Growing up as an expat in Japan has its advantages: Many a summer, on our trips back to the US, we’d stop over in Hawaii. I have such wonderful memories of lounging on the beach and drinking water straight from the coconut. (I also have a memory of eating so much pineapple that I developed a cold sore… but that’s a different story for a different time.) On a hot, Hawaiian day, there is absolutely nothing more refreshing and replenishing than fresh coconut water.
When the folks at Zico wanted to send me some coconut water samples to review on my blog, I was thrilled at the prospet of reliving my childhood Hawaiian memories (cold sore aside). True, it’s nowhere near as fun to drink coconut water in an air-conditioned house as on a breezy beach…
But it’s just as delicious!
The generous Zico peeps sent four samples of each of the following flavors:
- Mango Coconut
- Passionfruit Coconut
- Regular Coconut
I enjoyed the mango and wasn’t big on the passionfruit (I’m not a passionfruit fan in general). But the plain coconut was my hands-down favorite. Sometimes simple truly is best. And the flavor is so sweet and refreshing that one just needs a small amount, not a huge glass, to feel satisfied.
Coconut water is often referred to as “nature’s sports drink” due to the fact that it contains the five essential electrolytes one’s body needs to function properly (balanced electrolyte levels also prevent cramping). One container of Zico has more potassium than a whole banana (and 15 times the amount in most sports drinks).
What doesn’t coconut water have? Artificial ingredients, fat, cholesterol, and added sugars.
Taste-wise, Zico coconut water is sweet, slightly coconutty, and very refreshing. It’s the perfect beverage to drink before a workout, after a workout, with a snack or meal, or by itself. Mix it into smoothies, pour it on your oatmeal (or maybe even cold cereal?), or gulp it straight-up. Just close those eyes and prepare to be transported to a tropical location. Sunscreen optional.
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Lately, I’ve had a habit of pouring a cold glass of Zico as soon as I return from a run… okay okay, so I don’t really pour a glass; I drink straight from the container 
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Below, some CCV-Zico Love:
Sitting pretty, with Pumpkin Pie Stir Fry.
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Above, I added a splash of coconut goodness to my All-Fruit Ice Cream (strawberry-raspberry this time) for a sweet burst of electrolytes– the perfect post-run snack 
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Nature’s energy drink is soooooo much better than Gatorade! After a long, hot run, it replenishes my electrolyte stores while also quenching my thirst.
Thanks Zico!!!
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In other news: Heather made my Three-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce. Have you seen Heather’s blog yet? If not, you are seriously missing out. This girl makes some crazy neon-green oatmeal! 
.(Above, Alfredo sauce over veggies)
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
i’m so jealous you got to go to Hawaii so often! i’ve only been there once but i’ve been wanting to go back so bad. the weather was beautiful and the pineapple was delicious! coconut water sounds so refreshing…i have to try some!
Oh man, I hear SO much on the blogs about coconut water! I hope you enjoy it all – it sounds amazing
It’s always nice to sip on something natural, instead of something doused in chemicals, and sugars…ew gross. 
What a nice refreshing thing to sip on for the SUMMERTIME too!
I hope you’re having a fantastic start to your week!
Love,
Meg
Coconut water sounds amazing – I really want to try it now!
Hehe. You know I love this post.
In fact, I am doing a post on something coconut soon and you, my dear Katie, will be mentioned. You’ll see!!
Keep having fun on vacay!
Coconut water is so refreshing… I don’t drink near enough of it.
I’m not a fan of coconut water. I think it’s way too sweet but the mango flavor is good. Much better than the plain I think.
I’ve been hearing so much about coconut water. I should try it!
Coconut water is my favourite! I love the plain- straight up and chilled. One day I will own my very own coconut tree. I don’t know which lovely island it will be on but it will be mine all mine. I’ll just have to learn how to climb it.
Katie, do you heat sauce up?
~Justine
Everyone’s drinking this latest elixir of life! I’ve gotta get my hands on some coconut water!
Katie,
I’ve been thinking about trying that coconut water for a while now, but I still have a bit of a hook up about drinking calories… I always pour my smoothies into a bowl and call them fruit soup! Maybe that’s what I should try with Zico? lol.
With Love,
Emily
Katie,
I just tried coconut water for the first time last week…ha, another New Foods Challenge for me, and I LOVED it. You totally scored on your samples. Lucky you – it will be great for after all your runs. I’m a huge fan of keeping those electrolytes in balance.
Thanks for the shout-out. You’re so sweet. I had more of your Alfredo sauce today for lunch. I think it’s even better the 2nd day. Love your recipes!
seriously i love that you make stuff and it’s easy!! three ingredients!
that sounds like an awesome way to grow up. I love HI. it has such a good vibe.
I agree, coconut water is delicious.
i’ve only tried coconut once and i cant say i’m the hugest fan. so keeping on track with your new foods challenge, i tried a new food today- almond butter! i know, it’s almost unbelievable that i’d never tried it before, but i’m just so addicted to peanut butter than i never wanted to pay the expensive price for almond butter. anyway, i LOVE it! it’s a bit more rich than pb so i doubt i could eat as much but it sure is tasty
just wish it wasn’t so expensive!
but still, nothing will replace my love for pb….
With my love for coconut, that seems like the perfect drink!!! it would be lovely with your almond joy oats recipe, to make pop sicles, ice cream, i want a zico right now!
I have been drinking this lately as well, since Florida has gone through an unusual heat wave for May. The only way I can drink it, however, is in iced tea. Which, if you don’t link how it tastes, is a great way to drink it.
I meant to say, don’t like how it tastes, not don’t link how it tastess. Sorry, watching Dancing with the Stars.
I definitely need to try some coconut water!
I didn’t know Zico had other flavoured waters. I think they only sell the plain coconut water here – which I agree, is pretty awesome. It would make excellent smoothies with any fruit. Yum!
thanks for the info on coconut water, i’ve seen it around, but wondered what the deal was… and hadn’t had a chance to look it up!
Ahh I’m making all of that soon!
Never tasted coconut water, I’ll add it to my list of things you’ve tried that I want to try haha. It’s getting pretty long!
I’ve got to get me some of that Zico. I see it at Whole Foods every time I go, but I think now I’ll actually put it in the basket.
Curiosity always gets to the best of me (and my wallet).
Drink up!
Loveyababe.
-E
(P.S. Sorry I’ve been so absent from commenting. I’ve miss you girlie!!!)
I tried coconut water a few weeks ago and couldn’t finish it–however, it was a different brand (Vita Coco), so maybe I’ll give it another chance;)
This Zico sounds fabulous. I never knew about the electrolytes or potassium in coconut water! What’s the calorie count on the coconut water? Okay, and on a side note, I want to hear about the pineapple cold sore story sometime
sadly you lost me when I got a look at your NAILS.
damn, woman.
love them
Zico is so yummy! I didn’t like the passionfruit either. I use to drink it would when I would come back from my runs as a recovery drink too. Actually… I just drink it whenever. It just felt more purposeful after a run hehe
I LOVE Zico!! How funny that you just posted ’cause we just went to our Whole Foods here in Boston last night and they were having a major sale. We bought 15 of the large Zicos (yes, we really do love the stuff!) and around 10 of the mango ones..they are our favorites! I swear the stuff is like a miracle cure-all..H gets dehydrated so easily and the stuff cures that and I find any cramps, leg or other are remedied by drinking coconut water (I think it’s the potassium that helps). We have tried other brands but Zico tastes the best to us! And I’m having the SAME flavor nectar bar this morning for a snack..chocolate walnut. I swear looking at your food is like looking at mine..like you said previously, great minds think alike if I may so compliment us..he he he!
mm, I loved adding coconut water to smoothies. I don’t know if you’ve gotten into the whole green smoothie thing, but I loved a smoothie with frozen mango, spinach, coconut water…so good and refreshing!
Yuuuummm!!!!! I eye these every time I go to Whole Foods. I just need to suck it up and buy the expensive (yet yummy and healthy!) thing!
What great timing!
I tried Coconut Water this weekend at AIDS Walk in nyc for the first time…One Natural experience was one of the sponsors and they were handing out their coconut water and juices at all the checkpoints, along with Larabar…it was so refreshing!
sounds delish and so refreshing! Perfect for summer weather!
Coconut water is so delicious and I might have to try one of the flavored ones too!
im obsessed with it. The company sends the Rockettes Box loads… its amazing..i hate gatorade so itsa great way to replenish those electrolytes!!!
Thanks for sharing this informative post with us . Will visit your blog again.
We are crazy for coconut water here at my house! Its so great on those hot dehydrating summer days.
Oo, I tried Zico with my mom this past winter break! It’s very nice, isn’t it? The plain is best I think.
I just want to thank you for EXPLAINING the benefits of coconut water!! I see it everywhere but had no idea it contained all the essential electrolytes. I’m a runner and drink water like a maniac…I might have to try Zico. Anyways, thanks again!!
Coconut water is my fav!!! ….But not Zico. I prefer Vita Coco because Zico is from concentrate and I’d rather get more bang for my buck.
I disagree- VitaCoco is better for you than Zico and is not affiliated with large coporations such as Coca-Cola that makes its money off of selling people food and beverages that are processed and artificial.
I’ve tried a lot of different brands of coconut water and Vita Coco is by far the best. There’s nothing fake or harmful in it and it comes in so many different flavors it’s nice to have variety. There are so many nutrients in Vita Coco that after an exhausting run I drink it and it makes me feel a hundred times better.
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