What's the deal with ... banana water?

Move over, coconut water – there's a new beverage vying for the title of ultimate hydrator: banana water. This novel drink is generating buzz on social media, with producers touting its nutritional benefits and appealing flavor.

Online reviews are mixed. One Reddit user described the taste as having "aromatics of slightly overripe banana" but admitted it wasn't unpleasant. An Instagram user likened the smell to baby food.

It's important to distinguish this commercially available drink from both banana water for plants (a DIY fertilizer made by soaking banana peels) and homemade banana drinks like steeped banana peel tea or blended banana smoothies. Banana water, as sold in supermarkets, is positioned as a sports drink alternative, potentially the next generation of coconut water.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. some social media users are curious about the production process. One TikTok user questioned how bananas are "juiced" in a factory setting, while giving Woodstock's organic banana water a positive review (7.5/10).

Leading brands like Woodstock and Banagua source their bananas from Thailand, using organic "Thai golden" and "Thai cultivated" varieties. These bananas are shorter and stouter than typical supermarket bananas and possess a slightly pinkish hue, which intensifies during processing, giving the water a pinkish tint.

Banana water contains only one ingredient: bananas. According to Banagua co-founder Rob Smithson, no significant amount of water is added. Bananas are naturally about 80% water, and the manufacturing process (an "enzymatic process") separates the water from the pulp, resulting in a slightly viscous but not pulpy drink. Woodstock steams and mashes its bananas with proprietary enzymes to release nutrients, effectively creating "liquefied bananas," according to Bruce Bruemmer, VP at UNFI Brands+, Woodstock’s parent company.

Both companies emphasize the health benefits of their banana water, highlighting its high electrolyte content (potassium, B6, and magnesium) and abundance of minerals and antioxidants (vitamins A and C). The drink is free of added sugar, fat, sodium, and cholesterol, although a 330ml can contains approximately 13 grams of carbohydrates – slightly less than the 14 grams found in an equivalent serving of Naked coconut water.

**Nutritional Claims**

Banagua claims its Original Banana water, launched in July 2025, provides 205mg of magnesium, which is 50% of the daily recommended value. Smithson also highlights its hydrating properties, estimating each can contains the equivalent of 2-3 bananas and only 50 calories, compared to Naked's coconut water with 60 calories.

Woodstock, which launched its banana water in March 2024, states that a 500ml can contains just 80 calories and 765mg of electrolytes, comparable to many sports drinks, without artificial additives.

**Expert Opinions**

Dr. Thomas Sherman, a professor at Georgetown University Medical Center, suggests banana water could be seen as a "sequel to coconut water," appealing to those seeking plant-based, low-sugar alternatives to milk-based drinks. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. he questions its efficacy, noting that the electrolyte content is trivial compared to what's found in whole foods. He also points out the higher cost.

Ultimately, Sherman believes the decision to consume banana water depends on individual motivations. If driven by taste preference and a desire to support plant-based beverages with low sugar content, it's acceptable. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. he advises against relying on it as a primary source of potassium, magnesium, or calcium, as whole plant foods offer significantly higher amounts.

Vanessa King, a registered dietitian nutritionist, is critical of marketing banana water as a sports drink. She explains that sports drinks are designed to replenish electrolytes, primarily sodium, lost during exercise. Because banana water lacks significant sodium, it's not an ideal replacement. King also notes that banana water, like other juices, contains concentrated sugar without the fiber found in whole bananas.

Despite these concerns, King acknowledges that the potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C present in banana water can be beneficial, as these nutrients are often under-consumed. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. she reiterates that whole bananas offer the same nutrients.

**The Verdict**

While taste is subjective, we found banana water to be sweet, tropical, slightly viscous, and surprisingly refreshing. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. it didn't completely win us over.