In Thailand and Vietnam, you are served a green coconut, opened in front of you, with a straw: you drink the cool water, then scrape out the soft flesh with a spoon.
Over there
Sellers keep the coconuts cool, open them with a blow of a machete or with a special tool, and also use them to make desserts, ice creams and coconut milk drinks.
In France
Coconut water is mostly sold in bottles. The fresh coconut, opened in front of the customer, is still rare: it catches the eye on a beach, in a bar or in an Asian restaurant.
The idea for the Passerelle
- A bar, a restaurant or a beach seller in France can find an exporter of fresh coconuts in Thailand or Vietnam.
- An Asian grower can find business customers in France, and manufacturers of tools for opening coconuts.
To check before you start
- Serving food and drinks means following hygiene rules: ask the DDPP (French local food safety and consumer protection office).
- Imported fruit goes through checks at the border: ask the service des douanes (French customs) for advice.
- Selling on a beach or in the street requires permission from the town hall.
For information only (page of 27/10/2026): this information does not engage the responsibility of Passerelle France-Asie. Rules change and depend on your situation: before you start, check with the official body mentioned.