Ruchira tells us about the wonder fruit coconut and its many uses from food, beauty, health, religious rites to many products. It is found all over the world. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Yes, I simply love this fruit. It has so many outstanding nay unique features that make it stand out in the vast galaxy of fruits. Coconut is virtually a passé-partout in the sense that it easily jells with everything and may be used in dishes of all kinds.
Nutritive and dietary benefits apart, this wonder fruit has multiple other uses as well. To begin with, coconut grows plentifully in major areas across the globe. In other words, barring Canada, Alaska, the mainland US, United Kingdom, and the Continent, landlocked countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, the hinterland of China, and neighbouring Japan there is no dearth of coconuts around the globe.
Its hard outer shell acts as a solid protective cover thus preventing it from decaying or rotting despite vagaries of weather, thereby prolonging its shelf life. There are innumerable tales and anecdotes of how shipwrecked sailors or stranded voyagers marooned on desolate islands managed to survive for days together on coconuts. It is too well-known that water contained within the shell is refreshing, soothing, and delicious at one go.
Coconut kernel contains a good deal of dietary fiber, which functions to break the fats, improves digestion, assists in weight reduction, boosts metabolism…
Coconut kernel contains a good deal of dietary fiber, which functions to break the fats, improves digestion, assists in weight reduction, boosts metabolism, and last but not least keeps our bodies hydrated for long durations. Tender coconut pulp is a sure-fire cure for acidity.
However, as coconuts are known to have rather high-calorie content and presence of saturated fats, people with any kind of heart ailment, kindly desist from consuming coconut products or derivatives. Do you know the fruit contains selenium (a powerful antioxidant), manganese, phosphorus vitamins C, E, and B, copper, and iron, which play key roles in various physiological processes thereby indirectly boosting general health?
Coconut reigns supreme in diverse culinary styles and schools of gastronomy.
Coconut reigns supreme in diverse culinary styles and schools of gastronomy. From Kochi to Kuala Lumpur, from Jamaica to Jamshedpur you are bound to come across an endless array of dishes containing coconut in varying quantities and forms.
Be it the patrani machhii of the Parsis or the maach paturi of the Bengalis grated coconut is the sine qua non. Prawn dishes, perennial favourites of Bongs at large, invariably contain coconut. For instance, chingri maachher malai curry employs coconut milk while the drier narkel chingri uses grated coconut. Likewise, Portuguese-influenced-Goan prawn items like Ambot tik and Prawn Caldinho use grated coconut and coconut milk, respectively. (See the connection? The Portuguese had colonies in both Bengal and Goa).
Exotic influence apart, several indigenous Bengali dishes make ample use of coconut.
Exotic influence apart, several indigenous Bengali dishes make ample use of coconut. Can anyone overlook the viscous salty-spicy-sweet (chana) chholar dal, which might taste dull and insipid minus the characteristic sautéed coconut chunks? Wait there is more. Prawn lovers must not miss out on the fabulous daab chingri i.e. prawns cooked in the juice and creamy flesh of the tender green coconut. This wonder fruit is a major player in our desserts too. Be it as filing for the delectable patishapta/pancakes or the ubiquitous naadoo/ ladoo coconut kernel is omnipresent.
A few years ago, while visiting Kuala Lumpur, I was floored by a local signature dish beef rendang which contained guess what? Grated coconut! Coming to more mundane aspects, want luxuriant cascading tresses? Use coconut oil in your hair. Heart patients again, beware.
From ropes to mats, durries, doormats, woven baskets, planters, belts for charpoys/country cots, to wall hangings and stuffing for mattresses we have a lot to thank the coconut fruit for.
The external husky cover of the coconut is a wonderful material, which goes into creating innumerable items of daily use. From ropes to mats, durries, doormats, woven baskets, planters, belts for charpoys/country cots, to wall hangings and stuffing for mattresses we have a lot to thank the coconut fruit for.
Coming to the socio-cultural-religious aspects, in Sanskrit coconut is termed Sriphhal, or fruit fit for the gods. It is classified as satvik (immaculate) because it is healthy, pure, clean, and endowed with positive traits. The coconut also symbolises the human ego. Hence a ritualistic smashing of coconut in temples signifies discarding one’s ego and approaching the divine with utmost humility.
Owing to its fertility-related connotations, coconut becomes the pivot point of traditional Hindu ceremonial weddings.
Owing to its fertility-related connotations, coconut becomes the pivot point of traditional Hindu ceremonial weddings. Placed on a water-filled pot (ghatam) the whole coconut symbolises the womb, while the nut represents a new life waiting to sprout in the near future. A subtle, oblique manner of seeking fertility and conjugal bliss for the newly-weds.
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