VEGGIE-IT.COM: COCONUT

Geek talk: Cocos mucifera

But we talk: Coco (early Spanish), Coconut, Naariyal (Hin.), Tengai (Tam.) Tenginkai (Kan.), If you want to say Coconut in other languages click here!

Description: Coconut is the most famous member of the Palm tree family. Oh yea., its
a tree. A tall tree at that. Actually, Its a fibrous fruit with a nut. And its a hard nut to crack. Maybe thats where the expression came from! The actual coconut is the flesh inside and the only edible part. If you journey past this as well you reach the inner sanctorum- the receptacle that holds coconut water. So its both edible and potable. Do we know any other fruit or vegetable that can be drank first and eaten next. Literally one after the other. The coconut is peeled in layers. Nothing can describe the first peel better than this video!

Once we remove the fibrous cover of the fruit we reach the nut with 3 "eyes". Incidentally, its these 3 eyes that reminded the early Spanish settlers of a coco which meant monkey face! Hence the name.

The flesh of the coconut is snow white and juicy. It can be eaten as is. For the most part though they are grated and used as an important ingredient in cooking across several cuisines.

Incidentally, coconut "milk" is extracted from the flesh and is quite distinct from coconut water. Coconut waters quite an amazing drink. Its healing properties are legendary and widely known.

To this day, Coconut water is given to patients in hospitals in India for post-surgery recovery. It was used as a substitute for saline drip for injured soldiers in the second world war!

Other parts of the coconut are no less magical. Coconut oil is not only a major cooking oil in Kerala, India, but is also used traditional medicine in Asian and Pacific populations. The Pacific Islanders refer to this as the "Tree of Life" .

Kitchen Pharmacy: Coconut water is now a constant in our refrigerator. The recent 'discovery' by beverage companies has made this a little easier, though what is happening to the coconut crops worldwide as a result of surging US demand is still unclear. Coconut oil, long considered unhealthy because of high saturated fat is now being termed "the healthiest oil on earth" because it contains that rare form of MCFA(medium chain fatty acids that our body loves. The only other source of MCFA, not surprisingly, is palm kernel oil. Incidentally, The Coconut is a Palm

Nutrition: Coconut water: Serving Size: 1 Cup 240 gm.

Coconut Meat/Grated Coconut : Serving Size: 1 oz.