Coconut Water with Fresh Aloe
Cool, naturally sweet coconut water with tender cubes of fresh aloe, a squeeze of lime, and a few mint leaves. A refreshing, hydrating tropical drink, made the real way, without the added sugar of store-bought aloe drinks.
Yield: 2 servings · Active: 10 min · Total: 10 min · Year-round in tropical regions, where young coconuts and aloe grow · Best eaten: midday, especially on hot days
Ingredients
2 cups fresh coconut water (from 2-3 young green coconuts, or bottled 100% raw coconut water)
1 large aloe vera leaf (about 1 foot long), for about ½ cup aloe gel cubes
Juice of ½ lime
A few fresh mint leaves
Optional: a pinch of Baja Gold sea salt, for an electrolyte boost
Method
Drain the aloe. Cut off the base of the aloe leaf and stand it upright in a glass for 10-15 minutes to let the yellow sap drain out. This sap (aloin) is a harsh laxative, so you don't want it in your drink.
Fillet. Lay the leaf flat, trim off the spiky edges, and slice away the green skin from the top and bottom, leaving only the clear inner gel.
Cube and rinse. Cut the gel into small cubes and rinse them well in cold water, 2-3 times, until they're no longer slimy and any yellow tinge is gone.
Combine. Pour the coconut water into glasses, add the aloe cubes, lime juice, mint, and optional salt, and stir.
Serve cold, over ice if you like.
Nourishment Notes
Coconut water is naturally rich in potassium, with magnesium, sodium, and a little natural sugar, which makes it a lovely, gentle way to rehydrate on hot days. Fresh from the coconut, it's at its best.
Aloe vera inner gel is mostly water, with polysaccharides like acemannan that have long been valued for soothing the digestive tract. Only the clear inner gel should be eaten, never the yellow sap.
Lime brings vitamin C, and mint adds menthol and a cooling lift.
An honest note: aloe isn't recommended during pregnancy, so skip the aloe if you're expecting.
Sourcing
Coconuts — organic young green coconuts; or bottled 100% raw, unpasteurized coconut water with nothing added, refrigerated
Aloe leaves — organic, from a farmers' market, Latin or Asian grocer, or your own garden (the edible species is Aloe barbadensis miller)
Limes and mint — organic
Baja Gold sea salt
Storage
Best fresh. Prepared aloe cubes keep in a sealed glass jar in the fridge up to 3 days; fresh coconut water keeps 1-2 days.
— Anna aka Food Marshall