Wednesday, April 4

Coconuts 101!!


Here are some pictures of some of our owners enjoying a sample of the coconut water as well as the jelly. Our own Mr. Clair came along with his trusty machete and chopped down some coconuts to share his knowledge and the wonderful flavours of the coconut.

Did you know that a coconut has many uses?? Let me name a few of them. The water is used for drinking, and is excellent chilled as well as right out of the coconut. Here in Grand Cayman it is said that it also offers medicinal solutions to minor infections.
The nut shell (the part that holds the meat)of the coconut has been used for various things, including a drinking cup, or bowl. The most recent use that I have seen is as a base for scented candles!!

The husk (the stringy part of the dried coconut ) was very often used for scrubbing the floors to make them shine (then along came "Mr. Clean"!!). But we also use it here as a natural deterrent to mosquitoes. Basically we use the dried husk of the coconut, and burn it, and the odor keeps the mosquitoes away. Its amazing!

The "meat" of the coconut can be used for many different things depending on its texture. A young coconut where the meet is only jelly, can be eaten raw or if anyone likes, I have a GREAT recipe for a homemade coconut ice cream, mine doesn't even get to really freeze before its finished!! Then when the meat is more firm, but still soft, it's used for making coconut drops (candy) and a variety of other candy items. Then there is when the coconut is hard and dry, that meat is what is grated, and that's what you can buy in the store as coconut flakes. It is also the harder meat that is used in the process of making coconut oil milk and coconut oil.




I think that's enough about the coconut! Thanks for reading!!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool Beans! I would absolutely love it if you posted your coconut ice cream recipe!! :D

Lee said...

Hmm... I have heard you must be very careful in how much coconut milk you drink lest you suffer some digestive side effects?! How much is a safe amount?

Cool Beans said...

Ok Anonymous, I will get that recipe and I will post it later on today.

Lee, First of all, coconut milk and coconut water are two different things. The water is the clear fluid once the coconut is opened. The milk is formed from the meat and regular water mixture, and that should be used sparingly as it is very rich. The average Caymanian will cook with coconut milk once a week (Sundays in the rice & beans, or in "Rundown").

As for the coconut water itself, I would say no more than 1 coconut a day, as it also acts a natural laxative! Take a look at the following link, some of the facts surprised me!!

http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/coconutwater.html

Cool Beans said...
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