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A coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. Coconuts are believed to be native to Southeast Asia, where they have been cultivated and used in food for centuries.
The distinctive flavor of coconut makes it a very popular food, and a wide range of things are made with coconuts, from palm wine to coconut cream pie. Technically, a coconut is a drupe, which means that it has a hard shell encased in a fibrous outer layer. When the coconut shell is cracked open, it reveals a fleshy white meat and a liquid that is known as coconut water.
Cracking open coconuts is no mean feat; a number of techniques are used, ranging from baking coconuts to make them brittle to dropping them onto sharp rocks in an attempt to wedge open a crack in the shell.
Products from Coconut:
a) Coconut Milk/Cream: It is the most favorite ingredients in Thai kitchen. It used in many dishes where coconut milk/cream is required.
b) Coconut Water: It is consumed as a drink fresh from the coconut, and it can also used in many recipes.
c) Copra: It is the source of coconut oil when crushed.
d) Coconut Oil: It is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics.
Apart from the part of consumption, it also has other inborn qualities. The Shell of the Coconut is a fiber layer that is used to make coir mattress and other home products. The Coconut shell also has other properties, which can be used for fuel instead of gas or petrol. In the southern part of India, it is also used as a Musical Instrument.
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