Koo Koo for Coconuts
When L.A. was experiencing its last heat wave, I drank lots of coconut juice to keep cool, pretending that I was on a tropical island. It was fun and made the heat bearable. I drank a few different varieties including:
$0.79 $0.99
Both were pleasant, but the one on the right tasted more natural.
I was happy with both of these, but then last week, I saw a bunch of real, fresh, young coconuts sitting together in the produce section for only $0.79 each.
I didn’t know one could buy these things ready to drink like this. I’ve paid $2.50 - $3.50 in restaurants to drink out of a coconut and now I learn that they only cost $0.79!* Woah! So, I bought one and took it home, but it sat in my fridge for a few days because I didn’t know how to open it. I thought I might have to get a drill. Table D’Hote tried to explain it to me, but I couldn’t quite grasp the bludgeoning that I would have to do. So then I brought my coconut over to Wandering Chopsticks and she showed me how to crack the nut:
1. Get a cutting board and cleaver.
2. Then quickly chop of just enough of the top to open the nut without spilling the juices all over (you will spill some). Our first strike was not close enough, hence the little cap there. Second strike was a success:
3. Yummy coconut milk:
4. Partay!
This was a delicious drink, much better than a bottle or canned variety obviously. And it seemed to have more liquid than the bottle on the right. I think these would make a fun party drink, maybe I’ll tote some to the next potluck I go to. First I’ll practice cleaving at home.
Thanks to Table D’Hote and Wandering Chopsticks for educating me about coconuts. Both blogs are on my blogroll. * This fine young coconut came from:
Quang Hoa Supermarket
350 W. Garvey Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(626) 571-6799
Damn! My fingers look fat! Glad to be of service. You can bring coconuts over again any time.
Comment by Wandering Chopsticks — October 1, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Nah, it’s the lighting and the angle.
Comment by UnHip LA — October 1, 2007 @ 1:33 am
I’d never seen a coconut smashed before–interesting step by step demonstration!
Comment by coffeeaddict — October 1, 2007 @ 6:43 am
Thx, it’s a delicious drink, nicely chilled within the shell.
Comment by UnHip LA — October 1, 2007 @ 8:51 am
There are two kinds of people in the world–those who like coconut and those who don’t.
At the Pasadena Farmer’s Market on Saturday, there is a vendor who sells coconuts–great stuff, but way more than $0.79! I think more like 2 bucks…
Comment by Kelly — October 1, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Hi Kelly, Are the vendor’s coconuts chopped already for drinking?
Comment by UnHip LA — October 1, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
young coconut meat, sounds almost obscene
had no idea about young coconuts
very informative blog, indeed
Comment by MK — October 2, 2007 @ 2:06 am