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Coconut Water

Also known as Coconut Water (Fresh Nigerian Coconut)

Fresh Coconut Water is the most natural, most instantly refreshing drink in Nigeria — the clear, subtly sweet, slightly salty, faintly coconut-flavoured liquid found inside every young green coconut. In Nigeria, coconut sellers sit at roadside stalls across Lagos, Calabar, Warri and every coastal city with piles of green coconuts, expertly machete-ing off the top of each one to order and handing the customer the opened coconut with a straw.

Coconut Water, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 large young green coconuts — the younger the coconut, the more water inside and the sweeter the water
  • A sharp, heavy knife or machete for opening
  • A straw for drinking directly from the coconut OPTIONAL ADDITIONS for a flavoured version:
  • Fresh lime juice — squeezed directly into the coconut
  • A small piece of fresh ginger juice
  • A tiny pinch of salt — enhances the electrolyte quality

Method

  1. 01

    Selecting the Right Coconut. Choose a young coconut that is still fully green — not brown. Shake it: you should hear plenty of liquid sloshing around inside. A coconut with lots of liquid is a young, fresh one with the sweetest water.

  2. 02

    Opening the Coconut — Nigerian Market Style. Hold the coconut firmly on a flat surface. Using a large, sharp, heavy knife or machete, strike the top of the coconut firmly at a slight angle, rotating the coconut between strikes, until you have created a circular opening approximately the size of a large coin. The skill of the Nigerian coconut seller who opens a coconut in 4 to 5 strikes with a single machete is impressive — at home, a regular large knife and patience achieve the same result.

  3. 03

    Drinking the Coconut Water. Insert a straw directly into the opening and drink the fresh coconut water. Alternatively, carefully pour the coconut water into a glass over ice.

  4. 04

    Adding Optional Flavourings. If desired, squeeze the juice of half a lime directly into the opening before inserting the straw. The lime and coconut water combination is extraordinarily refreshing. Add a tiny pinch of salt to enhance the electrolyte quality and the perceived sweetness.

  5. 05

    Eating the Jelly — Icing on the Cake. Once the water is consumed, use a spoon to scoop out the soft, jelly-like coconut flesh lining the inside of the young coconut. This soft jelly is sweet, creamy and delicious — it is part of the complete fresh Nigerian coconut experience.

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