If a can of coconut water and a banana smoothie made a baby, it might be the banana water. The latest plant-based hydration drink to hit the market is touted as a “healthy drink” that offers “loads of nutrients.” And it gets attention on social media.
“Boyfriend says it smells like a slightly overripe banana,” one Reddit user said. lemongrass, commentedadding, “It's not that bad, to be honest.”
“Smells like baby food” lsp2c said on Instagram.
Not to be confused with banana plant water, a DIY fertilizer made by soaking banana peels in water to extract nutrients like potassium and vitamin C for your flora. Or homemade banana drinks like hot water. soaked in banana peel and strained or blended banana smoothies.
The new drink, sold in supermarkets, is positioned as an alternative to sports drinks, a kind of coconut water 2.0.
But some took to social media asking: “How do you think you juice a banana?!” Taybot Official asked on TikTok while unpacking a box of organic banana water from Woodstock. “I wonder if they’re just in the factory, you know, actually milking those bananas, I guess?” (He gave the drink a 7.5 out of 10.)
Both Woodstock And Banagualeading banana water manufacturers, make their banana water in Thailand from organic “Thai golden” and “Thai cultivated” bananas, which are shorter and shorter in appearance than the standard yellow bananas sold in most American supermarkets and have a slight pinkish tint. During processing, the fruits turn pink, and the drink acquires a pinkish tint.
If you're a label lover, the ingredient list will put your mind at ease. Banana water contains only one ingredient: bananas. No significant amount of water is added to it. A banana is 80% water, says Banagua co-founder Rob Smithson, and processing the drink (an “enzymatic process”) separates the water from the pulp—the drink is slightly viscous but not meaty.
Woodstock bananas are steamed and pureed using “proprietary enzymes” to release nutrients. “Think of it like liquefied bananas,” says Bruce Bruemmer, vice president of brand management for UNFI Brands+, Woodstock's parent company.
Result? Both companies claim their banana water is particularly healthy, rich in electrolytes such as potassium, B6 and magnesium, as well as minerals and antioxidants such as vitamin A and C. The drink has no added sugar and is also free of fat, sodium and cholesterol, although there are about 13 grams of carbohydrates per 330ml can, which is slightly less than the 14 grams of Naked Coconut Water in the same size container.
Well, how healthy is Banana water, what does it taste like and is it worth the hype? Here's the thing.
Manufacturer's claims: “Our banana water contains 205 mg of magnesium – 50% of the daily value,” says Smithson of the original Banagua banana, which went on sale in July 2025. “And it's especially hydrating—probably 2-3 bananas per jar, which you can take anywhere and not have to worry about moldy bananas. And it's only 50 calories—Naked Coconut Water has 60.”
A 500ml can of Woodstock Banana Water, available in March 2024, contains just 80 calories. “Our Woodstock Organic Banana Water tastes great and is naturally hydrating,” says Bruemmer, “and contains 765 mg of electrolytes—just like many sports drinks—without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.”
Nutritionists' opinion: “It’s probably an extension of coconut water,” says Dr. Thomas ShermanProfessor of Pharmacology and Physiology at Georgetown University Medical Center. “It will appeal to people who are concerned about animal health and saturated fat in dairy drinks, or who are worried about sugar levels being too high – so it fits the bill. But I question its effectiveness – these types of drinks contain such small amounts of electrolytes compared to what is already in our food. And it's expensive.”
Sherman says it ultimately comes down to the consumer's intentions in choosing banana water.
“If you're buying it for the taste and want to support a plant-based drink, and [because] it's quite low in sugar, then that's fine,” he says. – But if you're buying it because you're interested in getting more potassium, magnesium and calcium with low sodium, then it's stupid because it's just there are plants, eat foodthis will provide hundreds of times more potassium, calcium and magnesium.”
Classifying banana water as a sports drink is problematic, he adds. Vanessa Kingregistered dietitian nutritionist specializing in nutritional supplements.
“Sports drinks replace electrolytes,” says King. “The problem with banana water is that while bananas are very high in potassium, the electrolyte you primarily lose during exercise is sodium, and it doesn't provide sodium. I wouldn't choose it over a sports drink.”
King notes that “banana juice,” as she calls it, suffers from the same problems as other juices: “It's more concentrated sugar without the fiber you get from the fruit version.”
But any amount of potassium, magnesium, vitamins A and C—the main nutrients in banana water—is beneficial, King says. “These are all nutrients that Americans typically underconsume. But bananas have these nutrients too!”
Taste: We found it to be sweet and tropical in taste, slightly sticky but surprisingly refreshing. However, we did not follow this lead.
Expenses: Original Banana Banagua (330 ml): $3.49; Woodstock Organic Banana Water (500ml): $2.99.
