aqua verde is transparent and honest

Anyone wishing to maintain a healthy diet these days is bound to have plenty of questions. This is because many companies in the food and beverage industry still try to mislead and trick consumers. With Dr Antonio Martins’ coco there are no tricks and nothing is hidden. Our products have the high quality we promise. Even at close scrutiny…

Coconut water, coconut juice
Is there a difference between coconut water and coconut juice?

You will often come across different names for the same natural product. Coconuts only grow in the tropics. The liquid contained within young coconuts is a particularly popular drink in Portuguese-speaking Brazil – where it is called “agua de coco”, which translates into English as “coconut water”.

The liquid from the coconut is the juice from a fruit, or more specifically, from a drupe. In botanical terms, "coconut water is the liquid inside the one-seeded drupe, the coconut".

Coconut water and coconut juice are just different names for the same product: the liquid content of a coconut.

Young coconut, old coconut
How do coconut water products differ in terms of quality?

First things first:: There are big differences in the quality of coconut water products on the market.

Many products (most branded products), including aqua verde, are made using coconut water from green coconuts. These coconuts are harvested for their flesh to be processed and are up to 12 months old. While people in Asia and Brazil do not drink this coconut water because of its lesser quality, Europeans and Americans love it.

The traditional coconut water from young coconuts is less sweet and more acidic. It can compensate for the loss of minerals at high outside temperatures. The older the coconut is, the flatter and less refreshing the taste. The sweetness of coconut water increases only in some cases to decrease again during the ripening process depending on the type of coconut. During the ripening process, the coconut flavour also becomes more pronounced and the mineral balance changes.

The health benefits of coconut water that are supported by research only refer to "young tender", i.e. coconut water from young coconuts. There are (still) no usable studies on green coconuts.

There is a good reason why people in Brazil and Asia only traditionally drink coconut water from young coconuts. On the other hand, Europeans and Americans love the taste of the green coconut.

Green coconut, brown coconut
What differences are there between coconuts?

As fruit, coconuts go through a ripening process - from young (green) to old (still green). At the same time, the taste, the composition of the coconut (the proportion of coconut flesh to coconut water increases) and the nutritional values change.

At 3 to 6 months, the coconut is young – this is when it is at the optimum level of ripeness to drink. The coconut water is full of valuable substances and tastes light and fresh, slightly sweet and with a hint of coconut.

At 9 to 13 months, the coconut flesh is ripe but the coconut can still be green. Please do not be fooled by product claims such as "contains only coconut water from green coconuts". Young coconut will always be labelled as "young". "Green" coconut water comes from ripe coconuts. This is the only time when the flesh is optimally ripe to make coconut milk and grated coconut. There is only a small amount of coconut water left, which has a much stronger coconut taste.

Coconut milk, coconut water
Does the cavity inside a coconut contain white coconut milk?

A chocolate bar ad, which ran on TV for years, would have you believe that when you cut open a coconut, you will see white creamy coconut milk. This is completely false ...

Coconut milk is a processed product that does not exist in nature. To make coconut milk, an extract from the pressed flesh of ripe coconuts is mixed with water (and often also preservatives).

Coconut juice or coconut water is a pure, natural product. If you crack open a coconut, the liquid that pours out is coconut water. The younger the coconut, the more coconut water it will contain.

Coconut flesh, milk, juice, shell, fibres
Which products are made from coconuts?

Coconut palms are incredibly versatile. From the tree to the fruit, every part is used. In most cases, because there is actually no alternative. Let’s concentrate on the coconut and look from the inside to the outside:

Coconut water: coconut water for drinking

Coconut flesh: coconut milk products, grated coconut, coconut flour.

Hard brown shell: fuel and activated carbon. Coconut is the ideal raw material for the production of activated carbon.

Fibre covering: coconut mats, bed mattresses, insulation and upholstery material, fertilisers, substrates for roses and orchids.

Palm leaves: floor mats, bed mats, roof coverings.

Palm: construction timber.

These are only a few examples that show how valuable coconuts are for us today, and who knows what other fantastic properties we will discover in the future.

Natural, untreated, raw
Are aqua verde products unprocessed raw juices?

Aqua verde products are not raw. Fresh coconut water is very sensitive. In general, it cannot be left raw. It would oxidise in a few hours and lose its colour, nutrients and flavour.

You can often find coconut water products in stores, which claim to be raw – these are generally treated with high pressure processing (HPP), which means that the coconut water was processed in compliance with the applicable EU Fruit Juice Directive and is therefore no longer raw.

After intensive research and hundreds of hours of testing, Dr Antonio Martins developed a complex mechanical treatment process and had it patented in 2006. Over the following years, we have continually developed our raw material chain, from cultivation, harvesting and production to transport and storage, to offer you coconut water that is as close as possible to fresh coconut.

Heating, pasteurising, preservatives
How are aqua verde products preserved?

Coconut water is a very sensitive natural product. The best way to drink it is, of course, fresh and straight from the young coconut. As coconut palms do not grow in our latitudes, however, Dr Antonio Martins spent a long time working out how to bottle and transport coconut water in a quality that comes as close as possible to the natural product. Our objective was to produce the best quality and to preserve the precious nutrients of the fresh coconut for as long as possible.

Aqua verde coconut water is completely free of preservatives, chemicals and other additives. What we do is unique and it is the reason for the special quality and the natural taste of our coconut water from the green coconut. For aqua verde, we have developed a very complex mechanical processing technique and continued to refine it over the past 15 years:

We use a sophisticated system of specially developed micro-filter technologies and reverse osmosis. In the country of harvest, we use highly efficient processes and we transport the coconut water concentrate to Europe by cargo ship in freezer containers, where it is bottled in a closely coordinated cold aseptic process. When put all together, this makes aqua verde hardly distinguishable from coconut water from a fresh green coconut.
This is also why you should be very careful when deciding which coconut water you should buy. Products that are not made in the EU often contain preservatives, acids or other additives (e.g. SO2), which are not mentioned on the packaging.

Price level, premium product, organic quality
What justifies the price tag of aqua verde products?

Firstly, coconut water is in itself not comparable with traditional juices, most of which have been on the mass market for decades (apple juice, orange juice, etc.). As a result, coconut juice is based on different pricing structures. There are relatively few producers, and coconut water is also not traded on world's commodity markets. In 2002, we had to start building our own supply chain from scratch. This costly and time-consuming work in coconut growing countries is reflected in the price, as are the fluctuating harvest volumes (e.g. due to weather).

Secondly, aqua verde is not just any coconut water, but a juice of the highest organic quality. The production of organic juice is associated with higher cultivation and processing costs.

But hand on heart – the unique quality of aqua verde is worth all the effort.

Fashionable product, trendy drink, hype
Why is there suddenly so much hype around coconut water?

It is true that in recent years, there have been increasing numbers of companies and brands bringing coconut water products to the market. Sadly, many just jump on a bandwagon to make a quick buck, where the quality of the product and sustainability fall by the wayside.

It is, therefore, up to people like you, who consume coconut products to pay close attention to the quality of the products. Dr Antonio Martins is the pioneer of coconut water. In 2002, after a great deal of effort, we developed a product that brings you fresh coconut water with as little processing as possible. What is more, in organic quality and all the related benefits for the product itself and the environment in which coconut palms grow.

Why are so many people suddenly drinking coconut water? Because the benefits of coconut water have been proven in countless reliable studies from around the world. Coconut water should not be dismissed as just another "hype" – it has been much rather part of a positive trend as an increasing number of people are thinking about how they can make their diets more varied while at the same doing something good for their bodies by lowering their intake of calories, sugar and fat.

Ecological balance, CO2 footprint, environmental impact
Can I buy aqua verde with a clear environmental conscience?

Coconuts do not grow in our latitudes. While long-distance transport is unavoidable, it has been our objective from the outset to minimise the negative impact of our actions with respect to the production and sale of our products.

To minimise CO2 emissions, we do not transport whole coconuts and instead we extract the coconut water in the country of origin, where the concentrate is made. We flash-freeze it and send it by sea to Europe in special freezer containers. This allows us to save weight and volume and take advantage of the high efficiency of large container vessels. In addition, we generate much less CO2 compared with NFC juice, as thanks to the 12-fold concentration of the coconut water, we can greatly reduce the weight and transport volume.

According to recent studies, the amount of CO2 generated per orange transported from Sicily to Central Europe by truck is similar to that produced by an intercontinental container ship transport of oranges from Brazil to Central Europe.

Raw materials
Where does the aqua verde coconut water come from?

We only use raw materials from monitored and certified organic cultivated land for aqua verde. The most important raw material - the coconut water concentrate - comes from the Philippines.

We have known our suppliers for many years, some even since 2002, and have established relationships based on the principles of equality and mutual trust. This means we only buy the very best quality for our brands - a quality many of our competitors can only dream about. As the saying goes – you reap what you sow – and we have sown well.
Shelf life, freshness, storage

How long does aqua verde stay fresh, and what is its shelf life?
Depending on the variety, unopened aqua verde will be of optimal quality up to 15 months from the day of bottling. The room temperature should not be higher than 18 °C. You can also keep it in the fridge, where aqua verde does not only stay fresh, but it also means that you can take full advantage of the refreshing effect of coconut water.

After opening, aqua verde must always be stored in the fridge and consumed within two days.

Vegan, vegetarian
Are aqua verde products vegan?

All aqua verde products are 100% vegan, and therefore also suitable for vegetarians.

Alkaline, acidic
What is the pH of coconut juice?

The coconut water from young coconuts has an average pH of 4.7 - i.e. it is acidic and not alkaline (pH> 7); in contrast, aqua verde from green coconuts has a pH of over 5.0.

Side effects, maximum quantities
Is drinking too much coconut juice bad for you?

Yes and no. Just as consuming water in excessive quantities can be harmful to the body, excessive quantities of coconut water are also not good for you. Not because it contains any substances that you could overdose on, but simply because your body could not cope with so much liquid.

Just make sure that you drink coconut water as part of a balanced diet. This will enable its outstanding properties to take full effect.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding
Can I drink coconut water when I am pregnant?

Coconut water is a natural product containing many important nutrients. It is safe to drink when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Babies, toddlers, children
From what age is aqua verde juice safe to drink?

Fresh coconut water straight from the coconut is suitable for babies from one month of age.

However, as aqua verde coconut water is processed, we recommend waiting until your baby is a toddler before being introduced to the drink.

Sugar, glucose, fructose, dextrose
How much sugar does coconut water contain?

While aqua verde does not contain any added sugar, coconut water naturally contains the fruit’s own sugar (fructose), at approximately 1.1 to 2.6 g per 100 ml, which translates into 10 to 19 kcal per 100 ml.

Diabetes, allergies, lactose intolerance
Can anyone drink coconut water?

As a diabetic you can drink coconut water if you determine the BU values yourself and use it carefully as part of your individual diet plan. The energy and nutritional values of aqua verde products differ depending on the variety. Detailed nutritional information can be found on the packaging or on this website.

If you have allergies then you know best how your body reacts. Please use caution when you try coconut water and ideally start with the “pure” variety.

If you are lactose intolerant you can use it without any worries. Coconut juice does not contain lactose.

Bread units, BU
How many bread units does aqua verde coconut water contain?

As a diabetic you can drink coconut water if you determine the BU values yourself and use it carefully as part of your individual diet plan. The energy and nutritional values of aqua verde products differ depending on the variety. Detailed nutritional information can be found on the packaging or on this website.

Sulphur dioxide, SO2
Does aqua verde contain sulphur dioxide?

No. aqua verde does not contain Sulphur dioxide (SO2), which is an allergen.

Many other coconut water products contain sulphur dioxide due to their production process. This is also why you should be very careful when deciding which coconut juice you should buy. Sometimes the producers do not even declare SO2 on the packaging.
In any case, fruit juices and organic products are not permitted to contain SO2.

Gluten, wheat protein
Does aqua verde contain gluten?

No. aqua verde does not contain gluten.

Aluminium
Does aqua verde packaging contain aluminium?

Aqua verde is available in Tetra Pak packaging. This commonly used composite packaging (beverage cartons) contains one or several layers of aluminium. There are no health risks associated with this aluminium layer, because it does not come into direct contact with our coconut water due to the protective PE layer in between.

If you require information on studies about this topic or more general information, please contact Tetra Pak directly at tetrapak.com

Medicinal effect, health benefits
How much coconut water do I need to drink for it to be beneficial?

aqua verde is a foodstuff.

Please consult your doctor to find out more about the medicinal benefits (e.g. removal of heavy metals, dissolving kidney stones, etc.). The easiest way to find out more on this topic is to google "health and coconut water" or visit http://dr-martins.com/research/.