How to select good tender coconut

Do you drink tender coconut water? I do. Those used to Pepsi and Coke may ignore this post.

If you’re buying tender coconut from a road side vendor (its predominantly available at roadside only), how do you select a tender coconut?

Why I asked above question is because of following reasons:
Tender coconut doesn’t come with a manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, MRP and other such parameters. They’re not uniform in their size, content volume, taste and other details. Because it is straight from the tree, each one is different. So when buying one you have to select one.

This post attempts to give you some advice on how to select best tender coconut for drinking, while buying the same from a vendor. This helps you get best out of your money.

Tender coconut has two parts: Water, and Coconut gravy (Coconut meat-Thanks to Dharani for this input). Many people only drink the water part of it while few love the gravy as well. A vendor usually asks if you want water or the cream but even he may go wrong in selection

These are the key points to keep in mind while selecting a tender coconut:

The vendor: The vendor must be physically strong to cut the coconut efficiently. A small buy or weak lady may not be able to work efficiently on the coconut and you may loose some water.

The size: Select the medium one. The big coconut doesn’t mean more water. The water volume will be minimum in an over ripe coconut. Also avoid too small ones.

Colour: It should be green without much gray patches or strips. Too much of gray a areas on the surface indicate that the coconut is getting over ripe.

Fix the price before hand: Coconut vendors vary price depending on size and other parameters. Fix the price first else you may have to pay a rupee or two more

Don’t let them select: Vendors usually select the one they get their hands on. There might be a better piece nearby. Glance over and select one for yourself.
The straws
Be cautious while using the straw to drink water: Many vendors simply recycle the straws already used and thrown by others. All good effects of the tender coconut will be nullified if you use a dirty/contaminated straw.
Parcel or to Drink:
If you’re allowing the vendor to select the coconut, always tell him it’s for drinking on the spot, later tell him its for parcel. If you directly tell him its for parcel, chances are that you may not get a better deal, because, knowing that you wont open it there he may not choose a good one.

Related: Coco Fresco: Hyderabad's new concept in selling tender coconut * Upadhya's tender coconut opener * Branding tender coconuts with a sticker