Coconut water’s explosion in popularity has been amazing to watch. Having grown up with coconut water as a part of my everyday life, it’s been kinda cool to see the beverage be so excitedly embraced by the American mainstream.
The American adoption of coconut water means a lot of changes for coconut water purists. From changes in packaging to new added flavors to ways of ingesting the elixir, it’s a brand new day. Now there are coconut water ice pops for sale, and shelves are crowded with all kinds of flavors of coconut water. When my dad came to visit me recently, I tried to introduce him to chocolate coconut water and he was nothing short of horrified. He actually used the word “abomination.” It is that serious.
Smoothie photo via Shutterstock
Through the new coconut water awakening, I’ve learned a few things about the all-natural drink I grew up loving. Number one, not everyone has a love-at-first-sip experience with coconut water. For some, those added flavors help them get the nutrition of coconut water without the flavor (which sounds ridiculous, I know). Secondly, because of the popularity of smoothies, I’ve learned a new use for coconut water!
In Trinidad, I discovered, coconut water is pretty much consumed as is, or it’s used as a mixer in cocktails. I never thought of blending it with ingredients like strawberries and spinach until this year. And now I ADORE a coconut water-based smoothie. It rejuvenates you after a workout, delivers the antioxidants, calcium, magnesium and potassium your body needs, and the sweet, light, pleasant flavor doesn’t overpower the smoothie like yogurt or juice can. When I push myself to exercise and then drink one of these in the morning, I feel like nothing can stop me!
Thanks to the folks at Naked Coconut Water, I’ve been experimenting with new flavors and have pretty much nailed my smoothie recipe down. Here’s my basic recipe when making a coconut water smoothie.
3 parts fruit – I hate bananas so I usually use frozen peaches, mango, or pineapple as a base to thicken the smoothie. Then, I add berries of choice. I have bags and bags of frozen fruit in my freezer, so combinations often include strawberries, blueberries or blackberries.
1 part veggies – Kale or spinach. Choose your favorite!
Add coconut water to your desired consistency. One 11.2-oz package of Naked Coconut Water should work!
Blend.
Serve.
Feel awesome.
If you need more of a specific recipe, might I recommend Dr. Oz’s coconut water-based “dinner” smoothie? He gets ambitious and adds cayenne and flax seeds.
And if you really, really want an Afrobella-specific recipe, here’s one of my standard favorites!
Afrobella’s Morning Strawberry Piña Colada Smoothie
2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 cup frozen peach slices
6 or 7 large frozen strawberries
1 cup fresh baby kale leaves
One 11.2-oz. package Naked Coconut Water.
Blend baby kale and coconut water first.
Then add strawberries and pineapple. Blend till smooth.
Best enjoyed after an awesome morning workout.
What are your favorite smoothie recipes? Do you love coconut water as a base? Tell me!
This post was sponsored by Naked Coconut Water, but the opinions are always mine.
I would have to say I am a coconut water purist but it was fun reading your recipes.
Spoiler alert to coconut water – for some it makes you have to poop ASAP.
I would have to agree with pets. After a good workout your digestive system is moving things along and that coconut water just helps speeds up the progress for me! and sometimes its an all day thing! LOL! but I love it though.
As someone with a touch of restless leg syndrome anything with potassium in it is something I need to have and coconut water has been quite amazing in that department. Unfortunately I am still struggling with the “mouth feel”…it’s more slimy, I guess, than regular water? The flavored versions don’t help…I think I’ll try adding it to juice to see what that does.
Lol @ Dr. Oz getting ambitious! Lol… I grew up drinking coconut water straight from the coconut off the tree in my backyard, and scraping out that delicious jelly. I am with your dad on the abomination lol. You also have to be careful as many of these brands now have so much added sugar you might as well drink a soda or fruit juice.
I have to agree though that coconut water smoothies are the best!
I switch back and forth between using coconut water, coconut milk, or just 1% milk & plain yogurt, as a base for my morning smoothies. I use more coconut base these days to keep the calories low. As a result my mind is sharp, I have energy, I feel full all morning, I can’t remember WHAT acid reflux is anymore, and I poo in a way that would make Dr. Oz proud! lol
I pack the superfoods in mine and my wife’s morning smoothie- my recipe has goji berries, raw grape juice (from a local winery), flaxseed, ginger root, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, maca root powder, bee pollen, coconut water or milk (or milk/yogurt combo), a banana, green tea, spinach and carrots, and whatever combo of fruit I feel like adding.
I would have to say I am a coconut water purist but it was fun reading your recipes.
I would have to agree with pets. After a good workout your digestive system is moving things along and that coconut water just helps speeds up the progress for me! and sometimes its an all day thing! LOL! but I love it though.
Do you have calorie count on the pina colada and how many servings is it too.
Thanks
064.4 Calories — 11.2 oz of Coconut Water
156.0 Calories — 2 Cups of Pineapple (diced)
019.0 Calories — 1/2 Cups of Peaches (sliced)
042.0 Calories — 7 Large Strawberries
045.0 Calories — 1 Cup of Baby Kale Leaves
This all adds up to:
326.4 Calories
This is a rough estimate.
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Can you mix the coconut water with yogurt also? I’ve grown really fond of the yogurt taste, plus the protein and probiotics. Do the two not mix well?
It’s been a week of drinking coconut water/banana/apple smoothie after a work out in the morning everyday and I never felt better! it gives you that boost you need throughout the day! also drinking lots of water helps a lot ^.^
Hi,
It is informative blog.Coconut water is good for health.It is useful to all.I am waiting to get more information from your site.
Thanks for sharing this….