Coconut Meat

Coconut meat is a nutritious, delicious and widely enjoyed food that is widely revered across many cultures. It is an important ingredient in a range of recipes and provides an array of nutrients and health benefits. To understand how this delicious snack makes it way to your dinner plate, however, it’s necessary to look at its journey from the tree to your plate.

Understanding The Coconut Tree

Coconuts are a type of palm tree found primarily found near tropical or sub-tropical areas such as the Caribbean and the South Pacific. This tree is highly valued for its diverse use, including that of its meat and its production of copra, an edible oil. Coconuts are a monocotyledonous fruit, meaning one cotyledon emerges within the embryo of the seed, with the seed usually encased by a woody shell.

The fruit of coconuts is a drupe, which is a fruit containing a single seed that's surrounded by a hard, fibrous shell. A drupe makes use of three concentric layers - the exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The exocarp is the outermost layer of the fruit, which is made up of a layer of brown skin. This skin protects the mesocarp, which is a thick layer of fleshy material that we call coconut meat. The endocarp is the innermost layer and is a hard shell, encasing the single embedded seed.

Harvesting

Harvesting the coconuts is a delicate process, as coconut trees are generally rather tall and harvesting needs to be done carefully by climbing to the top of the tree with a machete and other tools. After successfully reaching the fruits, the coconuts are harvested and checked for severe insect damage or weather damage, before they are brought down from the tree.

Once the coconuts drop to the ground, they are gathered and transported to a processing facility for further handling. There, ripened coconuts may be handpicked and chosen for their meat, or used to make copra, an ingredient for making coconut oil.

Processing

Once the coconuts have been harvested and taken to a processing facility, the coconuts must go through a series of steps before they can be packaged and sent off to wherever they are going.

Testing and Classification

First, they are tested and classified; generally, the maturity of coconuts is determined by their picture or size. Once the coconuts have been classified, they need to be processed.

Milling

Then, coconut meat is milled using a special milling machine. This machine grinds the hard and tough shell until it is broken into small pieces. To further process the coconut, the grinded shells may then be passed through a vibro separator to separate the shell fragments from the meat.

The meat of the coconut is then passed through a grinder, to reduce the flesh into small pieces. These small pieces are then passed through another machine which presses the coconut meat into a fine paste.

Packing

The pressed coconut paste is then placed into a vacuum-sealed bag to preserve its flavor, texture, and shelf life. The vacuum-sealed package is then ready for either further processing, such as for coconut milk, or for distribution.

Distribution

Once the package has been sealed, the coconut meat is ready for transport. Depending on the place of origin, the coconuts will be transported via land, sea, or air, to areas where they will be sold.

Once the coconuts arrive in the final location, they are ready to be bought. Coconut meat is distributed in a number of ways, including in packages or cans with instructions on use and storage.

Preparation

Once the coconut is purchased, it is ready for preparation. The coconut must be opened first, either by hitting the end of the coconut with a hammer or cleaver to crack it open, or by puncturing the eye of the coconut with a screwdriver or small drill bit. Opening the coconut will reveal the white juicy meat, which can be scraped out, cubed or grated, depending on how it needs to be used.

Once the coconut meat is prepared, it can be made into various recipes, such as cakes, cookies, ice cream, and smoothies, or added to stir-frys, curried dishes and soups. Coconut meat is also a popular topping for salads.

Conclusion

Coconut meat is an incredibly diverse and nutritious food that can be served in countless delicious recipes. From the moment the coconut is harvested, to when it reaches your plate, the journey of the coconut is an incredible one. Learning how this nutritious food makes it way from the tree to your plate helps to create an even more enjoyable experience.