Fresh Coconut Water Lime Cooler
A bright, hydrating Brazilian-style cooler of chilled coconut water, fresh lime juice, and muddled mint, lightly sweetened and served over ice. It takes ten minutes and needs nothing but a pitcher and a spoon.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- —
- Wait
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Makes
- About 4 cups (950 ml), 4 servings
Steps
Before you start
- Chill the coconut water in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours so the drink is cold without too much ice dilution.
- Roll the limes firmly on the counter before juicing; this breaks up the pulp and gives more juice.
- Use unsweetened coconut water. If yours is sweetened, start with half the honey.
Juice the limes
- Roll the 4 medium limes firmly under your palm on the counter, halve them, and juice into a measuring cup until you have about ½ cup (120 ml).
- Strain out seeds with a fine-mesh strainer.
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Ready when: About ½ cup (120 ml) of seed-free juice
Tip: Avoid squeezing the pith; it adds bitterness.
Dissolve the sweetener
- In the 2-quart pitcher, stir the honey with the cold water for about 30 seconds until fully dissolved and no strings of honey remain.
- Add the lime juice and stir to combine.
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Ready when: Liquid looks uniform with no honey streaks on the bottom
Tip: Dissolving honey in water first prevents it from sinking in the cold coconut water.
Muddle the mint
- Add the ½ cup mint leaves to the pitcher.
- Press and twist with a muddler or the back of a spoon 8 to 10 times, just to bruise the leaves and release their aroma.
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Ready when: Leaves look darker and smell strongly minty, but are not shredded
Tip: Over-muddling tears the leaves and makes the drink taste grassy and bitter.
Add coconut water
- Pour in the 3 cups (720 ml) very cold coconut water and stir gently for 20 seconds.
- Add the tiny pinch of salt if using, which rounds out the flavor.
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Ready when: Color is pale and evenly cloudy with flecks of mint
Steep and taste
- Let the pitcher sit in the refrigerator for 10 minutes so the mint and lime flavors infuse.
- Stir, taste, and add another 1 teaspoon honey if too tart, or a squeeze of lime if too sweet.
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Ready when: Tastes balanced: bright and tangy with gentle sweetness and a fresh mint finish
Tip: Do not steep longer than 30 minutes or the mint turns bitter.
Strain and serve
- Fill 4 tall glasses with about ¾ cup (110 g) ice each.
- Strain the cooler through a fine-mesh strainer over the ice, dividing evenly, about 1 cup (240 ml) per glass.
- Garnish each with a mint sprig and a lime wheel, if using, and serve immediately.
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Ready when: Glasses are frosty and the drink is clear-pale with no mint bits
Tip: Slap the garnish sprig against your palm first to release its aroma.
Good to know
Tips
- Chill the glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes for an extra-frosty drink.
- Fresh coconut water from young green coconuts tastes sweeter; if using it, reduce the honey to 1 tablespoon.
- For a Brazilian-style variation, blend 1 cup of the coconut water with the lime and mint for a frothy, green version, then strain.
- Taste your coconut water first; brands vary widely in sweetness and saltiness, so adjust the honey and salt accordingly.
Make ahead
"Mix steps 1 to 4 up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate, then strain out the mint before storing so it doesn't turn bitter. Add ice only when serving."
Storage & reheating
"Refrigerate strained cooler in a covered jar or pitcher for up to 24 hours; stir before serving as it may separate slightly. Not recommended at room temperature for more than 1 hour. To freeze, pour into ice cube trays for up to 2 months and use the cubes to chill future batches; do not freeze the full pitcher with mint."
Substitutions
- honey or agave syrup → Simple syrup or granulated sugar. Use 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar and stir until fully dissolved in the water; vegans can use agave.
- cold water → Sparkling water. Add it at serving time, not into the pitcher, to keep the fizz.
- fresh mint leaves → Fresh basil leaves. Use the same amount for a more herbal, slightly peppery flavor.
- limes → Fresh lemon juice. Use ½ cup (120 ml); the result is a little sweeter and less sharp.
