A nata de coco drink is a fruit juice or coconut drink that contains chewy cubes of nata de coco, a jelly made by fermenting coconut water. Thailand produces some of the most widely exported nata de coco drinks in the world.
The best-known Thai nata de coco drink brands are Mogu Mogu, Kato, DeeDo, Fruitku, Coco Royal, and Nita, made by four Thai manufacturers: Sappe, Taveephol Product, Foodstar, and Royal Plus. Each manufacturer sells in export markets as well as in Thailand. Most of these drinks come in fruit flavors such as lychee, mango, and strawberry, and they sell through supermarkets and Asian grocers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, and India.
This guide explains why Thailand leads the category, who makes each brand, which flavors the drinks come in, and where they sell. The last section shows how importers compare nata de coco drink suppliers across Southeast Asia. This guide comes from Nico Brands, the brand portfolio of Nico Trading Company Limited, a Vietnamese manufacturer and exporter of nata de coco drinks, so the last section also covers a Vietnamese alternative.
Nico coconut 500ml
Why Is Thailand Known For Nata De Coco Drinks?
Thailand turned nata de coco into a mass-market juice drink: Sappe launched Mogu Mogu in 2001, and Thai manufacturers now export nata de coco drinks to more than 100 countries. Sappe describes Mogu Mogu as the world’s first snack drink that combines fruit juice with nata de coco (Sappe).
Two factors support the industry. Thailand has a large coconut processing sector, which supplies the coconut water used to make nata de coco. Thai beverage companies also build for export from the start: Sappe distributes its drinks in over 100 countries (Sappe), and Royal Plus exports to about 111 countries (Finnomena – PLUS).
Which Thai Brands Make Nata De Coco Drinks?
Six Thai brands lead the category: Mogu Mogu, Kato, DeeDo, Fruitku, Coco Royal, and Nita. The table lists the manufacturer and drink type behind each brand.
Brand
Manufacturer
Drink type
Notable fact
Mogu Mogu
Sappe Public Company Limited
Fruit-flavored drink with nata de coco
Launched in 2001; sold in over 100 countries
Kato
Taveephol Product Co., Ltd.
Fruit juice with nata de coco in PET bottles
Sold in Thailand for more than 25 years; 10 flavors
DeeDo
Foodstar Co., Ltd.
Fruit juice and fruit juice with nata de coco
Foodstar was founded in 1993
Fruitku
Foodstar Co., Ltd.
Fruit juice with nata de coco
Sister brand of DeeDo
Coco Royal
Royal Plus Public Company Limited
Coconut and fruit drinks
Royal Plus exports to about 111 countries
Nita
Royal Plus Public Company Limited
Fruit and coconut drinks
Royal Plus lists capacity of over 200 million bottles a year
Six Thai nata de coco drink brands and the companies that make them.
Mogu Mogu
Mogu Mogu is a fruit-flavored drink with nata de coco pieces made by Sappe Public Company Limited, a beverage company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Sappe created Mogu Mogu in 2001, when the family business expanded from bakery products into beverages (Wikipedia). The brand exports to many markets, especially South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and France (Wikipedia).
Kato
Kato is a fruit juice with nata de coco in PET bottles made by Taveephol Product Co., Ltd. in Bangkok. Taveephol Product describes Kato as Thailand’s No. 1 brand of fruit juice with nata de coco in PET bottles and states that the brand has sold in Thailand for more than 25 years (Gulfood). The company lists 10 flavors, a 12-month shelf life, and Halal and FSSC 22000 certification.
DeeDo
DeeDo is a fruit juice brand made by Foodstar Co., Ltd., a private beverage company founded in 1993 in Nakhon Pathom province (Wikipedia). Foodstar produces fruit juice, fruit juice with yogurt, and fruit juice with nata de coco, and its products were sold in 20 countries as of 2023 (Wikipedia).
Fruitku
Fruitku is a second Foodstar brand, sold alongside DeeDo, Mikku, and Yoku. Foodstar lists fruit juice with nata de coco among the product lines under these brands (Foodstar).
Coco Royal And Nita
Coco Royal and Nita are brands of Royal Plus Public Company Limited, a beverage manufacturer founded in 1998 and listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Royal Plus sells its drinks under the Coco Royal, Nita, and MABU brands, and its range includes fruit juice with nata de coco, coconut water, and coconut milk drinks with nata de coco in flavors such as Thai tea, mango, and pineapple, including no-sugar-added versions (Finnomena – PLUS; Halal Thailand). The company offers OEM, ODM, and own-brand production and states a capacity of more than 200 million bottles a year (Finnomena – PLUS).
What Flavors Do Thai Nata De Coco Drinks Come In?
Thai nata de coco drinks come in three flavor groups: fruit flavors such as lychee, mango, strawberry, and melon; coconut-based flavors such as coconut milk, coconut water, and Thai tea; and no-sugar-added versions. Fruit flavors dominate export shelves.
Mogu Mogu sells lychee, mango, melon, and strawberry flavors in UK and US grocery stores (Morrisons; Weee). Coconut-based drinks are a Thai specialty: Royal Plus registers coconut milk drinks with nata de coco in Thai tea, mango, banana, and chocolate flavors (Halal Thailand). Vietnamese nata de coco drinks cover the same flavor groups: the Nico Nico juice drink with nata de coco comes in 15 flavors, including lychee, mango, strawberry, melon, and passion fruit.
Where Are Thai Nata De Coco Drinks Sold?
Thai nata de coco drinks sell in supermarkets and Asian grocery stores across Asia, Europe, and North America. Mogu Mogu shows the reach of the category:
United Kingdom: Morrisons supermarkets stock Mogu Mogu in several flavors (Morrisons).
United States: Weee, an Asian online grocer, sells Mogu Mogu in single bottles and 12-packs (Weee).
Malaysia: Power Root began distributing Mogu Mogu in Malaysia in 2023 (Business Today).
India: Apollo Pharmacy lists Mogu Mogu mango in 300 ml (10.1 fl oz) bottles (Apollo Pharmacy).
Each market also has local and imported competitors.
Thaifex
How Do Importers Choose A Nata De Coco Drink Supplier In Southeast Asia?
Importers compare nata de coco drink suppliers on six factors: brand model, recipe, pack formats, minimum order, certifications, and lead time. Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia all produce nata de coco drinks, so these factors decide the choice more than origin alone.
Brand model: an established brand the supplier already markets, or a private label the importer must build.
Recipe: the percentage of juice and of nata de coco, and whether the juice is not from concentrate (NFC).
Pack formats: PET bottle or can, and sizes such as 320 ml (10.8 fl oz), 500 ml (16.9 fl oz), and 1,000 ml (33.8 fl oz).
Minimum order: container size and the number of flavors allowed per container.
Certifications: Halal, FSSC 22000, and other standards the destination market requires.
Lead time and Incoterms: production time and delivery terms such as FOB, CFR, and CIF.
Vietnam As An Alternative Source
Vietnam is another Southeast Asian source of nata de coco drinks, with manufacturers that export ready-to-sell brands. Nico Trading, based in Ho Chi Minh City, makes the Nico Nico juice drink with nata de coco, an established brand, not a private label, available for Thailand and other Asian markets.
Factor
Nico Nico
Recipe
30% NFC juice + 15% nata de coco
Flavors
15 flavors in 320 ml; 9 in 500 ml; 3 in 1,000 ml
Pack formats
PET bottles: 320 ml (10.8 fl oz), 500 ml (16.9 fl oz), and 1,000 ml (33.8 fl oz)
Minimum order
1 container; up to 4 flavors per container for 320 ml, minimum 350 cartons per flavor
Incoterms
FOB, CFR, or CIF from Ho Chi Minh City port
Lead time
30 to 35 working days after deposit and label approval
Nico Nico supply terms for importers and distributors.
Nico Brands covers three drink lines and two bulk toppings, and each brand serves defined export markets:
Bulk nata de coco (3.2 kg box, 10 kg bag) and popping boba (3.2 kg box, 9 flavors)
Food manufacturers and foodservice
Nico Brands product lines and the export markets each brand serves.
Nico Brands sells only through importers, distributors, and retail chains, and it does not sell in Vietnam’s domestic market
Thai Nata De Coco Drinks: Key Takeaways
Thailand leads the nata de coco drink category through six brands from four manufacturers: Mogu Mogu from Sappe, Kato from Taveephol Product, DeeDo and Fruitku from Foodstar, and Coco Royal and Nita from Royal Plus. Fruit flavors such as lychee, mango, and strawberry dominate, coconut milk and Thai tea versions add a local twist, and Mogu Mogu reaches shelves in the UK, the US, Malaysia, and India. Importers who compare Thai brands with Vietnamese options such as Nico Nico should weigh brand model, recipe, pack formats, minimum order, certifications, and lead time. For background, read what nata de coco is and its ingredients, and compare nata de coco drinks in the UK, Japan, India, and Indonesia.
