Drink a Coconut



The "coconut water" inside the young fruits can be a lifesaving hydrator when hiking in tropical regions. Many are in easy reach! Open one in a few seconds with a pocketknife, and gulp down the sweetish and nutrient-rich fluid; your body will thank you for it!

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:IMGP0275_814.JPG|thumb|]]Separate the young coconut from the tree; a few twists will usually suffice. Finding one within easy reach is, however, sometimes difficult!
 * 2) [[Image:IMGP0276_754.JPG|thumb|]]Insert a lock back or other fixed knife blade into the stem end at a shallow angle; this first cut is for two purposes. Firstly, to prepare a clean area for your lips: free of bird droppings, diesel exhaust goop, and other pollutants. Secondly, as some husks are too thick to easily penetrate with one cut: to make a shallow cut which will make the next hole easier.
 * 3) [[Image:IMGP0277_707.JPG|thumb|]]Move the blade around in a circle, leaving a clean area 3 inches or so in diameter. Often the coconut is completely full of liquid, which will cause it to spray in your face when the blade first penetrates the interior, or even to split as in this case!
 * 4) [[Image:IMGP0278_328.JPG|thumb|]]Make the final cut, pushing the blade straight into the center of the previous hole, to reach the liquid. This one only needs to be big enough for a straw, if you have one, or a little bigger to pour the fluid into a cup. You can, of course, drink it directly, but only if you don't mind the possibility of spilling some of the liquid on your clothing; it will leave a brown stain. It doesn't matter if the piece of hull falls into the coconut water, just spit it out as you're drinking.
 * 5) Drink up! Add a little of your favorite intoxicant if you're so inclined, or just appreciate the good, clean taste of the natural beverage.

Tips

 * To reduce the possibility of spraying or splitting, be very slow and careful with the knife blade on the initial cut. Water does not compress, nor does the coconut hull stretch appreciably; so if the coconut is full and you add a small volume of steel, via the tip of the knife blade, there is no place for the water to go except out, by any means necessary!
 * Don't overlook even fist-sized coconuts if you're thirsty and they're in plentiful supply; if it's full of water, it's well worth the minimal effort necessary to extract it.

Warnings

 * Always try to do this with a locking knife. If not, be careful because the knife could close on your finger.
 * Coconut water has some laxative and diuretic qualities, in addition to many beneficial nutrients. You might want to start slowly, perhaps only one, and add a little more each day to see how it affects your system. If the liquid tastes sour, these qualities may be even greater than normal.
 * Someone may object to your taking coconuts from "their" tree, even if said tree is on public land, and even if nobody else is interested in them. Always be prepared to explain yourself to authorities.
 * Coconut water is reputed to leave a dark brown stain on clothing. If this could cause a problem, make sure not to let the liquid get onto your clothes.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Cut Open a Coconut
 * How to Eat a Rambutan
 * How to Eat Yucca

Sources and Citations

 * This research was made possible, in part, by a land grant from the City of the Sun, though the specifics of the research were not coordinated nor endorsed by COSF.