flipWai niu me ka maiʻa (coconut, banana & mountain apple refresher)
Wai niu me ka maiʻa (coconut, banana & mountain apple refresher)
Why this dish? Manoa Valley on Oʻahu and the royal gardens abounded in tropical fruits that the queen enjoyed. This drink evokes the freshness of coconut water blended with fruits from her beloved lands.
Young coconut water whipped with mashed ripe banana and mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻai), a refreshing, sweet and tangy drink served well chilled.
On hot afternoons, nothing delights like the water of a young coconut. To this clear wai niu, I had ripe banana and the pink flesh of ʻōhiʻa ʻai picked in Manoa mixed in, crushed with the fingertips. Everything was beaten, drunk cool in the shade of the trees — a simple gift from my islands, sweet and lively at once. Drink, and may the coolness of the mountains accompany you.
- •Young coconut water (wai niu) — the contents of 2–3 nuts (thirst-quenching base)
- •Ripe banana (maiʻa) — 1 to 2 (sweetness and body)
- •Mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻai) — a few (tangy freshness)
Wai niu me ka maiʻa (coconut, banana & mountain apple refresher)
Young coconut water whipped with mashed ripe banana and mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻai), a refreshing, sweet and tangy drink served well chilled.
Why this dish? Manoa Valley on Oʻahu and the royal gardens abounded in tropical fruits that the queen enjoyed. This drink evokes the freshness of coconut water blended with fruits from her beloved lands.
On hot afternoons, nothing delights like the water of a young coconut. To this clear wai niu, I had ripe banana and the pink flesh of ʻōhiʻa ʻai picked in Manoa mixed in, crushed with the fingertips. Everything was beaten, drunk cool in the shade of the trees — a simple gift from my islands, sweet and lively at once. Drink, and may the coolness of the mountains accompany you.
Ingredients (period version)
- Young coconut water (wai niu) — the contents of 2–3 nuts (thirst-quenching base)
- Ripe banana (maiʻa) — 1 to 2 (sweetness and body)
- Mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻai) — a few (tangy freshness)
Ingredients
- Coconut water — 50 cl (thirst-quenching base)
- Very ripe banana — 1 (sweetness and body)
- Mountain apple (or substitute a little pear + lime juice) — 100 g (tangy freshness)
- Ice cubes — a handful (serve very cold)
Method
- Mash or blend the banana and mountain apple with a little coconut water until smooth.
- Add the remaining coconut water and whisk well.
- Strain if a clear drink is preferred; adjust acidity with a squeeze of lime if needed.
- Serve well chilled over ice.
How it was made : Young coconut water was drunk directly from the nut, fresh and sterile. It was mixed with whatever fruits were in season — bananas and mountain apples abounded in wet valleys like Manoa. Without daily ice, it was simply consumed in the shade, at the coolest time of harvest.
The contemporary twist : Served as a 'coconut cooler' in a hollowed-out coconut, with a bamboo straw and a hibiscus flower perched on the rim.
Liliuokalani · Charactorium
