Some interesting facts on the Coconut Plant and fruit

The coconut is considered among the top ten useful and valuable trees in the world and is rated as one of “Nature’s Greatest Gifts to Man”.

The Coconut tree has played an important role in many cultures. It is more than a food crop. It is also a social and an energy crop. Once planted, this prolific tree is productive and can yield 1000s of coconuts over a lifespan of about 70 – 100 years.

Every part of this tree is useful to humans, including the roots, trunks, leaves, husk, fiber, fruit, water, milk and meat.

It has several names and has been called as the “Tree of Life”, “King of Trees”, The Jewel of the Tropics”, the Fruit of the Gods”, “The Miracle Tree”, ”Tree of the Heavens” and many more.

Coconut plants grow in tropical countries along sandy shorelines where the temperature has a mean average of 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a large palm that grows to over 30 meters in height. Trunks may reach a diameter of 16 inches. Leaf life span may be 3 years. The age of a tree can be computed by the total number of leaves and leaf-scars visible on the trunk, devided by 12.

The coconut leaves are among the largest of any plant and can reach up to 20 foot. A normal adult palm produces 12 – 16 new leaves annually.

The coconut is a monococious plant producing male and female flowers on the same tree but in different parts of the same flower cluster.

The fruits are the coconuts and bear fruit all year round. It takes about a year to ripen and can weigh up to 2.5 kilos.

The heart of the coconut is the tender young apex at the top of the stem located just below the crown of leaves. The heart can be as long as a human leg and can weigh up to 12 kilos. It is a delicacy and sometimes eaten as a vegetable.

The coconut tree has a thick growth of a string-like root system and the normal length of the root is about 5 – 7 meters and numbers between 2000 – 10000 depending on the soil conditions.

The Tree of Life

This tree is concidered a “Three-generation-tree”, supporting a farmer, his children and his grandchildren. It is perhaps the most useful plant on earth.

Some interesting facts on the Coconut Plant and fruit :

The Pith :

· The pith of the stem contains starch which may be extracted and used as flour.
· The pith from the top of the tree is sometimes pickled in coconut vinegar and called coco pickles.
· Vegetable roll called “lumpia”.
· Native dish called “Guinataan”.
· “Guinit” can produce shoe straps, handbags, fans, picture frames and decorative accessories.

The Heart :

· Fresh juices from the hearts are used against fever.
· Cocnut palm hearts are nourishing and are regarded as good for the digestion - it is a delicacy.
· It is sometimes eaten as a vegetable and sometimes referred to as the “Millionaire’s salad”.
· To regulate menstruation, a paste is made from grinding the hearts together with molasses and is to be eaten daily.

The Trunk :

· Benches, tables, boxes.
· You can make lumber out of old mature trees, building timbers.
· Dried coconut bark can be used to ignite coals.
· Used to make small canoes, rafts, building sheds.
· Bottom part of the trunk can be used as a drum.
· Ornamental wood carving.
· Paper pulp can be extracted.

The Spathe and Guinit :

· Used to make handbags, hats, packaging materials and baskets.

The Leaves :

· As fuel.
· As fish bait.
· Midrib brooms and good quality paper pulp.
· Provide thatching materials for roofs and matting for floors, walls and for sun shades.
· The fronds can be woven to make nice hats, bows, toys, fans, baskets, trays, lamp shades, placemats, bags, clothing, furnishings, screens and many more.
· The “wrapper” of the palm can be used for toilet paper.

A – Stem :
The center veins of the frond pinnae can be bunched together to make a good whisk broom, or used as a toothpick.
Sections of the stem after scooping out the pith are used as flumes or gutters for carrying water.
B – Stiff Midribs / leaflet midribs :
Used to make skewers, arrows, brooms, brushes, fish traps.
C – Leaf fiber :
Used to make mats, slippers, bags, short lined torches.

The Florescence :

From Sap :
· Tuba, coconut sugar, coconut nectar syrup, wine liquor, vinegar.
· Fruit trays, placemats.
· Artificial flowers.
· Hats, picture frames.
· Blinds, curtains.

The Sprouting seeds :

· May be eaten like celery.
· Used as a treatment for skin and nasal ulcers.

The Roots :

· Used as a toothpaste and mouthwash.
· Boiling the roots to create a dye.
· Medicine for dysentery.
· Frayed out makes a natural toothbrush.
· Scorched, used as a coffee substitute.
· Used for a host of ailments.
· Source of tannin.
· Beverage (root beer).

The Flower :

· Often used for fashion shoes, caps, pressed helmet for soldiers.
· Provide honey for bees.
· It produces a steady dripping of sweet juice (sap) up to a gallon per day.
· It contains 16 – 30 mg ascorbic acid / 100g.

By products of Sap :

§ Sugar.
§ Nectar syrup.
§ Vinegar.
§ Distilled liquor.
§ Wine, Champagne, Gin.
§ Mixed grated coconut make candy.
§ Beer (8% alcohol).
§ Boiled toddy when mixed with lime makes good cement.
§ Yeast for making breads.
§ Fresh beverage.
§ Tuba.

The Young Nut :

If a nut is allowed to germinate, cavity fills with a spongy mass called “bread” which is eaten raw or toasted in a shell over fire.

The Husk :

· Coir and abaca pulp are a good combination to make Book paper.
· Coir is the fiber from the husk – used in ropes, yarns, carpets, rugs, brushes, caulking boats, stuffing fiber, mulch for plant growing.
· Cooking fire, mosquito coil and smudges.
· The smoke of the husk is a natural mosquito repellent.
· The dried fibers of the nut can be shredded as stuffing for pillows, mattresses, car seats.
· For planters, flower pots, plant holders.
· Sound proofing, aquarium filters.
· The resin of the inner husk is used for toothache relief.
· For erosion control, geotextile, electrical insulators.
· Fiber is resistant to sea water and is used for cable and rigging on ships.
· Used for olive oil filters.

The Water :

· Can be drank like a juice.
· Can be cooked with or mixed with rum for cocktails.
· Vinegar.
· Embryo culture.
· Coconut water is produced by a 5 month old nut and is pure and sterile. During WW2 it was used in emergencies in place of sterile glucose solution and was injected directly into the patient’s veins as a substitute to dextrose.
· Coconut water as a “softdrink”.
· Food jellie.
· Yeast.
· Alcohol.
· Wine by yeast fermentation.
· Also contains growth substances, minerals and vitamins used for plants and anti-aging skincare products.
· Used in the production of the chewy, fiber-rich “nata de coco”, a desert and serves as a laxative.
· Ethyl acetate.

The Meat :

· Virgin Coconut oil is extracted from the meat and is used as a dietary supplement and also for skin and body care.
· Deodorized oils and called copra. This oil is rich in glycerin that is used for cooking, margarine, detergent, candles, shaving cream, toothpaste, lotions, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, synthetic rubber, cosmetics and bath and laundry soap.
· Animal feed. It is rich in protein and sugar.
· Oil is used to produce bio-diesel.
· For salad, butter, frying, as affordable food extenders, medicines, glycerine emulsifier, anti-pollutant, resin, esters. Toothpaste, skin-care, sodium lauryl sulfate.
· Produce flour and desiccated coconut.
· It is the source of the coconut milk and coconut cream (used for cakes, pies, candies, curries, sweets, coffee creamer, ice-cream).
· Produces vegetarian butter, cheese and yogurt.
· It is also converted into coconut chips, jams, biscuits, candies.

The Shell :

· To buff floors.
· Useful as “microporous filters” in aquariums
· Can be used to make bowls, cups, storage containers, placemats, accessories for gifts, furniture, handbags, earings, bracelets, necklaces, buttons.
· Used to make small drums, guitars, wind chimes.
· Fuel for copra kilns, charcoal.
· Floor and wall tiles.
· Decorative lamps and mirror frames.
· Briquetted charcoal and activated carbon to use as domestic filter for drinking water and to remove poison.
· Coconut shell flour is used in the industry as filler in plastics.
· Used in air purification systems.

Coconut water :

· Called the “fluid of life” and is high in potassium, is fat-free, and is the best natural source of cancer-fighting cytokinins. It works well on a cellular level. It contains the most cytokinins than any other food source which is the cell’s DNA that protect the cells as they undergo cell division.
· Coconut water is a natural isotonic beverage and contains fiber, proteins, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is bacteriologically sterile, pyrogen-free and does not destroy blood vessels. It will keep you young and virile and relieves burning sensations and hot flushes and restores emotional stability in menopousal in women.
· It acts as a general blood purifier.

Natural Carbohydrate comparison per cup ;

...................Carbohydrate.....Diet Fiber.....Sugar
Coconut water..... 8.9 g .............2.6 g ........6.3 g
Carrot juice.........22 g ............. 2 g .......... 9 g
Grapefruit juice... 22.7 g
Orange juice........25.8 g ............0.5 g ........20.9 g
Apple juice.........29 g ...............0.2 g
Pineapple juice....34.5 g ............ 0.5 g ....... 34 g


Calorie comparison per cup :

.......................Calories ... calories from fat
Coconut water ........46 ............ 4
Carrot juice ...........94 ............ 3
Grapefruit juice ......96 ............ 2
Orange juice .........112 ............ 4
Pineapple juice ......140 ............ 2


Sports drinks vs Coconut water per mg / 100 ml :

.................Sports drink ....Coconut water
Potassium .........11.7 ............. 294
Sodium ............41 ............... 25
Chloride ..........39 ................ 118
Magnesium ........7 ................. 10
Sugars .............6 .................. 5


Coconut meat for a healthy diet is used in some recipes :

· Coconut steak (cooked with soy sauce, kalamansi, black pepper and onions)
· Coconut pasta (Add spring onion, oregano or basil and Italian seasoning, tomato sauce)
· Coconut nuggets (fry in coconut oil and serve with ketchup or sweet and sour sauce)
· Coconut chips (Bake in the oven until crisp and slightly brown. Sprinkle with garlic / onion salt)

Coconut creams and milk is used to make the following :

· Ice-cream.
· Coconut jams to use on pancakes, syrup, sponge cake filling, ice-cream topping, marinade for meat.
· Lime coconut desert squeeze to be used for simple toppings, garnishes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, yogurt topping.
· Coconut butter.
· Coconut cheese (looks yummee!).
· Coconut yogurt.

Coconut flour :

· It has a high fiber content.
· It is fermentable and produces high amounts of butyric acid which helps in inhibiting tumor formation.
· Effective in moderating blood sugar and insulin levels.
· It does not contain phytic acid (this pulls out calcium, zinc, and iron from your body).
· Does not contain gluten.
· It has a naturally cream colour. No need to bleach.
· Has the capability of expelling intestinal worms.
· It provides the limiting amino acid in baked products.
· Enhances the flavour of most products like chocolate and vanilla.

Fiber content of various flours

Coconut flour ............ 61%
Wheat Bran flour ........27%
Oat bran flour ............16%
Rye flour ..................15%
Wheat flour ..............13%
Cornmeal flour ...........11%
Rice flour .................0.8%


Comparison chart for saturated / unsaturated fatty acid :

.................Saturated .... Unsaturated
Canola ............6% ..............94%
Olive .............14% .............86%
Sunflower .......11% ............. 89%
Corn .............13% ............. 87%
Soy ..............15% ............. 85%
Peanut ..........18% ............. 82%
Palm .............51% .............49%
Dairy ............52% ..............48%
Coconut ........92% .............. 8%

Other foods :

· Chutney.
· Candy.
· Shrimp paste.
· Coconut liquors and coconut vodka.
· Coconut Champagne – Kahal.
· Coconut wine - Don Alfonso wines – cherry (red), gold and rose.
· Coconut vinegar.
· Pickles.
· Tea.
· Makapuno – use as pastry and flavouring in the ice-cream industry.
· Nata de Coco – substitute for pork fat, thicken soup, addition to salads.

Also used in :

· Skincare products.
· Soaps.
· Shampoo and conditioner.
· Body and facial wash.
· Handgel and insect repellent.
· Petroleum jelly.
· Body scrub.
· Soap granules.
· Laundry soap.
· Oils for wood surfaces.

Other fashion accessories :

· Handbags.
· Necklaces.
· Earings.
· Bracelets.
· Headpieces.
· Belts.
· Hats.
· Shoes.
· Garments.

· Vases.
· Lamps.
· Candle holders.
· Baskets and utility boxes.
· Throws and pillows.
· Wall decor.
· Draperies and curtains.
· Picture frames.
· Desktop and stationary accessories.
· Doormats, carpets and rugs.
· Decorations.
· Placemats, coasters, napkin rings.
· Cups, plates and ladles.
· Furniture.
· Packaging material.
· Tiles and wood parquet flooring.
· Fiber-cement board.
· Wall panels and roofs.
· Planter pots.
· Enhancer for plant growth.
· Biodiesel.
· Oleaochemicals.
· Peat.
· Mosquito coils.
· Chicken feed.
· Charcoal.
· Bricks.

· Used at Spa’s and resorts as a beauty treatment


All the information in this article was taken from the book “COCONUT PHILIPPINES”
AUTHOR : LALAINE VILLAFUERTE-ABONAL
WWW.COCONUTREPUBLIC.ORG