How do South East Asian communities use the coconut tree?

 Yes, we do love a coconut. But our love doesn’t stop there. The whole coconut tree is worthy of our attention. This remarkable tree brings us so much more than the coconut itself. The vast majority of global coconut production comes from South East Asia. We thought it’d be fascinating to share with you some of the many ways in which these communities use the coconut tree, as for many places it is their largest export.

1.    Coir

Think of a coconut husk and you’ll think of the brown hairy fella from a coconut shy. That hairy fibrous exterior is called coir and it can be used for a huge variety of purposes. It’s used for things domestically, such as brushes and scrubbing tools and it’s also exported to be used in different ways too. It can be used as matting, stuffing, peat and rope. It can be used to make doormats and brushes. It can even be used for a wide range of gardening purposes, including lining hanging baskets and creating a weed matting.

2.    Peat

In amongst the coir – when it’s not been shaken off for a less messy coconut, but when it comes straight from the tree – is pith. This pith is called coconut peat. This peat is a bit more like dirt or dust; it’s not fibrous like coir. Communities use this as a natural fertiliser and it is a great option as of course, it’s completely organic. Increasingly, gardeners around the world use coconut peat, so it shows that nothing goes to waste.

3.    Copra

Copra is the term for the dried coconut kernels, or shells. South East Asian communities traditionally dry these in the sun or sometimes in kilns. Indeed, how copra are dried is quite a defining cultural process.

Refined coconut oil comes from copra. Coconut oil is used by communities and exported for cooking, cosmetics and other purposes. Coconut oil is excellent for skin hydration, protection and even as a hair conditioner. It’s naturally mildly antiseptic and anti-fungal too. Unlike many oils, coconut oil is rich in short chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid, when used for eating and cooking. When the majority of the oil has been extracted for domestic and commercial purposes, the remnants are then used in nutritious animal feed.

The shells are also used as bowls and containers for everyday living. The shells can also be used for steaming food and cooking in. They are used in art as well.

4.    Charcoal and carbon

South East Asian communities use coconut trees as a source of fuel. The kernel can be burned. When the husk is burned, coconut charcoal is formed. This is a key ingredient in many traditional medicines, but it’s also a really important product for filtering water and drawing out toxins.  Medical grade charcoal has toxin-absorbing properties and is used in various hospital treatments.

5.    Foodstuffs

Of course, so many food products come from the coconut tree – from both the coconut itself and also the tree itself.

The meat is perhaps what you will think of first. Coconut flesh or meat can be eaten in many different ways, including fresh. It’s nutritious and an important part of the diet for South East Asian communities.

The flesh of the coconut is used for a range of food products:

·          Coconut milk powder: Coconut milk powder can be used to make coconut milk and cream long-life, but also used directly in hot drinks, soups, smoothies and sauces.

·          Coconut flour: Finely ground and dried coconut milk makes flour which can be used for gluten-free baking.  It’s naturally high in fibre and protein too.

·          Virgin Coconut Oil:  is made from pressing the raw coconut meat to remove the oil. This is then filtered and processed through a method that ensures the oil stays raw.

·          MCT powder: A weight management and muscle building product made from dried coconut oil, packed with short chain fatty acids.

Inside the coconut meat is the coconut water. This forms a refreshing drink for many communities, but also serves as a base for a wide variety of options.

Other foodstuffs come from the tree itself, specifically the sap which is produced from the flower bud. In South East Asian communities, this sap is used in a huge number of ways (such as drinks) and we also bring it to you in the following products:

·        Coconut vinegar: Fermenting the sap creates vinegar which is highly nutritious and tasty, whilst being exceptionally good for gut health because of its microbe diversity.

·        Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar is made by heating and crystallising the sap to concentrate the natural sugars. This sugar is healthier than many refined sugars, and is an excellent alternative when baking.

·        Coconut nectar: The stage before sugar crystallises, there is a caramel-like syrup. This can be used as a vegan substitute for honey, and can be enjoyed straight up on things like porridge, or used for baking.

·        Coconut aminos: The fermentation process, used for creating vinegar, can also be adapted with other ingredients like garlic to make amino sauces, somewhat similar to soy sauce with an umami taste.

6.    Fronds

Think of a tropical island getaway and you’ll likely think of coconut palm fronds. The huge leaves of the coconut tree are enormously important to many South East Asian communities and are used in various different ways.

Coconut palm fronds can be used as a construction material, most specifically for creating waterproof roofs and floors. The fronds are used in baskets which are used in all sorts of different ways. They can even be weaved into boats!

South East Asian communities have used the coconut tree in a wide variety of ways throughout the generations. It’s an integral part of communities and it’s difficult to imagine many cultures without this humble tree.

However, increasingly, these communities are actively farming the coconut trees for export for a growing international market. Obviously here at The Coconut Company, we are mostly about the foodstuffs, ranging from coconut sugar to coconut vinegar. But globally, South East Asian communities are able to export everything from the coconut tree including the coir and other parts. This provides an important income source for South East Asian communities. For example, at The Coconut Company, we only work with factories that have a good community policy in place to ensure they give back to the farmers and land.   

The coconut tree really is remarkable and we’re thankful to the South East Asian communities that we work with, for bringing us so much coconut goodness!