coconuts

above photo - coconuts left out to dry

A common question that is often asked is whether a coconut is a fruit or a nut, a common question as even the villas at talaytong are surrounded by coconut plantations. The answer however, is that the coconut is technically a fruit when classified by botanic method. The term - drupe - is often used to classify a coconut, a kind of flower where a flesh layer forms on the inside. They even then go on to say that the coconut can be classed in the same family as other common fruits such as nectarines and mango's, the later of which is farmed in abundance in Thailand and to some extent on Koh Phangan.

When coconut are seen in bunches hanging from the palms, the outer green or brown layer that may b through of as the husk is specifically known as the mesocarp. Normally in supermarkets in the West the mesocarp has already been striped of just leaving what appears to be a spherical nut type ball. This tough fibrous layer known as the mesocarp can be used to make thread and rope and used in weaving, it is strong and durable if kept dry. Normally on the side of any road on Koh Phangan at some point there will be a pile of these coconut husks that have been discarded before the preparation on the actually fruit takes place. The husks can be ground up and mixed with soil for organic enrichment.

above photo - spliting the husk off

After the mesocarp comes the endocarp, the next layer on the coconut, the hard brown shell that protects the white meat inside. There are also normally three small round indents in the top of this husk, a soft spot for when the coconut decides root and grow from within and force its way out of the shell.

Inside the coconut meat is a vital ingredient in Thai cooking, normally to produce coconut cream which are used in traditional soups such as the green and red curry. There are two types of coconuts and its the hard fleshy meat ones that get ground up to make coconut milk. The younger sweeter coconuts are often kept for drinking and the flesh can be very soft and sweet.