The Coconut Tree is known to have many uses, from its roots to the tips (leaves), from cooking to non-culinary. In the Philippines, the coconut tree is considered as the "Tree of Life".
You must be thinking, why is that so? Allow me to cite the various parts of the coconut tree and the corresponding benefits and / or using. Let's start with ...
Coconut roots
Coconut roots are used as a drink, dye, mouthwash, and medicine for dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux). A frayed-out piece of root can also be used as a toothbrush.
Coconut Trunks
Coconut trunks, so Hardy and durable wood is used for building small bridges, preferred for their straightness, strength and salt resistance. It is also used to make benches, tables, carvings, picutre frames, tables, tool boxes and construction materials, among others. Paper pulp can also be taken from coconut trunk and other woody parts of the tree.
Coconut Branch
Branches of coconut (leaf petioles) are strong and flexible enough to make the transition (a flexible shaft, typically used for corporal punishment).
Coconut Leaves
Coconut leaves can pinagtagpi to create effective roofing materials, or reed mats. It can also produce good quality paper pulp, midrib brooms, hats and mats, fruit trays, waste baskets, fans, beautiful midrib decors, lamp shade, placemats, and the bag. You also stiff leaflet midribs used to make cooking skewers and kindling arrows. Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime.
Coconut Fruit
Coconut fruit produces a node, often used for salads, halo-halo (crushed ice with sweetened fruit), and sweet pastries. The "sport fruit" of the coconut known as Cocoanut is primarily harvested in the Philippines. These are sold in jars as "gelatinous mutant coconut" cut into balls or strands. Considered a satisfying delicacy and largely used for making preserves and ice-cream. It is not possible for them to keep in storage and still not germinate.
Coconut Meat
Coconut meat is the white thick, fleshy substance found inside the coconut shell. It is edible and can be used fresh or dried in cooking. It can also be used to get Coco flour, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, coconut candies, bukayo or local sweetened shredded coconut meat, copra and even latik, animal feed.
Coconut Water
Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance, and it is an extremely nutritious food source. Uses of coconut water include: coconut water vinegar; coconut wine; production of the chewy, fiber-rich "nata", good as a dessert and as a laxative; as a growth factor; and as a substitute for dextrose. It is also used for treatment of kidney disorders. "Bukolysis" is the medical process of reducing or dissolving urinary stones from the urinary tract, with the knuckle of water 7-9 months old coconuts. If you've heard of "water therapy", also there such thing as "node / coconut therapy".
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is made by processing grated coconut with hot water or milk, which extracts the oil and aromatic compounds. It should not be confused with the coconut water mentioned above, and with a fat content of approximately 17%. When refrigerated and left to set, coconut cream will rise to the top and separate the milk. The milk is used to produce virgin coconut oil. It is a common ingredient in many tropical cuisines. In Thailand, coconut milk is the basis of most Thai curries.
Coconut Oil
Copra is the dried coconut meat and, after further processing, is a source of coconut oil content high (as much as 64%). Coconut oil is the most easily digested, all fat, generally used throughout the world. Its chief competitors are soya bean oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil. Can be quickly processed and taken as a completely organic product from fresh coconut flesh, and used in many ways including as a medicine and cosmetics, or as a direct replacement for diesel fuel. Virgin coconut oil is found superior to the oil taken from copra for cosmetic purposes.
(Coconut) apical Bud
Apical buds of adult plants are edible and are known as "palm-cabbage" or heart-of-palm. In the Philippines, it is known as core and considered one of the best vegetables. It is considered a rare delicacy, as the act of Harvesting bud, can kill the palm. It can be served in many appetizing ways. Cubed in fairly large pieces, makes a wonderful addition to Spanish rice, or their long pieces, to Arroz a la Cubana. It is also eaten in salad (mixed with mayonnaise or thousand island dressing), known as "Millionaire's Salad".
Coconut Infloresence
No as early as infloresence the coconut tree is a fermented juice called coconut toddy or, in the Philippines, tuba. The principal use of toddy are: as fresh beverage; for making beverages; for the manufacture of vinegar; for the manufacture of sugar; and as a source of yeast for making bread.
coconut husk
Coconut husks are made of bristle fiber (10%), mattress fiber (20%) and coir dust and shorts or wastes (70%). Coir is used in ropes, mats, brushes, caulking boats and as the Compressing fiber; It is also used extensively in Horticulture for making potting compost. Husk can be used for fuel and are a good source of charcoal. Dried half coconut shells with husks are used to buff floors made of wood, making it clean and shiny (free from dusts). In the Philippines, it is known as "pulling". Fresh inner coconut husk can be rubbed on the lens of snorkelling Goggles to prevent fogging during use.
Coconut Shell
Coconut shell produces the core of the most salable household products and fashion accessories that can become useful, wide-selling cottage industries. In the Philippines, dried half shells are used as a musical instrument in a folk dance called "Maglalatik", a traditional dance about the conflicts for coconut meat within the Spanish era. They are also used in the movie theater, banged together to create the sound effect of a horse hoofbeats'. Half a coconut shell can be deployed as an improvised bra, especially for nifty effects or theatrical purposes. Can be carved out in dried coconut shell button shirt. Coconut buttons are often used for Hawaiian Aloha shirts.
You see how wonderful coconut trees? In fact, in the Philippines, it is considered as one of the major dollar earner that provides livelihood industry the majority of the population. In fact, a Tree of Life!
And did you know that during World War II, coastwatcher scout Biuki Gaza is the first of two from the Solomon Islands to reach the shipwrecked, wounded, and exhausted crew of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 commanded by then, the US future President John F. Kennedy. Gauze suggested, for lack of paper, delivering by dugout canoe in, a message inscribed on a husked coconut shell. This coconut shell eventually kept in the President's desk, and now, in the John F. Kennedy Library.
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