(GIST OF YOJANA) The Coconut Craze

(JULY-2024)

The Coconut Craze

Introduction:

Coconut is a tropical palm cultivated mainly in tropical countries lying on both sides of the equator. It is predominantly seen in coastal areas. In this era of sustainable agriculture, coconut is a crop that supports long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It is a crop from which all parts can be put to diversified uses. Coconut is known traditionally as an oil crop, and coconut oil has been used for culinary and other topical application.

Coconut Oil:

Most popular product from coconut, which is produced from the white kernel inside the coconut. The kernel is dried in the sun or using modern dryers, and the dried product is called copra.
Expellers are used to extract coconut oil from the copra. Coconut oil has been used traditionally as a cooking oil in south India, mainly in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It was used for topical applications on the skin and hair from time immemorial, across the country.
Coconut oil is an essential ingredient in many beauty care products, including face creams, make-up removers, tooth paste, soaps, detergents, mouthwashes, etc. It is an important raw material for the oleo-chemical industry.
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, of which the predominant one is lauric acid (C12 fatty acid), which enhances the immunity of individuals when consumed.

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO):

This is a product that emerged globally during the late 1990s. It is the purest form of coconut oil and is produced without the application of heat, thereby retaining the volatile components of coconut oil.
It is produced from coconut milk by centrifuging or fermentation. VCO retains all the health attributes of coconut oil and is superior even to olive oil in health attributes. There are numerous clinical
studies across the globe conducted by scientists, doctors, and researchers that have conclusively proven the medicinal and health attributes ofVCO—be it in skin care, managing Alzheimers or Dementia, Type 2 Diabetes, Psoriasis, reducing abdominal obesity, etc.—the list is long.

Coconut water:

Coconut water, both from tender coconut and mature coconut, is acknowledged across the globe as a healthy beverage. The presence of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and antioxidants in coconut water makes it a healthy, natural rehydrating drink. It is believed that during the Second World War, the American soldiers who were stranded in the Pacific Islands survived on coconut water and the kernel inside.
Due to the antithrombotic nature of coconut water and its isotonicity with human blood, it has been used as an intravenous hydration fluid in the Pacific Islands as a short-term remedy for hydration and resuscitation of critically ill patients.
Coconut water is the most commonly prescribed oral rehydrating drink by doctors across the country.

Desiccated coconut:

The mature kernel of coconut is grated, shredded, and dried to produce desiccated coconut.
It is used in snacks, bakery products, biscuits, cakes, muffins, toppings or coatings, oat meals, etc.
It is naturally vegan and gluten free thus making it suitable for making healthy snacks and bakery products. It is available in different grades based on particle size.

Coconut milk and coconut milk powder:

The freshly grated coconut kernel is squeezed to extract coconut milk, which is an essential ingredient in the cuisine of South and Southeast Asia.
Coconut milk is processed, packed, and marketed with varying fat content, from coconut milk to coconut cream.
It can be used directly in dishes while cooking or diluted and added. Coconut milk is spray-dried to make coconut milk powder, which can be used after dissolving in warm water.

Coconut chips:

The coconut kernel is sliced into thin pieces and tosted or dried to a crispy and crunchy texture, with or without the addition of flavours.
It is an alternative to traditional snacks, which are fried. Various flavours like vanilla, chocolate, mint, pineapple, spice, etc. are added.

Way Forward:

The coconut food industry is on the go, having diversified from a handful of products to hundreds of value-added products; it may be from the coconut kernel, coconut water, coconut inflorescence, or coconut haustorium.
The varying consumer preferences and the varying taste habits that emerge with the change in generations encourage processors to make diversified value-added products from coconut, exploring the multifaceted nutritional attributes of coconut.
Products are developed to suit the demand, the palate, and the choices of generations, and to replace ingredients in diets with healthy alternatives using coconut.
Coconut oil and coconut sugar are essential ingredients in many ayurvedic preparations.
Market studies indicate the enormous potential of coconut water and coconut milk as beverages, as the world is in pursuit of natural and healthy products.