I appreciate that Amy & Brian is a family business started back in 2001 and the company is named for the founders’ children, but it just doesn’t scream “refreshment” to me.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Copra Pure Coconut Water
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If you only try one coconut water from this list, make it this one. It truly is the best coconut water I’ve ever had. It’s earthy and round and pure and sweet—but not too sweet. It tastes a little like toasted coconut, and that really put it over the edge for us. It’s so complexly flavored with those toasty notes complementing the sweetness and just a hint of grassiness. Plus, it’s pink coconut water. And we know that means it’s not super-processed. It’s not cheap. But it’s so, so worth it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Copra
Best Sparkling Coconut Water
Best Water Alternative
Best Coconut Water with Aloe
Best Coconut Water with Pulp
Best Flavored Coconut Water
Best Pink Coconut Water
Best Tropical Flavor
Best Creamy
Best Organic
Best Thai Coconut Water
Best of the Best
Other coconut waters we tried: Simple Truth Original, Nature’s Nectar, 365, Trader Joe’s, Vita Coco Pineapple, Vita Coco Coconut Water, Goya Coconut Water with Pulp, Nilo Agua de Coco con Pulpa, Vita Coco Farmers Organic, Good & Gather Pulp Free Coconut Water, Harmless Harvest with Pulp Organic Coconut Water, Good & Gather Peach & Mango Coconut Water, Real Coco, Harmless Harvest with Aloe Pulp, Harmless Harvest Organic Sparkling Coconut Water
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