Coconuts come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you may be surprised to learn that there are many different types of coconuts! Here are a few prominent kinds to be aware.
Coconuts are a diverse food source that is also regarded as a “Super Food” due to the multiple health advantages they provide! Here are several coconut varieties you may not be familiar with!
Coconut is a single-seeded fruit from the Cocos Nucifera tropical tree. It is a member of the Arecaceae family and prefers a humid, warm climate. This palm tree is endemic to Malaysia and can be found across Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands.
Endocarp, exocarp, and mesocarp are the three layers of the fruit. Exocarp is the outermost layer, which is green and smooth. The coconut’s mesocarp is the central fleshy layer, while the endocarp is the hard, woody layer that surrounds the seed.
Coconut trees are divided into two categories: tall and dwarf. The tall reaches a height of 50-90 feet and bears fruit after 7-10 years. The dwarf, on the other hand, can reach a height of 20-60 feet and bear fruit after 4-5 years. Dwarf types survive for 40-50 years on average, but tall kinds might live for 90-100 years. In addition, tall kinds cross-pollinate, while dwarf variants are self-pollinated. There are also hybrid coconut cultivars that combine the best of both worlds. The main hybrids are Tall x Dwarf (TxD) and Dwarf x Tall (DxT).
Dwarf coconut cultivars are preferable over taller variants since they are easier to manage due to their modest size.
Green and brown coconuts are the same thing; the only difference is their age. Green coconuts are young and not totally ripe, whereas brown husk coconuts are fully developed and contain less water. Brown coconut flesh is used in cooking and can also be consumed raw. Green coconuts, on the other hand, are mostly used for their tasty water, which is consumed or used to make binakol. Coconut oil is derived from dried or brown coconuts and used in frying and cooking.
Fun fact : Coconuts are also available in orange. The carotenoid component in the king coconut gives it its orange color. Coconuts Come in a Variety of Shapes and Sizes.
Tall Coconut from the West Coast
Each year, this towering coconut tree bears fruit after 6-7 years and produces 60-80 coconuts per palm. It is drought resistant, and the fruits range in color from green to yellow to orange to brown.
Tall Coconut from the East Coast
Each palm on the East Coast tall produces 60-70 coconuts per year and takes 6-8 years to bear fruit. To thrive, this tall coconut tree requires well-drained, loamy soil.
Maypan Coconut is a cold-hardy hybrid of Malayan and Panama coconuts that produces medium to large coconuts. This cultivar may reach a height of 20 meters and is resistant to the deadly yellowing illness.
Tiptur Tall coconut
The Tiptur tree’s leathery fronds bear fruits that are 6-12 inches long. It bears fruit in 6-7 years after planting and produces 70-80 coconuts each year on per palm. It’s one of the most easy-to-grow coconut tree varieties!
Orange Dwarf coconut
This dwarf type can produce 50-70 drupes per palm per year after 3-4 years of fruiting. This tree has 20-28 leaves in each of its crowns. This palm tree should not be grown in windy places, as it may be harmed by severe winds.
Green Dwarf Coconut
This palm tree yields around 60-70 coconuts per palm and begins fruiting in 3-4 years. Its drupes are dark green and resistant to root wilt disease.
Malayan Yellow Dwarf Coconut
This palm has a yield of 50-60 coconuts on each palm per year and starts bearing fruits after 3-4 years. It is native to Indonesia and is resistant to lethal yellowing disease.
Fiji Dwarf Coconut
This tropical ornamental tree is popular for its long fronds and a swollen trunk base. Its unique leaf arrangement makes it different from others and has a large bulb at its lower stem. Thanks to its durable nature, it has earned the name- Tough Nut.
King coconut
Due to the carotenoids component, which is also found in orange nuts, this type produces orange-skinned coconuts in clusters of 15-25. Vitamins, calcium, and amino acids abound. It has an orange husk.
VHC1 Coconut
Hybrid of East Coast Tall and Malayan Green Dwarf, which produces around 80-100 coconuts per palm each year after four years.
Coconut Macapuno
It’s a little tree that produces coconuts with a jelly-like flesh that has a sweet and nutty flavour and is used in drinks and treats like pastries.
Nutrition value
Coconut water is a fantastic source of hydration, making it a popular post-workout drink among coconut water aficionados. Many of the body’s important elements that keep you running, such as salt, potassium, and chloride, are lost in sweat after a strenuous workout. Not only have you sweated out water, but you’ve also sweated out minerals; therefore it’s critical to rehydrate and replace those electrolytes. This is where coconut water comes in handy. This delightful drink is a great alternative to drinks with added sugar because it’s largely made up of water with electrolytes.
Coconut water is also high in potassium. The majority of the body’s major fluids require considerable amounts of potassium to function, and 90 percent of the body’s potassium is found within the kidneys.
