The Coco-Contenders....
Sample A: O.N.E.
Straightforward, with a touch of sweetness. It was definitely the "Most watery" which was a plus for some and a minus for others.
Molly Sider ranked O.N.E. above the others finding it "creamy but not too sweet, and refreshing. In my opinion, the only one that tasted like coconut."
Price: $5.19
Sample B: VitaCoco
The "tangiest" of the bunch - though slightly artificial tasting.
"Coconut water is not about water. It's about
coconut. Sample B showed ample nutty and pithy coconut flavor supported by a moderately creamy body that screamed, "I am Cocos nucifera. You feel, me?" - Brent Wasser
Price: $4.69
Sample C: Young Coconut
Smells and tastes like coconut. Clearly the nuttiest on the palate and thickest. Several staffers described a nose of damp, unsalted tostitos.
Note: Those evaluating the coconut water as a sports drink ranked this selection very low. Others who evaluated the water just based on taste and potential for mixing or sipping straight ranked the young coconut higher.
Price: $3.00
Sample D: ZICO
Perhaps the cleanest finish but a sourness that some people didn't like.
Tom ranked this higher than his normal brand finding the ZICO to display the "most balance of sweetness & tang. Was certainly coconut water without being too watery"
Price: $3.99
Sample C: Harvest Bay
Oddly sweet, with a tang at the end, though the flavors were subtle.
McRae found this to be "the most drinkable without being too dilute. For me, the right balance of flavor and smoothness."
Price: $4.99
Sample F: Brown Coconut
Almost undrinkable. Luckily the spit bucket was within reach for those who weren't interested in swallowing the gloopy, dirty stuff.
Price: $1.69
The Results
Observations:
- TEMPERATURE makes a huge difference. All waters should be served *cold*
- The tasters all had a different idea about "what makes good coconut water". Some (Tom) were evaluating it as if it were a sports drink, while almost everyone else was thinking of it as what they would most want in a mixed drink or to sip straight. That's why the water from the "Young Coconut" fared the best.
- There may have been something wrong with the brown coconuts -- or the water is just not made to be consumed without the meat. Almost everyone found this water to be a completely unpleasant experience.
- Guest Judge Kristin Donnelly found 'A' to be first for its clean nature while 'C' to be second b/c it "tasted most like coconut."
- Almost everyone agreed that despite the fact that there were clear "winners" and "losers" no water performed badly enough to be "kicked out of bed" (except the water from the real brown coconut) aka if it was the only coconut water you had, you would probably be happy.
Final Rankings
Each Crush staffer was asked to rank the 6 selections from their favorite (1) to least favorite (6).
Overall Winner: Young Coconut
Winner of Packaged Coconut Water: O.N.E.