World Coconut Day

Today, products that were previously considered incredibly expensive delicacies are increasingly appearing on our table Lychees, papaya, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, coconuts, kumquats, feijoa, rambutan, carambola - ten years ago the average Russian did not even know about many fruits from this list They are grown in distant countries in completely different climatic conditions, which are as different as possible from ours Today, grocery store shelves are filled with such delicacies Among the bananas and oranges that have already become commonplace treats, it is easy to spot the spiky skin of lychees, carambola stars and coconuts with their fuzzy sides The latter are especially loved by buyers, because these exotic nuts have already become firmly established in our diet September 2 is World Coconut Day, a holiday that was established back in 2009 He has many fans in all corners of the planet, including Russia Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of the coconut palm Modern scientists agree that they were first grown in Malaysia Gradually, the experience of the inhabitants of this hot country was adopted by their neighbors from Thailand and Indonesia Over time, coconut palms began to be grown in all tropical countries The ancient written sources of India contain references to coconuts, but Europeans became acquainted with them many centuries later In the 13th century, Marco Polo began his famous journeys to Asia During one of his trips, he saw coconuts, which, because of the three holes at the base, reminded him of the face of a monkey It was Polo who named the exotic nut “coco”, which means “monkey” in Portuguese Some modern researchers associate the origin of the name with the tradition of the natives, who sometimes specially train tame monkeys Locals teach them to get nuts from palm trees, the height of which can reach 27-30 meters Coconuts have a wide range of applications, since all parts of the nut are used - juice, pulp, milk and oil Even its shell does not disappear Household and decorative items and jewelry are made from it Also, do not throw away coir - the coconut fiber that covers the nut The longest ones are used to make ropes, ropes, and fishing nets Tangled and short fibers are used in the manufacture of mattresses and pillows Coir has a high lignin content This component ensures the elasticity and strength of the fibers Thanks to lignin, coconut coir does not rot, so products made from it are highly resistant to salt water Coconut juice is a sweet liquid that sloshes around inside the nut It has a tonic effect and perfectly quenches thirst in the heat Coconut juice is also used to make alcoholic beverages For example, it is often added to various cocktails, which are served directly in the nuts Coconut meat is usually crushed and used as a flavorful addition to various desserts or as a breading for frying meat and fish - the ingredient gives dishes an unusual taste Coconut oil is made from pulp, which is squeezed out in special presses Today this product is gaining popularity among healthy eating supporters Fat that doesn't add inches to your waist is an impossible dream for many Coconut oil is considered a dietary product It is easily absorbed by the body, improves digestion, does not contain cholesterol and reduces the risk of developing many dangerous diseases Coconut milk is a product that is obtained by mixing crushed pulp and juice It is packaged and sold as an alternative to animal milk, making the product very popular among vegans and vegetarians Coconuts are also used to make flour, chips, sugar, vinegar, syrup and sugar