Purple coconut?! Is that normal?

I opened up a young coconut today and saw that the flesh inside was purplish in color. The water was also purplish. I used it anyway because when I tasted it it tasted fine. Has anyone else experienced this? Is that normal? I hope I'm not poisoning myself!

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Permalink Reply by Peter Csere on July 16, 2012 at 1:32am

Coconuts have varying levels of phenols and other chemicals.

Sometimes they vary in a way that causes the water/flesh to turn pink. (Or purple!)

You got a lucky coconut.

I know this because I read it on the side of a bottle of raw organic coconut water that I bought at Whole Foods Market.

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Permalink Reply by Jera on July 16, 2012 at 1:44am

You should be fine-- I work in a restaurant where where thwack tons of coconuts and we often get purple ones. They taste just fine and you don't feel any different!

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Permalink Reply by Myra Mangolicious on July 16, 2012 at 1:53am

I can taste a big difference between a white or pinkish/Purplish coconut. I learned when the color is off the coconut is off, but maybe I'm wrong since you said it tasted fine. When I have a off colored coconut it usually smells and tastes a bit soapy which is not good.

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Permalink Reply by Brad Abrahams on July 16, 2012 at 2:11am

I've heard it's related to the fungicide they dip them in when they are imported into the country. I've cracked open 100's of coconuts in hawaii, central america, and all over south east asia and not once was one purple inside, nor had anyone else seen it outside of imported ones.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Burton on July 16, 2012 at 5:23am

I was told that the inside of a young coconut will turn pink or purple when a fungus or mold starts to grow inside the coconut. And that when you chose a coconut you just need to be extra careful that there are no cracks where the fungus can enter. Sometimes the meat is super thin and it can seem discoloured but when you pour the water out it is clear and that is okay, but I would avoid any that are purple.

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Avoid drinking the water or eating the meat from a young coconut that is even slightly pink on the inside.

http://www.produceoasis.com/Items_folder/Fruits/young-coconuts.asp

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This one has pictures of bad coconuts

http://www.elliottback.com/wp/bad-young-coconut/

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