302 of 307 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
O.N.E vs. Vita vs. Zico coconut water, October 11, 2009
This review is from: ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, Natural, 11.2-Ounce Tetra Paks (Pack of 12) (Grocery)
Each of these three products has a number of reviews. I don't have much to add to any of the individual reviews. Coconut water is great, if you are in the market for a case of it you already know this. But which of these three is the best?
I went around town and found 5 boxes of each of the three brands (15 total) each, with no two boxes of a the same brand coming from the same supplier. The goal was to get a wide range of product batches. This I am happy to report was pointless. All three brands produce an internally consistent product.
I then ordered a 12 pack of all three brands from Amazon. The only significant difference in packaging is that O.N.E. glues a little telescoping straw to each individual box, the other two brands do not. If you are a straw person this is a feature if not this is just more trash, you decide. The amount per container varies slightly by brand but given the price fluctuation on Amazon I don't consider the 0.1 Oz differences an important factor.
All three are made in Brazil, O.N.E. mentions that it is pasteurized the other two do not (nevertheless, I suspect all three are).
On pure taste, at refrigerator temperature, I found
Zico to be the best (say 5/5), but only nominally better than
O.N.E. (4.5/5),
Vita was a distant third (3/5). Both Zico and O.N.E. taste almost exactly like drinking right from a fresh green coconut. Vita, on the other hand, has a grape aftertaste which I did not like. At room temperature the order remained the same; however, the differences in taste became more obvious: Zico (5/5), O.N.E. (4/5), Vita (2/5). Obviously all of this is subjective.
I observed the price of three on Amazon over the course of a month. Zico (~$24) was consistently more expensive than the other two (~$18-21) which traded places as the least expensive.
Considering the price and quality, O.N.E. is my choice and the brand to which I now subscribe. I consider Zico an excellent, but over priced, product and Vita an inferior product. If, however, I preferred my coconut water at room temperature I would give strong consideration to paying the extra money for Zico. If I used my coconut water as a mixer I would buy which ever one is cheapest at the time.
All three products are better than nothing (the previous option) and I am happy to see them on the market.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
82 of 85 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delicious!, June 16, 2006
This review is from: ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, Natural, 11.2-Ounce Tetra Paks (Pack of 12) (Grocery)
This is the best way to get coconut water unless you have direct access to fresh, green coconuts. Tastes great. I prefer to use a straw to drink from the box. There's no jelly included, only the liquid coconut water. They are not cheap, but I buy from Amazon since our grocery stores don't sell coconut water. Some people don't like the taste of coconut water, but this brand is great if you do.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for Athletes, Hangovers, Post-Partum, etc., August 31, 2007
This review is from: ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, Natural, 11.2-Ounce Tetra Paks (Pack of 12) (Grocery)
My husband runs and we'd read that coconut water is a much better replenishment drink than all the artificial sports drinks, so we began our search for a good brand. He is Latin American and I'm West Indian, so we're quite familiar with how this is supposed to taste. The canned drinks were awful - they picked up the taste of the can and many companies chose to add in coconut pieces which didn't do anything pleasant in terms of taste. This is by far the best brand we've tasted. It is expensive but so is Gatorade and similar drinks, so if you work out and use those, this is much better. It is higher in potassium by far, very important for post-workouts. It is also great for hangovers (hah!) and for women who've recently given birth. Essentially it does a great job of helping the body to recover and replenish essential electrolytes, so whether you go with this brand or another, coconut water is a great drink. To us, this is the best tasting and most authentic tasting brand out there. We do wish it was cheaper, but unfortunately we live in a society where it's easier to eat crap and get obese and unhealthy than it is to eat well and stay fit. (We have NOT tasted vitacoco yet...hoping to try soon. Will review again if our opinion differs after tasting!)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No