I had my first fresh young coconut from a restaurant. I couldn't believe how wonderful the coconut water/juice tasted! It was refreshing, sweet, and so perfectly perfect! And as a plus - I got to eat the coconut flesh after I finished the juice because it came cut open. Yummy!
I found some young coconuts at the grocery store I go to, and I tried to open them up with a hammer at home. It was a mess! After talking to a dear, dear friend of mine (we seem to always be into the same thing at the same time!), she told me that you can cut the bottom off the coconut and find a soft spot to easily poke through. Game changer!!! I tried it out (see below picture) and I've had two-four coconuts every week since then. To be honest, the first couple of times trying to find the soft spot, I ended up spraying myself in the face with the juice because of the force I was using to jab at the coconut (my dogs loved the clean up duty in the kitchen though), but I ended up getting the hang of it. I use my glass straw to poke through the soft spot, and after drinking the juice, I take the coconut outside and hammer it, so I can get the meat. I must admit that I enjoy taking a hammer to the coconut - it sure is rewarding once I break through the shell! Sometimes, I make coconut milk by draining the juice, scraping out the meat, and blending the juice, meat, and water in the blender. Homemade coconut milk is my favorite!
