Coconut palm (lat. Cocos nucifera) is a plant of the Palm (arecaceae) family; the only species of the genus Cocos. The origin of the coconut palm is believed to be Southeast Asia(Malaysia). This is a plant of sea coasts, preferring sandy soils. The expansion of its growth area occurred both with the help of humans and naturally: Coconuts are waterproof and float freely, moving over long distances with ocean currents while remaining viable. Now the coconut palm is widespread in the tropics of both hemispheres, both in cultivated and wild forms.
The fruit of the palm tree, also known as the coconut, is a drupe, 15–30 cm in length, relatively round, weighing from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. The outer shell of the fruit (exocarp) is permeated with fibers (coir); internal (endocarp) - a hard “shell”, with 3 pores leading to 3 ovules, of which only one develops into a seed. The seed consists of a fleshy surface layer white about 12 mm thick (pulp or copra) and endosperm. The endosperm, initially liquid and transparent (coconut water), with the appearance of oil droplets secreted by copra, gradually turns into a milky emulsion ( coconut milk), then thickens and hardens.
The fruits grow in groups of 15-20 pieces, fully ripening within 8-10 months. In cultivation, the tree begins to bear fruit at 7-9 years of age and continues for about 50 years. One tree produces from 60 to 120 fruits annually.
Coconut composition:
On average, 100 g of coconut pulp contains:
Water - 44.6 g
Proteins - 3.9 g
Fat - 36.5 g
Carbohydrates - 4.8 g
Dietary fiber (fiber) - 9 g
Vitamins in coconuts:
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.06 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.01 mg
Niacin (vitamin B3 or vitamin PP) - 0.96 mg
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - 0.2 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.06 mg
Folic acid (vitamin B9) - 30 mcg
Vitamin C ( ascorbic acid) - 2 mg
Vitamin E (tocopherol) - 0.72 mg
Biotin (vitamin H) - 12 mcg
Macronutrients in coconuts:
Potassium - 380 mg
Calcium - 43 mg
Magnesium - 39 mg
Sodium - 35 mg
Sulfur - 44 mcg
Phosphorus - 95 mg
Chlorine - 120 mg
Microelements in coconuts:
Iron - 2.25 mg
Iodine - 1.2 mcg
Manganese - 1.31 mg
Copper - 0.32 mg
Selenium - 5.6 mcg
Zinc - 0.78 mg
Fluoride - 10 mcg
Calories in coconuts:
100 g of coconuts contain on average about 364 kcal.
Coconut and products derived from it (oil and milk) have a number of beneficial properties. Improves the functioning of the digestive system and liver, helps normalize function thyroid gland, relax muscles and help with joint problems.
Regular consumption of coconut increases the body's immunity and resistance to various infections, helps reduce the adaptability of bacteria to antibiotics, helps the body with flu and colds.
Coconut pulp and oil, thanks to the lauric acid they contain (this is the main fatty acid found in breast milk), normalize blood cholesterol levels. Reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system, as well as oncological diseases and degenerative processes.
Coconut water is sterile and has the same level of electrolytic balance as blood plasma, which allows it to be used in medical purposes instead of saline solution. Coconut juice does not contain fat, which makes it low-calorie (16.7 kcal/100 g). Young Coconut juice is often called the “liquid of life” or “juice of life”; it is a natural isotonic drink - the body does not spend effort on processing and assimilating it.
Coconut water contains more potassium (about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks. Experts recommend it for severe physical activity, because of great content it contains minerals.
It is also used as an antipyretic for kidney stones, diabetes mellitus. Coconut juice is an invaluable food product during pregnancy and lactation. Coconut water is better than baby formula for artificial feeding and contains naturally occurring lauric acid, which is found in healthy breast milk.
Regular use of fresh coconut water on affected areas of the skin reduces acne, age spots, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite and eczema. In the tropics it is used fresh, as a base for making cocktails and as a tonic drink.
Coconut milk is high in calories and fatty product. The more there is saturated fat, the thicker it is. It contains many amino acids, B vitamins and ascorbic acid. Its use is not recommended for those who want to get rid of extra pounds. However, Indian doctors consider it beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Coconut pulp with a high oil content is useful for the prevention of osteoporosis. Coconut oil is good for teeth and bones as it promotes calcium absorption.
Coconut has a reputation as a strong aphrodisiac and normalizes work reproductive system. Coconut milk and pulp improves vision.
Coconut oil strengthens and nourishes hair, has a good effect on the condition of the skin, moisturizing and softening it and smoothing out wrinkles. Thailand is the fifth largest coconut producer in the world. Agile monkeys are often used here for harvesting. Locals They value the coconut palm very much, they believe that it can provide everything necessary for life and call it “the tree of a thousand uses.”
Coconut milk is widely used in cooking. It is added to soups and sauces. For an additional taste effect, it is seasoned with fish, curry and lamb. And coconut flakes are used for decorations and baking in confectionery products.
Fresh pulp is used to prepare numerous dishes and delicacies, and coconut oil is obtained from dried copra, the remaining cake is used to feed livestock, and ropes, ropes, mats, carpets, and brushes are made from the fibers surrounding the nut. The hard husk of the coconut is used for various crafts: dishes, buttons, toys, souvenirs and musical instruments.
The fruit of the coconut palm, which belongs to plants of the Palm family, is the coconut. The beneficial properties of the fruit have been known in its homeland (Malaysia) since ancient times. In appearance, it resembles a huge nut, covered with a brown shell with fibers.
The core of the coconut is white juice (also called “coconut milk”), which over time, as the fruit ripens, turns into aromatic pulp. Interestingly, the coconut palm has become the only representative of the entire genus Cocos. The name of the coconut has Portuguese roots and comes from coco (“monkey”), because the spots on the surface of the fruit often follow the outline of a monkey’s face. The fruit ripens in about 8-11 months.
How does a coconut ripen?
The hard fruit with a brown shell that we see in stores is the peeled coconut fruit, its core. Before sale, the outer fibrous shell of the coconut, the exocarp, is removed. It is permeated with thick fibers, which prevents the fruit from breaking when falling from a palm tree.
The inner layer of the coconut is the endocarp. The shell resembles a shell and contains three characteristic pores in its structure, similar to eyes. They are needed for the ripening of the seed: white dense pulp (approximately 12 mm thick) and liquid (“coconut water”, “coconut milk”). As the pulp ripens, it releases special oils into the juice, which causes it to harden.
Young, not fully ripened coconuts with a green shell are harvested after six months of ripening. Inside there is a hard core with pulp and big amount liquids. The fetus can be considered mature no earlier than 10 months of waiting. The outer fibrous shell needs to be peeled off and the fruit dried well in the sun.
Inside the fruit there is pulp without liquid. These are the fruits that are used in traditional Thai, Malaysian, and Indonesian dishes, where coconut is the main ingredient. The beneficial properties of the fruit do not lose their potency after heat treatment.
Varieties
Despite the fact that we are used to seeing the same coconut fruits in stores, there are a lot of varieties. In exotic countries, as a rule, young fruits are used for food, and fully ripe ones are needed to obtain coconut oil, frying dishes (but do not eat them fresh).
The color of young fruits can be very different: green, orange, yellow, brown. The shape is also varied; coconuts can be oblong, round, or oval. Interestingly, the size of the coconut also changes depending on the variety, but this parameter is not a guarantee. large quantity coconut water. After all, the core (inner shell) does not fit tightly to the outer layer and has its own size.
Coconut pulp: beneficial properties
Coconut pulp is rich in amino acids, vitamins B1, B12, E, A, C, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. In exotic countries, the pulp of the fruit is used to treat indigestion, prepare drops for otitis media, and treat wounds and burns. Regular consumption of coconut pulp will help you:
- normalize metabolism;
- adjust weight;
- increase immunity;
- normalize blood sugar levels;
- clear gastrointestinal tract from toxins, waste;
- reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis;
- improve the functioning of the kidneys and pancreas;
- improve vision;
- strengthen joints.
Residents of South Asia consider coconut to be the most powerful aphrodisiac. The beneficial properties of the pulp and milk of this fruit not only help improve your health, but also improve your intimate life.
Coconut juice: beneficial properties
The juice of the fruit consists of approximately 45% coconut oil, which has a very beneficial effect on the functioning of the stomach, pancreas, and cardiac system. It also contains lauric acid (the same substance found in breast milk), which improves immunity. Coconut milk is very useful product which will help you:
- restore strength after physical activity;
- improve health status in diabetes mellitus;
- improve the functioning of the cardiac system;
- reduce the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis;
- normalize metabolism;
- strengthen the immune system;
- reduce blood cholesterol levels;
- improve skin condition, strengthen hair and nails.
A half-ripe coconut quenches your thirst best. The beneficial properties of the fruit help to avoid dehydration and saturate the body with moisture for a long time. In the homeland of the fruit, it is even used to prepare saline solution, treat kidney diseases, urinary tract diseases, and inflammation.
Contraindications
Without a doubt, coconut can be considered a fruit that will strengthen your health and immunity. The beneficial properties and caloric content of the fruit are not all that you need to know before consuming it.
Although coconut has many benefits, it is important to remember possible harm. First of all, refrain from cosmetic products with coconut oil, dishes with this fruit, if you are prone to frequent allergic reactions (in particular, to exotic fruits, citrus fruits). Coconut is high in calories (the flesh), so be careful with the amount you eat.
Bdyuda, coconut cocktails: calorie content
Coconut - high-calorie product. 100 g of fresh pulp have energy value 354 calories (15.23 g carbs, 33.49 g fat, 3.33 g protein). Average daily requirement person - 1500. But coconut water contains almost no calories (only 17 calories per 100 g).
Coconut cocktail “African Lullaby”
Mix 60 ml of Baileys liqueur with 25 ml of coconut milk and 120 ml of regular milk in a blender, with ice. Then pour into a serving container and sprinkle the surface with chopped nutmeg.
Shrimp in coconut crust
Pour 350 g of Japanese Panko breadcrumbs into a preheated frying pan and fry for about 5 minutes. Then pour the crackers into a bowl and add 120 g of coconut pulp. Separately, mix 120 g mustard, half a teaspoon of curry and 1 egg (or 2 whites). The shrimp need to be dipped in the mustard-egg mixture, and then in crackers with coconut.
Preheat the oven to 180° and carefully place the shrimp on a wire rack. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. For a dramatic presentation, garnish the dish with thin lemon slices.
A fruit that will definitely help you improve your health and improve your immunity is coconut. Useful properties and contraindications - all these aspects need to be known before consuming this fruit.
Exotic fruits have always aroused interest with their unusual appearance and unknown taste. There are especially many questions about coconut. The main one is: “Is a coconut a fruit or a nut?” The answer interests many delicacy lovers. And each of them puts forward their own version, which is often incorrect. We will try to find out what a coconut is. But no matter what category it belongs to, we can say with confidence that this fruit is incredibly tasty and healthy. It is widely used in cooking, and many aromatic drinks are prepared from the liquid extracted from it.
The answer to an intriguing question and the structure of the product
Is coconut a fruit or a nut? This is a sacramental question, the answer to which many people want to know. This fruit cannot be called either one or the other. If people call it, they are making a huge mistake. In fact, it is a drupe or stone fruit such as an apricot, plum or peach.
Answer the question "What is a coconut - is it a fruit or a nut?" you can put it another way: it’s long angiosperm, belonging to the Palm family. The length of the drupe reaches 30 centimeters, it has round shape and can weigh up to 2.5 kilograms.
Having studied the characteristics of the fruit more carefully, we can say that it belongs to the genus and species Cocos. Thus, we have a unique and unique edible product that cannot be called a nut, a berry, much less a fruit. The most appropriate name would still be drupe.
The product has the following structure:
- Exocarp is an outer shell permeated with fibers (coir).
- Endocarp is the inner shell, which is a hard shell with a seed hidden inside. It consists of the pulp of a drupe (white copra) and endosperm, which is popularly called
Calorie content of the food and its composition
We have already described above what a coconut is. It is a fruit or a nut, we have already found out and determined that it is neither one nor the other. But since many gourmets love drupes, they will probably want to know about its calorie content. This information will especially be useful for women, always watching his figure. So, one hundred grams of coconut pulp contains 360 kilocalories. The water found in drupes, on the contrary, has almost no calories, despite its natural sweetness and rehydrating qualities. Coconut milk can most in the best possible way renew water balance in the human body.
If you eat coconut (this is a fruit, or a nut, or a berry, explained above), you can gain weight, but you shouldn’t completely deny yourself this delicacy. It’s just better to enjoy it occasionally and preferably in small quantities.
The white flesh of the product is distinguished by the presence of a huge amount of fiber and saturated fat. It also contains protein. In addition to B vitamins, drupes contain folic, ascorbic and pantothenic acids.
What are the benefits of drupes?
Having clearly understood the question of what a coconut is, is it a fruit or is it a nut, I would like to know about its positive impact on the body. Useful properties It contains not only pulp, but also milk and drupe oil. All these products are distinguished by anthelmintic, antiviral, wound-healing and antimicrobial qualities.
The positive characteristics of the fetus have a beneficial effect on male and female women Health. Since coconut is a powerful aphrodisiac, it can increase sexual desire. This delicacy contains great amount B vitamins, and therefore it is incredibly beneficial for the cardiovascular system and eye health. Eating drupes can lower cholesterol levels in the blood, normalize the functioning of the thyroid gland, and reduce the risk of illnesses such as diarrhea, cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Coconut is an excellent way to strengthen immune system, and it also perfectly restores energy and strength after heavy mental and physical stress.
Choosing a treat
Coconut, the description, composition and benefits of which are presented in the article, you need to be able to choose the right one so that the fruit is truly tasty. When purchasing a product, pay attention to whether it has even the smallest cracks. If they are found, then it is better not to purchase such a drupe, since most likely all the liquid was poured out of it during transportation. If the product is good, then the buyer will clearly hear milk splashing in it.
How to open
In addition, you need to find out what a coconut is - a fruit or a nut ( general information on this topic are given at the beginning of the article), you also need to find out how to open a drupe. To do this you will need a narrow knife and a hammer. The first tool is to pierce a hole in one of the three recesses located at the top of the fruit. After this, you will need to pour the milk into the container, and then hit it with a hammer where “ golden ratio"(one third of the distance from the recesses). You will have to insert a knife into the crack that has formed and press it a little: the fruit will split and open easily.
Coconut- the only species of the genus Cocos, an cob flowering plant belonging to the palm family. The scientific name of the genus Cocos comes from the Portuguese word Coco, which means "monkey". It was given because of the spots on the nut, making it look like a monkey's face. The name coconut is translated from Sanskrit as “a tree that can provide everything necessary for life.” And from the Malay language it means “tree of a thousand uses.” In the Philippines, the coconut is called the tree of life.
Origin
The center of origin of the coconut palm is the region of the Sunda Islands and the Polynesian islands, which are nearby. The expansion of the coconut palm across these tropical islands and coasts occurs both by land and water. From palm trees that tilted over a river or sea, coconut fruits fell into the water and were carried along the current over quite long distances. It is known that the germination of coconuts remains even in sea water for up to 110 days. During this time they are able to swim up to 3000 miles. Until now, the coconut tree has been self-propagating. by sea all over the islands Pacific Ocean. However, human activity has had an even greater impact on the spread of this plant. It is believed that Indian traders brought the coconut palm to Africa, and the Polynesians brought it to America. Thus, Spanish sailors discovered a coconut palm at the end of the 15th century. on the coast of Central America.
Description of the plant
The coconut palm reaches 20-40 m in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm at the base. At the age of 4-6 years, the trunk begins to form, and due to the absence of cambium, its secondary thickening does not occur. As a rule, the trunk is curved. The palm leaves are large, up to 1 m wide and up to 6 m long. Regular size the leaf reaches in just a year, and its lifespan is over 3 years. At the coconut palm different stages their life cycle on average there are 30 to 40 leaves. We can assume that approximately 1 leaf is formed and dies every month. i.e. 12-15 sheets per year. Therefore, by the number of leaf scars one can roughly judge the age of the palm tree.
The fruits of the coconut palm are among the most large fruits V flora. Their length reaches 30-40 cm, and width up to 25-30 cm. The weight of the fruit can exceed 2 kg. The outside of the coconut is covered with a leathery exocarp, which has a green, yellow or reddish color. This is followed by a layer of fibrous mesocarp 2-15 cm thick, which protects the plant seed from overheating and, in addition, ensures the buoyancy of the fruit. In addition to this, it significant quantities Potassium and other ash elements accumulate. In young fruits this mesocarp is edible. The internal cavity of an unripe nut is completely filled with liquid endosperm, while that of a mature nut is only half filled. This juice remains cool even in very hot weather, thanks to the mesocarp layer surrounding it.
The peculiarity of these plants is that palm trees readily grow in close proximity to sea water, however, they do not need it at all. This is explained by the fact that the shallow roots of the palm absorb moisture from the soil, which is abundantly irrigated on the sea coast.
Composition of coconut
Unripe coconuts, which are no more than 5 months old, contain juice - the so-called coconut water. This liquid is clear, has a sweet and sour taste, and is also rich in nutrients, besides, it is cool and quenches thirst well. When the fruit begins to ripen, drops of fat appear in the coconut juice, and over time it transforms into coconut milk. This is such a sweet-smelling white emulsion, which subsequently becomes even thicker and then turns into pulp. Our stores often sell already ripe coconuts that have almost no liquid inside.
On ocean coasts and islands, coconut milk and juice are considered common drinks. Many dishes are prepared from fresh coconut pulp, and oil is obtained from dried pulp. Several decades ago, coconut oil (fat) was often used in cooking, but then it was replaced by soybean oil. However, coconut oil is still very popular in cosmetology today.
Coconuts contain a lot useful substances in particular, vitamins of group A, C and group B, as well as minerals - calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, in addition there are natural sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, fatty oil and organic acids.
Useful properties of coconut
Coconut oil and milk have an excellent cleansing effect, and the fats they contain restore the activity of many organs and systems in the body. If some products are more often replaced with products that are made from coconut meat (for example, butter) then you can normalize your metabolism. Due to the fact that the smell of coconut reduces appetite and reduces the feeling of hunger, and the substances it contains are quickly converted into energy and are not stored in the body as fat.
If coconut pulp is consumed regularly, the immune system will be strengthened, and the person himself will become less susceptible to viral and fungal infections. However, for this it is necessary either to live in tropical country, or in those regions where coconuts are sold fresh constantly, and not occasionally.
In the cooking of many countries, coconut nuts are used almost without residue. Thus, not only sweet dishes, desserts and drinks are prepared with coconut milk, but also sauces, soups, nut derivatives are added to salads, cereals, snacks, baked goods and puddings, meat, fish and seafood, fruit and vegetable dishes are prepared with them.
Coconut flakes are excellent at ridding the intestines of toxins and waste, thanks to the fiber they contain. Its structure remains porous even after it is saturated with water, which is what explains its cleansing properties.
Like others vegetable oils, coconut oil contains a lot fatty acids, but it differs from others in its high content of lauric acid, which is also found in breast milk. It is known that lauric acid kills many viruses (measles, herpes, influenza, etc.), due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties,
Coconut oil has a pleasant and delicate aroma, therefore it is widely used in cosmetology. And products with nut derivatives tone and nourish the skin, making it elastic and firm. When using cosmetic products with coconut oils and extracts, the acne, and also minor damage and defects disappear, wrinkles are smoothed out, and the development of allergic reactions is reduced.
Coconut oil is often used as a massage oil, and if you regularly use it for general body massage, the tone of the whole body improves and the aging process slows down.
Healing and medicinal properties of coconut
Coconut and all products obtained from it (milk and oil) have the following beneficial properties:
- Coconut oil nourishes and strengthens hair, improves it general state And appearance, and coconut milk perfectly quenches thirst. In addition, both of these products have an excellent effect on the condition of the skin, smoothing out wrinkles, softening and moisturizing it.
- Improves the functioning of the liver and digestive system.
- Normalize thyroid function.
- Helps with joint problems and relaxes muscles.
- They increase immunity and increase resistance to various infections, and also reduce the adaptability of viruses to antibiotics.
- Coconut oil and pulp normalize cholesterol levels in the blood.
- They help the body with colds, diarrhea, gallbladder diseases and even AIDS.
- They have antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antiviral and wound-healing effects.
- Reduce the risk of cancer and degenerative processes.
- Reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- In addition, coconut is a strong aphrodisiac and normalizes the functions of the reproductive system.
- Coconut pulp and milk perfectly restores strength and, in addition, improves vision.
- Coconut oil improves absorption
If the spruce tree is considered the symbol of the evergreen dark coniferous taiga, then the coconut palm is considered the symbol of the hot sunny tropics. Classic is the snow-white sand of a coral atoll, blue sky, scorching sun, turquoise, clear water and... palm tree.
The coconut palm was supposedly born somewhere in the Malaysian archipelago. This is the most common and necessary in the tropics. It is called the “tree of life” - and these are not just words. Residents of the tropics use almost all parts of this tree.
Distribution of the coconut tree in the world
Leaves and wood are used for construction, fruits are used for food. But for many people, the coconut tree may not be a tree of life at all, but a tree of death, since a coconut falling on a person’s head can be fatal. About 150 people die every year from falling nuts! For comparison, 10 times less people die from sharks, but everyone is afraid of sharks, and no one is particularly afraid to relax under palm trees. Also, dropping it, for example, on a car can also be unpleasant; a dent is guaranteed. An average coconut weighing about 1 kg hits the ground with a force of 1 ton. The weight of a coconut can reach 3 kg.
Let's take a closer look at its structure:
Coconut
What we are used to seeing on supermarket shelves is an already peeled nut (more precisely, it is a drupe, or edible seed, a fruit inside a fruit), but the whole nut looks much larger. The outer shell of the nut (exocarp) is permeated with fibers; it protects the integrity of the nut when it falls. Then comes the inner shell (endocarp) - this is the coconut shell with 3 pores resembling eyes. These pores lead to 3 ovules, one of which later develops into a seed. The seed consists of a fleshy white surface layer about 12 mm thick (pulp, or copra) and endosperm. The endosperm is liquid and transparent (coconut water), with the appearance of oil droplets secreted by copra, which gradually turns into a milky emulsion, then thickens and hardens. The fruits grow in groups of 15 - 20 pieces, fully ripening within 8 - 10 months. In a cultivated form, the palm tree begins to bear fruit from 7 to 9 years of age and continues for about 50 years. One palm tree produces from 60 to 120 fruits per year.
How to open a coconut correctly?
An unripe nut with a green shell contains the most liquid and the least white pulp. It is easily cut at the place where the coconut is attached to the tree; it can also be split with a strong blow against a stone, but this can cause the necessary liquid to spill.
Green unripe coconuts
Green coconut prepared for drinking
Young coconuts on a peduncle
Ripe coconuts have a sweeter liquid. The outer smooth layer, together with the fibrous layer, is cleaned using a stake stuck in the ground, and it can also be cleaned with a knife, a labor-intensive process.
How to open a ripe coconut
Ripe fruits have more dark color outer shell And Brown color inner shell, which is what we are used to seeing in supermarkets. The shape of the nut is sometimes similar to an American football.
Coconut "eyes"
Here we see those same 3 pores that look like eyes. You can get to the treasured liquid by piercing these eyes with something sharp. It is recommended to pierce 2 eyes so that liquid flows out of one and air enters into the other. Using the same principle, it is recommended to open a juice box by making a hole next to the main one.
Opened ripe coconut
After all the liquid has been poured out of the nut, it needs to be opened to get to the copra. To do this, you need to tap its circumference with some object, for example, a machete or even a hammer. When we get to copra, we cut it off and use it for food or for other purposes. Bon appetit!
What is "Uto"?
This is what the Polynesians of the Cook Islands call sprouted coconuts. The inside of a sprouted coconut has a more tender flesh, and when cooked over charcoal, it tastes like pudding. After cooking uto over coals, it is easier to crack the nut, and this is done in the same way as for a mature coconut, without piercing the “eyes”.
Coconut sprout, young palm tree
The endosperm of a coconut is initially liquid and transparent; in fact, this is coconut water - our coveted liquid. As it matures, droplets of oil secreted by copra enter the endosperm, and then this liquid turns into a solid core. At this time, the sprout is already visible from the outside.
Coconut water from young coconut
Kukur - a tool for rubbing copra
Extracting grated copra - coconut milk
Coconut milk is a product of pressing grated copra. Mature copra is grated on some kind of grater, then the resulting shavings are thoroughly squeezed and milk is obtained. You can make it more liquid by adding plain water or raw coconut water. If you are not used to it, fatty copra concentrate (coconut sauce) can cause stomach upset. Adding sugar results in a very tasty product.
Endosperm of a sprouted fruit (Uto)
What is copra used for?
If coconut water is the inner part of the endosperm, then copra is the outer part. Copra is a source of coconut oil, which is valuable product due to the content of various fatty acids. Used for cosmetic and health purposes.
Copra preparation
Harvesting copra at one time became almost the main occupation of the inhabitants of tropical islands. Tropical atolls were specially planted with coconut palms, where there were few of them, and copra was harvested. It was a valuable commercial product of traders South Seas and South Asia. Copra production continues to this day.
Copra is ground and then boiled in water to produce coconut oil. Copra contains 70% coconut oil. The by-product contains 18 - 25% protein and is used as animal feed. One palm tree is planted at a distance of 9 m from another palm tree, resulting in a density of 100-160 trees per hectare. Average earnings in Vanuatu is 0.20 US dollars per kilogram of nuts, which is equal to 8 fruits. Total $320 per year per hectare. The Philippines is considered the largest producer of copra. The cost of annual production exceeds 80 million dollars. Copra is harvested by both large companies and private farmers.
If the copra is not dried properly, mold fungi of the Aspergillus family may appear on the copra, which produce a deadly poison - Aflatoxin. According to some reports, it is considered the most powerful carcinogen and causes liver disease. Aflatoxin can be transmitted to humans through the milk and meat of animals that have eaten copra. However, the presence of mold on dried copra is not the reason for its failure (!) It cannot be eaten as food, but it is suitable for sale. For the oil obtained industrially from such copra, aflatoxin will not affect!
Other parts of the coconut tree
The coconut tree has other useful parts. The leaves, like coconut tree wood, are used for construction. The leaves are woven and then constructed into the roof of a tropical hut. Baskets and other various items are also woven from leaves. Simple utensils can be made from coconut husks.
Chemical composition of coconut palm components
Using coconut water as a saline solution similar to an IV
During the 1941-45 Pacific War, conflicting sides regularly used coconut water as an "alternative" for blood plasma for the wounded. Coconut water is a universal donor; it is identical to human blood plasma. Coconut water is a natural isotonic drink with the same level of electrolyte balance as our blood. Coconut water is more nutritious than whole milk: Less fat and no cholesterol! Coconut water has a unique content of chloride compounds (118 mg) compared to sports drinks (39 mg).
Coconut water contains about 294 mg of potassium, more than almost all sports drinks (117 mg) and energy drinks. At the same time, it has less sodium (25 mg) than sports drinks (41 mg) and energy drinks (200 mg).
Natural sugars in coconut water - 5 mg, in sports and energy drinks- from 10-25 mg of modified sugars. Chloride - 118 mg compared to 39 mg chloride in sports drinks.
Contains: saturated fat, dietary fiber, sugars, protein, vitamin C, riboflavin, thiamine, viacin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, zinc, sodium, selenium, copper, manganese.
Coconut oil
1.0 - 3.0% stearic, 7.5 - 10.5% palmitic, 13 - 19% myristic, 44 - 52% lauric, 0.2 - 2.0% capron, 6.0 - 9.7% caprylic, 4.5 - 10% capric, 5 - 8% oleic, 1.5 - 2.8% linoleic, up to 1.3% hexadecenoic acids.
