You can’t make a piña colada or a decent Thai curry without it, its water makes a great recovery drink, and its fibrous husk, when burned, repels mosquitos- these are just three of many excellent reasons to celebrate World Coconut Day on September 2.
One of nature’s most versatile products, the coconut plant (and its various parts) can be used for food and drink, cosmetic preparations, and decorating. Some coconut proponents (coco proponents?) even claim that the fruit’s oil can reverse dental decay- if you swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes a day!
Most of us aren’t comfortable with a mouthful of oil, no matter from whence that oil comes or what it’s purported to do. But we can still get caught up in the coconut craze.
Whether you’re stuck on a deserted island or comfortable in your own home, here are some (relatively normal) ideas for using this tropical wonderfruit.
We are just coconuts for coconuts on World Coconut Day. The aim of celebrating this holiday is to bring coconuts into the spotlight and recognize their importance and benefits — not just health-wise but economically too.
Coconuts are especially celebrated in Asian- and Pacific regions by the APCC, Asian, and Pacific Coconut Community, which facilitates most of the coconut production centers.
The coconut’s adorable name has an interesting origin.
As portrayed in many cartoons and children’s illustrations, there are three indentations on the surface of a coconut, which resemble a human face. Ancient Iberian folklore tells us that when the Portuguese and Spanish explorers saw these indentations, it reminded them of the bogeyman or a similar entity.
The mythical character from stories of their native lands was called ‘Coco,’ and so, the word ‘coconut’ was born.
The coconut made its way from India to the coast of East Africa, thanks to Arab sailors, and from Southeast Asia to the west of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and to the east of the Pacific, thanks to Austronesian sailors.
Coconuts have been a powerhouse since, providing us with a vast range of products and benefits. The tender white flesh inside the coconut is used in an array of cooking recipes and the oil, milk, and water is used for both cooking and non-cooking purposes.
Coconut butter, coconut cream, and coconut oil are staple byproducts used in beauty products, and the husks and leaves of coconuts are used for making doormats, roofs, and huts.
