The case for Classic
Classic is unadorned. It tastes of the nut, carries little sweetness and finishes short and clean. With food, on the go, or simply across the day, it fits in well precisely because it tastes so plain and unobtrusive.
It is also the honest way to judge coconut water. If you like Classic, you like coconut water. If you find it too empty, a fruit variety genuinely does suit you better — that is not a lesser palate.
The case for fruit juice
The fruit varieties are not lemonades. Twenty per cent juice is enough to give the drink direction and colour without burying the coconut water. Coming from a world of sweet drinks, this is the easier way in.
They are also the more sociable varieties: on a table with guests, mango and pineapple disappear faster than Classic. That is an observation, not a verdict on quality.
A simple test
Take a can of Classic and one fruit variety, chill both equally, and drink the Classic first. Then the fruit one. In the other order Classic is bound to taste flat — the sequence decides more than the variety does.
Still torn after that test? White peach sits closest to Classic and makes the best compromise.
Frequently asked questions
Is Classic less sweet than the fruit varieties?
Yes, noticeably. Classic contains only coconut water; the sweetness of the fruit varieties comes from the added fruit juice.
Which fruit variety is the mildest?
White peach. It is floral and barely tart, and sits closest in taste to Classic.
Can varieties be ordered mixed?
Yes. Alongside the single-variety packs of 20 there is a mixed pack.
