Green Tea With Coconut Water: Can You Mix Them?

Green tea and coconut water make a light, slightly sweet iced drink, and nothing we found suggests a problem for most adults. The harder question is whether the mix does more than either drink alone. We found no study of it, so here is what each one brings.

Can I drink tea after coconut water?

Yes. They are two drinks, and we found no health source that says you need to wait between them. If you have a medical reason to limit potassium, the amount of coconut water matters more than the timing. More on that below.

What does each drink add?

USDA data for coconut water and brewed green tea, scaled to one cup of each (our math):

Per cup	Brewed green tea (8 oz)	Coconut water (240 g)
Calories	About 2	About 46
Potassium	About 19 mg	About 600 mg
Sodium	About 2 mg	About 252 mg
Magnesium	About 2 mg	About 60 mg
Caffeine	About 29 mg (Mayo Clinic)	0 mg

Coconut water also has about 6 g of sugars per cup in that USDA entry. Packaged brands vary, so check the label. Plain green tea has almost no calories, and the minerals in your cup come mostly from the coconut water. For tea’s own electrolytes, see whether green tea has electrolytes.

Are there benefits to green tea with coconut water?

None are proven for the mix. Each part has its own evidence.

Green tea: the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says no safety concerns have been reported for green tea as a drink in adults, but firm conclusions can’t be reached for most uses.

Coconut water: the most-studied use is rehydration after exercise. A systematic review compared milk, coconut water and beer with plain water in 11 studies of people who were dehydrated after prolonged exercise. In 3 trials, hydration measures after fresh coconut water didn’t differ from water. The review rated its evidence as very low certainty, and it studied people rehydrating after exercise, not people sipping an iced tea.

So if you like the taste, enjoy it. Just don’t count on it as a sports drink or a health fix. For another light tea mix, try green tea and cucumber.

How to make iced green tea with coconut water

This makes one tall glass.

1. Steep one green tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea in 6 oz of water at 170°F to 180°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Remove the tea and let it cool, or chill it in the fridge.
3. Pour it over ice and add 6 oz of coconut water. Stir.
4. Taste. Add more tea if it’s too sweet, or more coconut water if it’s too strong.

Amounts are starting points, so adjust them to your taste. For other flavors, see orange green tea or our green tea blends guide.

Who should be careful?

• Potassium limits: MedlinePlus says people with kidney problems, especially those on dialysis, should not eat too many potassium-rich foods. A cup of coconut water is about 600 mg of potassium, or roughly 18% to 23% of the daily intake MedlinePlus lists for adults, 3,400 mg for men and 2,600 mg for women (our math). MedlinePlus also lists the heart and blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs among the causes of high blood potassium, so ask your provider if you take one.
• Sugar: if you’re watching sugar, read the label on flavored or sweetened coconut water.
• Caffeine: the tea has about 29 mg per 8 oz. NCCIH says to keep caffeine moderate in pregnancy and to ask your provider.
• Medication: green tea at high doses can lower levels of the blood pressure drug nadolol. Ask your pharmacist if you take regular medicine.