Coconut (coconut)

Coconuts are called nuts, but they are actually the fruit of the coconut tree. For residents of tropical regions, palm trees with coconuts are very important, since all parts of the palm tree and its fruits are used by humans for different purposes.

Palm trees, the fruits of which we call coconuts, belong to the Palm family of the genus Coconut.

Palm trees grow to a height of 20 meters and begin to bear fruit from the age of three.

The diameter of its trunk is up to 45 centimeters. The trunk of the tree is smooth, and at the base it is expanded and slightly inclined, often with supporting roots. The leaves of the plant are dense and long (up to six meters), pinnatisected. The palm tree blooms with yellowish small flowers collected in panicles.

Palm fruits are represented by drupes weighing up to 3 kg, which are often rounded and have a hard surface, and inside are fleshy white pulp (copra) and coconut juice.

Young coconuts contain:

• outer shell,
• fibrous part (it is called coir),
• inner protective hard shell,
• pulp (copra),
• coconut water.

By the size of a nut, one cannot tell about its internal structure, because just as there are huge coconuts with a lot of coir, there are also small fruits with a lot of coconut water.

The fruits on the palm tree grow in groups (on average 15-20 coconuts in one group) and fully ripen in 8-10 months. Every year, 60-200 fruits are obtained from one fruit-bearing tree.

Many mistakenly believe that brown and green coconuts are different types of nuts, but in reality they are just fruits at different stages of maturity. Green or yellow peel - in young fruits, and nuts become brown after full ripening and appropriate processing (the upper shell is removed and the coconuts are dried in the sun).

Coconut palms are native to the Malaysian archipelago. Now trees are common in tropical regions of both hemispheres - in India, the Philippine Islands, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand and elsewhere.

They are found both wild and cultivated.

Palm trees grow well on the sandy soils of the sea coast.

The leaders among the production of coconut fruits are:

• Indonesia,
• Philippines,
• India.

Palm fruits are harvested either unripe or fully ripe.

The plucked fruits that ripen in the 6-7th month are young coconuts. They have a green shell and a lot of liquid inside.

Coir is extracted from these coconuts - a fibrous shell used in furniture production.

To harvest mature coconuts, the fruits are picked 10-11 months after flowering.

Copra, juice, and other products are produced from such coconuts.

About, how to open a coconutRead our other article.

• The consistency of the pulp of young nuts is jelly, while in mature coconuts it is dense and crispy.
• The taste of the pulp depends on the variety of the fruit - it can be tasteless, and sweetish, and resemble dairy products.

From that how to extract pulp from coconutRead our other article.

Coconut flesh is also called "copra".

The pulp is widely used for cooking various dishes; coconut products are made from it:

• coconut milk;
• coconut flakes;
• coconut flour;
• Coconut oil.

In addition, it can be eaten raw. She is very helpful.

Another popular coconut product is coconut sugar.

You can now buy coconuts in supermarkets, vegetable shops, and markets.

When choosing a ripe fruit, shake it a little - the presence of a gurgling sound will indicate that the coconut was not damaged during transportation. In a ripe fruit, the pulp separates well and is soft (you can easily grate it). If you had difficulty detaching the pulp from the shell, then you bought an unripe coconut.

Do not buy a fruit if it:

• with cracks;
• does not gurgle;
• covered with spots;
• has an unpleasant odor.

For how to choose a coconut, watch the following video.

• Closed coconuts have no smell, open coconuts have a smell, but not a sharp one.
• From the fruits of coconut palms, a large number of useful products are obtained, ranging from the fibrous shell used in the manufacture of furniture to the oil used in cosmetology.
• The culinary properties of coconuts are especially in demand. Juice and pulp are added to soups, pastries, desserts, salads, meat dishes, sauces, etc.
• Coconuts are also used in medicine.

100 gr. coconut pulp contains:

• 364 kcal;
• 3.9 g protein;
• 4.8 g carbohydrates;
• 36.5 g fat;
• 9 g fiber.

Coconut water (juice) from young fruits is a low-calorie product.

100 g of this liquid contains:

• only 14-19 kcal.
• less than 1 g of protein,
• about 3 g of carbohydrates,
• 0.2 g fat.

Coconut fruits are rich in:

• vitamins (C, E, B-groups, H);
• minerals (all important elements for humans);
• vegetable fats;
• fiber;
• carbohydrates.

• Coconut has a high content of organic iodine, which is easily absorbed. Nuts are recommended to include in the diet of people who have an iodine deficiency.
• Also, the fruits contain a lot of selenium - a strong antioxidant with anti-cancer effects, which also strengthens the immune system and improves the condition of the cardiovascular system. That is why coconut pistachios Recommended for use by the elderly. In addition, selenium is important for sexual activity.
• Coconuts are rich in lauric acid (it is especially abundant in coconut water and oil obtained from the fruit), which has an effect against viruses and microbes.
• The coconut fruit is a source of cytokines, known for their anti-carcinogenic activity and preventing the formation of blood clots.
• The balanced ratio of sodium and potassium in coconut milk makes this drink a good remedy for hypertension and heart disease.
• Coconuts contain a unique hyaluronic acid of animal origin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
• Coconut juice has an antipyretic effect.
• Coconut-derived products are beneficial for the skin as well as the hair.
• Eating the pulp of the fruit improves digestion.
• Due to the influence of coconut on the reproductive system, the fruit is classified as an aphrodisiac.
• By applying coconut pulp to the wound, they stimulate their healing.

See below for details.

The high content of saturated fat in coconut fruits can adversely affect health in some cases.

Coconut fruits are not recommended for:

• diarrhea
• individual intolerance;
• hyperthyroidism.

It is a refreshing, satisfying and delicious liquid with many health benefits:

• coconut juice is rich in minerals, amino acids, vitamins, therefore it is recommended for use by athletes;
• the water obtained from the whole fetus is sterile, and since its composition resembles the composition of blood, this allows it to be used as a saline solution;
• due to its low calorie content, the ability to remove toxins, give a boost of energy and satisfy hunger, fresh coconut juice is in demand when dieting and wanting to lose weight;
• the juice has antiparasitic and antihelminthic properties.

Directly with the coconut itself, recipes are not popular.

Coconut fruits are especially often used in Thai cuisine. In Thailand, coconut is a frequent ingredient in soups, cereals, and desserts. Now coconuts are in demand as an ingredient in various dishes around the globe.

Coconuts and their products are added to:

• soups;
• salads;
• desserts;
• creams;
• cocktails;
• fish and meat dishes;
• rice;
• pies.

Sugar is also obtained from the fruit.

The most commonly used coconut products in cooking are:

• milk,
• shavings,
• oil,
• flour.

For example, here is one very tasty and popular coconut candy recipe that can be easily prepared at home.

50 gr. melt butter and add 400 gr. condensed milk. Add 200 gr. coconut flakes and mix everything. Put in the refrigerator for an hour.

50 gr. put the almonds in boiling water, remove the shell and fry in a preheated oven to 160º for about 15 minutes.

Take the mixture from the refrigerator and form it into balls, placing the almond in the middle. Roll each candy in coconut flakes (for all sweets you need about 50 gr.).

Coconuts, thanks to their medicinal properties, help:

• reduce blood cholesterol levels;
• improve the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• deal with intestinal parasites;
• prevent bloating and constipation;
• strengthen teeth and bones;
• improve the state of the immune system;
• regulate blood glucose levels;
• eliminate dehydration;
• improve eyesight;
• restore potency;
• prevent osteoporosis;
• stimulate the restoration of hair and damaged skin.

In countries where coconut palms grow, their fruits are used for diarrhea, for earache (drops are made from the pulp), ulcers and wounds on the skin (burn the shell and apply ashes). Coconut palm roots are used to make a decoction with diuretic properties and an anti-scurvy remedy.

Only fully mature nuts germinate, so a store-bought nut that may have been picked while still unripe may not be suitable for growing.

To germinate coconut at home, put it in a pot filled with earth - the fruit should not be located vertically, but sideways ("eyes" up, since it is from them that the sprout will come out).

Coconut sprouts quite slowly - up to five months. Palm trees need a warm tropical climate to grow.

• In sea water, the coconut shell is not damaged - if the nuts fall into the water, they can float for a long time, and after being thrown ashore in suitable climatic conditions, they will sprout and give life to new palm trees.
• Stains that appear on clothes from the fibers of young coconuts are not washed off.
• The juice of overripe fruits has the ability to cleanse the intestines well. Its taste is reminiscent of cow's milk.
• Once in India, during the launching of a ship on the water, a coconut was broken on board - if the fruit did not break, this was a bad sign.
• Palm trees grow in the Seychelles, the fruits of which look like 2 fused coconuts. Their weight can exceed 20 kg.
• In southern Thailand, trained macaques help harvest coconuts.