In this article we’ll cover the following:
- Mature Coconut
- Young Coconut
- Coconut Inflorescence
- Coconut Spathe and Guinit
- Coconut Leaves
- Coconut Trunk
- Coconut Tree Roots
“If you could count the stars, then you could count all the ways the coconut serves us.”
The coconut palm tree is a part of the broad range of palm trees. Its scientific name is Cocos nucifera and is considered as the tree of life. Why? It’s simply because all of its parts can be amazingly used for our basic needs. From the roots to the fruit, it has a valuable role to mankind that no other plant can give.
Coconut palm tree mostly grows and bears mature fruits in tropical areas like Philippines, Brazil, and Thailand, since these are tropical countries. It needs a temperature of about 24 degrees Celsius and above so it can fully grow. They can be grown in subtropical areas but the fruits won’t be as great as those grown in tropical areas. It’s one of nature’s gifts that we have to take care and be thankful for.
To end your questions why coconut palm tree is referred to as the “Tree of Life,” here’s a list of what it can give you from roots to its leaves.
Mature Coconut
A mature coconut can give you several essential uses:
- Coconut Oil – the widely-known health trend, coconut oil apparently comes from this amazing tree! You can substitute coconut oil for your usual oil in cooking. You can ingest it directly or mix it in your warm drink to help you lose weight, stabilize blood sugar, and fight infections. You can apply it on your body, hair, and face. It can also help heal joint pains and many others! Coconut oil is one coconut palm tree product that has endless uses. You can even use it for your pets.
- Coconut Meat – coconut meat contains more protein than bananas and apples. You can eat it directly or extract it to produce coconut milk.
- Coconut Milk – when you extract a coconut meat, it produces white coconut milk. You can drink it, but it’s commonly mixed with dishes. You can make curries, stew, and seafood taste better with coconut milk. It can even be used as an ingredient for desserts. Recipes with coconut milk are creamy and delicious. Vegans love to use coconut milk as a substitute for dairy products such as ice cream or yogurt. Coconut milk can be an excellent ingredient for hair and soap products.
- Flour – a mature coconut can also produce organic flour that you can use for baking pastries.
- Animal feeds – some manufacturers produce animal feeds from a mature coconut. It’s a delicious and healthy food for your horses, sheep, cattle, chicken, and pig.
- Delicacies – In tropical countries, coconut meats are dried to produce dried coconut candies and other treats.
- Shell – the coconut shell can make an excellent charcoal and activated carbon. Some artisans even use the coconut shell to create beautiful handicrafts.
- Coconut Husk – the coconut husk is the rough outer part of a mature coconut and is made up of tough fibers (coir). Some traditional people use it to clean their pots while others use it as a homemade mattress.
- Coconut Water – the coconut water in mature coconuts can be used for vinegar and wine.
Young Coconut
The young coconut has the purest coconut water and can heal urinary tract infections (UTI) and prevents kidney stones from occurring. The soft coconut meat can be used in salads, popularly known in the Philippines as “Buko Salad.”
Coconut Inflorescence
The group of flowers in a coconut palm tree can do a lot of things too.
- Sugar – it can produce coconut sugar. If this sugar is compared to regular granulated sugar, it has far more benefits.
- Alcoholic Drinks – coconut tree’s inflorescence can produce an alcoholic drink called Coconut Toddy or Tuba (Philippines) and Thal ra (Sri Lanka). It’s a fermented coconut juice popular in tropical areas.
Coconut Spathe and Guinit
A coconut spathe is the part that encloses the flower. It also has its own particular use like producing helmets, handicrafts and bags.
Coconut Leaves
Nothing goes to waste with coconut palm tree as the leaves produce necessary things to mankind. It can produce high-quality paper pulp, brooms from the midrib, baskets, fruit trays and other decorations.
Coconut Trunk
The coconut tree’s trunk is a great source of lumber and other wood products. It’s the mainly used wood for construction of houses and buildings in the Philippines. It can also produce other furniture and novelty items.
Coconut Tree Roots
The roots of a coconut palm tree can be used for producing dye stuff, ropes, and twine.
As you can see, all the parts of the coconut palm tree are useful for all your daily needs! It doesn’t only give you that beach-like tropical feeling. One of the most prominent uses of the coconut palm tree is coconut oil. You can’t count with your fingers the number of benefits it gives to mankind and animals!
Live a great life and make use of the things coconut palm tree can offer us.