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Today I want to show you how to make my Nectar of the Gods sweetener. It requires only two ingredients and it’s very simple. It has become a staple and I keep it in the refrigerator. I use it for many of my green smoothies, my non-green smoothies and my concoctions and elixirs.
It requires only the water from a fresh, young coconut, and I am going to show you how to safely and easily open this coconut and get the water out of it and a half dozen or so pitted, medjool dates.
The first thing we’re going to do is open the coconut and harvest the water. Yummy.
When I first saw these coconuts, I thought… these are foreign, I don’t know how to use them, how do you get them open, that’s a pain, I don’t want to do it. I soaked my dates in water for a long time and you can do that, too, if you’re not ready to go here. But once you buy a coconut, and see them in various supermarkets they become more common, but if you can’t get one, use water, it’s ok.
All you have to do to begin is shave the husk off the pointed end. Let’s do that now. It requires about 6 or 8 cuts. Shaving… it takes work to get the water out of a fresh young coconut, but it’s worth it. One of the tips I want to give you today is, when you do open the coconut, before you pour the water over your dates, have a teaspoon ready and take a sip to make sure it’s good.
Every once in a blue moon, you’re going to get a fresh young coconut that went bad for some reason – don’t use it and don’t ruin your dates by pouring it over the dates before you taste it.
Ok, let’s finish this up. What we’re doing is exposing the brown husk. We’re used to seeing the round, brown coconuts, well that’s what’s inside of here. So, we’ve exposed the husk like this, and the coconut wood is on a circular grain, so what we’re going to do is take the knife… and then it opens right up, see that?
Look at that – snowy white coconut meat, crystal clear coconut water, let’s give it a little sip here, mmm, this is fresh and delicious.
And then, I’m going to pour the water out of the coconut through a strainer and into the bowl that has my medjool dates. I’ve read all kinds of things about coconut water, how beneficial it is, but mostly, it’s full of electrolytes.
Now, here’s the coconut water over the pitted medjool dates. Now it’s going to soak, just cover it up and put it in your refrigerator, you can give it a stir now and then. Once you begin using this as a sweetener, you’re going to keep it on hand all the time.
I use one or two tablespoons a day, pour it right into my VitaMix and into my smoothies. It is delicious. Mmm, fiber, energy and electrolytes in your sweetener, now that’s anti aging.
Don’t throw out the coconut meat, in one of my next videos I’ll show you what to do with the coconut meat. And watch the next video because that’s where we’re going to use my Nectar of the Gods sweetener in one of my all time favorites, my Cashew Vanilla Heaven Shake.
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[..YouTube..] Good video and recipe…I’m going to try this tonight!
[..YouTube..] Let me know what you think – I made strawberry shakes with it tonight and they were really good -
[..YouTube..] THis stuff us great I use it in all my smoothies now and banana ice cream too. So sweet and so good, plus healthy! Who needs sugar when you have “Nectar of the Gods Sweetener” ?
[..YouTube..] So glad you like it and thank you for posting your comment! Let me know what other recipes and goodies you use it in so I can try them! Jane
[...] to that my secret ingredient. Do you remember in the other video when I showed you how to make my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener? Remember how we soak the Medjool dates in coconut water, and if you don’t have coconut water [...]
[...] second ingredient is a big scoop of my frozen Nectar of the Gods Sweetener, and if you’ve been watching my videos you all know what that is, it is simply Medjool dates [...]
[...] and I just broke them up into a few pieces. And then of course we are adding one cup of my frozen Nectar of the Gods Sweetener, it is simply Medjool dates soaked in coconut water or plain water and then I freeze some of it to [...]
[...] I’ve got the almond milk in the blender and back on the blender base. Add to it 1/2 cup of my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener, those are the soaked [...]
I just made this and it is sitting in the fridge at the moment, so looking forward to how this turns out in the morning!
Still waiting for my Vitamix to arrive – apparently delayed due to the Queensland flooding in Australia.
Hi Angie,
Un-boxing the VitaMix is fun – congrats! Send me a pic of you and your VitaMix and I’ll brag on you in an episode – that is, if you want to
Either way, let me know how your NOG turns out and what you use it in! Jane
[..YouTube..] Thank you again Jane! I have never opened a coconut. I am all for a healthy, nutritious sweetner to add to my smoothies.
[..YouTube..] @2010CLBS You’re welcome! Make it and let me know how it turns out. Jane.
[...] a nutrient packed powerhouse! It also tastes very refreshing and light. I had taken out my Nectar of the Gods sweetener from the freezer, but when I tasted the smoothie, it didn’t need any sweetening! The pears [...]
[..YouTube..] Jane I finally bought a coconut. It was not a young coconut like you show here. It was a a coconut in the brown shell, we opened it and emptied the water. I did not care for the water and will keep looking for the younger, fresher coconuts. I did put the dates in fresh water. Thank you again, I will keep looking.
[..YouTube..] @2010CLBS You did the right thing. If coconut water is suspect, discard it. What about the mature meat, did you have to discard it, also? When a coconut is good, remove the fresh, mature coconut meat from the shell, it makes a great snack as is. Crunchy, sweet and full of healthy fats. Keep me posted. Jane.
[..YouTube..] What kind of dates are you using for this? And where is your video on how to open the rest of the coconut?Big Thanks!!Sandy
[..YouTube..] Hi Sandy,I’m using Medjool dates. You can use any kind that you like. This is the coconut opening video…hmmm, if it’s not clear I guess I’d better do it again…Jane
[...] I want you to take 2 Medjool dates, perhaps you have soaked them in coconut water and made my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener, perhaps you haven’t. Perhaps you haven’t even soaked them at all. Even if [...]
[..YouTube..] first, congrats for all your videos. My NOTG doesn’t come out right. Yours looks like a puree, mine after a whole night in the refrigerator and one stir, looked nothing like a puree. You could clearly distinguish each singular medjool date. I used water, I used 10 small dates, well soaked into water. What could I have done wrong? Am I supposed to actually blend it to obtain a puree? do you know if anybody else had my same problem? how did they solve it?
[..YouTube..] @gennarog All is well
Just mush up the dates with your fork and stir it more and it will combine into a more caramelly consistency. It also depends on how moist or dry your dates are and how long they soak. More soak, more creamy. The point is to soften the dates and have them & the soak water, well combined or not, available for sweetening your elixirs.Yes, you can blend it up, but why? It’s going in the blender anyway. Congratulations on making it! Let me know what you make.Jane
[..YouTube..] @gennarog All is well
Just mush up the dates with your fork and stir it more and it will combine into a more caramelly consistency. It also depends on how moist or dry your dates are and how long they soak. More soak, more creamy.The point is to soften the dates and have them & the soak water, well combined or not, available for sweetening your elixirs.Yes, you can blend it up, but why? It’s going in the blender anyway. Congratulations on making it! Let me know what you make.Jane
[..YouTube..] @blenditandMendit Regardless how my next attempts to make a creamy nectar of the Gods turn out,thanks for your courtesy.I’m trying, just for a different flavor, dates soaked into aloe vera juice. Always for a “different flavor thing” I’m curious to try nectar of the Gods with water and plumbs rather than with dates. I’m also curious to try how it turns out if I add a few drops of vanilla extract into the soaking dates…… Gennaro
[..YouTube..] @gennarog Re: my NOTG doesn’t look rightNo, don’t change the water.That soak water is a delicious sweetener in its own right.If you have a cold fridge, it will keep for up to 2 weeks. Make small batches if you are concerned that it will spoil.Let me know how your experiments go with water plumbs and other combinations.Jane
[..YouTube..] Hi Jane, updating on my experiments. The best nectar of the gods I’ve tried so far is the original: dates + water (couldn’t use coconut water because I can’t find it where I live). I also tried adding some “extra” to the original recipe: Notg + vanilla extract goodNofg+ almond extract ok, but don’t know if I’ll do it againDidn’t like the combination plumbs + water.
[..YouTube..] @gennarog Great update. This information is useful for everyone in the NOG arena. Keeping it simple wins again.Keep me posted on your further food experiments.Jane
[...] cup frozen NOG (natural sweetener made of medjool dates soaked in coconut water – see link for more [...]
[...] I add 1/4 cup of my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener. These are Medjool dates soaked in either plain water or coconut water. The dates get soft, the [...]
[..YouTube..] Cutco, nice
[..YouTube..] Cutco, nice
[..YouTube..] @fingerdrop You noticed the knife I was using, that’s attention to detaill
Jane
[...] TBS of my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener. All this is, is medjool dates soaked in coconut water or plain water if you don’t have [...]
[...] are having sooooo much fun. Love NOG and I am about to make our first anti-aging caramel shake – pretty excited!! Glad to be part [...]
[...] calcium. Then Jan adds one TBS of my Nectar Of The Gods Sweetener. Here’s how to make the Nectar of the Gods Sweetener, and how to make the fresh almond milk in your VitaMix so you know how to do everything. It’s [...]
[..YouTube..] Can I replace the dates with something else?
[..YouTube..] @ancpanc2002 In The Nectar of the Gods Sweetener you can replace the dates with dried figs – I haven’t actually done this yet but have been meaning to, so if you do, please let me know how you like it – I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. In the case of Calmyrna dried figs, the skins might be tough and you would have to remove them. I think the black mission figs would be okay – all you can do is try it and see.
Jane
[..YouTube..] HELLO I AM NEW IN YOUR CHANEL AND I LIKE WHAT YOU DO I AM TRAING TO CHANGE MY DIET AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK OF AGAVE NECTAR HONEY THANK YOU
[..YouTube..] @Mega500BALAZOS Hi, thank you for writing and for your support. I appreciate it. I am personally not a fan of agave nectar as I don’t like the taste of it and that’s why I created my Nectar of the Gods Sweetener. It tastes great (to me, anyway) and where else can you get a sweetener with fiber in it
Jane
[..YouTube..] THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW WHAT YOU THING AND I AM GOING TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE NEXT WEEKEND THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
[..YouTube..] NOG is now a staple in my fridge. The taste is so divine. TY JANE!
[..YouTube..] @veganfoodrocks You’re welcome! Today I am making kale ice cream and I’m out of my own NOG
So I will be subbing frozen medjools and coco water ice cubes!
[..YouTube..] I absolutly LOVE nector of the gods, however, right now I cannot eat it since I am treating leaky gut and candidiasis. ;( Maybe in a few months I can go back to eating the wonderful nector. BTW, Jane, thanks so much for showing the easiest way to open a coconut!
[..YouTube..] @Lordshelpr You’re welcome. Get well and thanks for commenting and for your support. I appreciate it. Jane
[..YouTube..] Love all your videos, Jane. My partner and I bought a VitaMix a bit over a month ago and use it several times a day. We use a variety of sweeteners for our green smoothies: agave nectar, maple syrup, honey, and now just plain medjool dates. We’re going to make nectar of the gods today and I can see how the coconut water would combine nicely with the dates but what benefit does soaking dates in regular water have compared to throwing in the blender a plain date.
[..YouTube..] @ringob84 The only benefits are texture and if you’re using dates soaked in water as a base, as in a chocolate mousse and other desserts that don’t require a blender.If I’m not using NOG I throw the pitted medjools straight into the blender, too.:)Jane
[..YouTube..] who are u? ur the best
[..YouTube..] @liera82 Thanks! I appreciate your support.:)Jane
[..YouTube..] Hey there,I have another question. Can you use NOG in place of Agave Nectars and Maple Syrup? I like those sweetners but they are sooo expensive. I’d like to be able to make something at home and not have to worry about it.
[..YouTube..] @tejohnsonjones Absolutely – that’s how I use it – it is my main sweetener. It’s a cost effective, whole food sweetener and where else can you find a sweetener with fiber in it? Enjoy!
[..YouTube..] You’re awesome!!
[..YouTube..] @wendysmiling Thank you!:)
[..YouTube..] my name is cecilia and i try to make your nector sweetner and my medjiol dates just flowed around in my bowl it did not thicken up like your i used coconut water and the dates just like you did in the viedo what happen
[..YouTube..] @taylor15tamera Hi Cecilia,Try mashing the dates up with a fork and stir it up, too.
I did not expect these to taste like little pieces of caramel heaven! I take one weekly trip to whole foods(45 minutes from my home) and I am rationing my dates and counting the days before I buy TWO containers of the organic med”jewels”!!! What a delight!
hello and thank you for this wonderfull recipe !
how long does it keep to the frige ? how long can we keep it in the freezer as ice cube ?
many thanks
NOG keeps in the fridge fo 7-10 days and probably 2 weeks or so frozen. I use it up so fast that I really don’t know if it lasts longer than that!
Hi Jane,
Please forgive me if you’ve stated this already and I missed it – I’ve looked around the site for the answer, but couldn’t find it. Can you please tell me how much water to use for soaking the 12 dates if I’m not using the coconut water? I don’t know how much water the average Young Thai Coconut contains, so I’m not sure how much purified water to use in its place.
Thank you!
Hi Ronn,
Liquid to cover is all you need, whether it’s coco water, plain water or a combo.
The variety of dates also determines how soft the mixture gets, as some date varieties aren’t as moist as Medjools.
Stir and mash occasionally.
Let me know how it works out.
Jane
Can you buy Medjool dates at Sam’s or Costco? How about Whole Foods market. I go to whole foods sometimes but I must watch my budget. Also, where do you get your coconut from?
Thanks.
Hi Jackie,
Yes, you can buy Medjool’s at Costco and at WF. I don’t know about Sam’s. I also carry them – just click on SHOP BIMI in the menu bar and they are in the Jane’s grocery section.
They are a better deal at Costco than at WF, but WF has organic. I, too, have a budget and am always looking for the best deals. When I can get organic, I do, and when I can’t I don’t. Don’t let it stress you out, just do the best you can with what you have.
The coconuts I get from WF or Sprouts Market because they are close to where I live. They are less expensive in Asian markets, but I would have to drive across town and the savings would get eaten up by the gasoline and time it takes to get there and back. It’s always something:)
Hi Jane. Before I found your site with the Nectar of the Gods, I found a recipe for date syrup with medjool dates and water. i think it probably comes out the same, it might be more liquidy than the NOG. I use the syrup as a sweetener in my yogurt and it works great for when you aren’t using the Vitamix to blend.
Can you substitute purchased coconut water for the fresh from the coconut?
Hi Farissa.
I haven’t done it but I don’t see why not. If you do, let me know how it comes out.
I’ve put a bowl of nectar in the fridge. I made it with purchased coconut water (100%pure) I’ll let you know how it turned out.
Hi Genevieve,
Excellent. Stir and mash it now and then.
How long does this last in the fridge?
Hi Janet,
I’d say a week to 10 days. I usually use it up fast so if it lasts longer than that, I don’t know….
Hi Jane,
I love your website. I made a bowl of nectar but I don’t like the taste of dates, however I do like the sweetness that it have. I just wanted to know if I could I use raisins instead of dates? Thanks
Hi Roslyn,
Yes, you can use raisins and other dried fruits such as figs and apricots, too. The whole point is to provide a sweetener that is a whole food and contains not only a sweet flavor, but fiber.
Let me know what you use and how you liked it – I’m going to make an apricot nectar, that sounds good.
Thanks for writing.
I love your videos! I just purchased a vitamix blender yesterday! I was researching it on utube, and came across your videos. I love your videos! I just made some NOG. I have it soaking in the fridge. I am trying your recipes all day today! Thank you so much!
Hi Candis,
You’re welcome!
Thank you for your kind words and support. Let me know how you like the NOG.
I’m wishing you as much fun and wellbeing from your VitaMix as I get from mine.