Description
COCONUT FEATURES
The coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm, a tree that belongs to the great family of the Palmaceae. On the palm, coconuts are protected by a fibrous shell (the pericarp) often from 5 to 15 cm, under this fibrous shell there are the very hard and thin brownish shells that must be broken to reach the pulp (nut) that adheres on the interior walls. The cavity in the center of the fruit is full of sweet and refreshing white liquid known as “coconut water” (not to be confused with coconut milk, which is produced by crushing the pulp). The coconut water turns into white ivory pulp while the coconut ripens. The edible part of coconut is the very refreshing pulp and liquid in the empty center of the fruit.
COCONUT ORIGIN
It is believed that the coconut originates from South East Asia, from the islands of Melanesia in the Pacific Ocean. Today it is grown in several tropical countries. The coconut palm can reach a height of 30 meters and is exceeded in the upper part by huge leaves. Its fruits, or “le drupe” usually grow in five or six bunches, each of which contains about a dozen coconuts.
