Coconut is one of the most sought after and versatile food sources for humans and belongs to the ranks of superfoods. Called a "superfood" because coconut offers a million health benefits. But did you know there are various types of coconuts scattered all over the world.
Without realizing it, coconut has entered the joints of human life, the proof is that we cannot cook without cooking oil, coconut meat is processed into coconut milk or processed into VCO (virgin coconut oil) which is useful in various fields, as well as future fuel raw materials.
Coconut itself comes from a plant that thrives in the tropics, which is scientifically named Cocos Nucifera. This tree belongs to the Arecaceae family, which thrives in hot and humid climates. Various types of coconuts are found in Southeast Asia, the islands of the Asia Pacific and generally the coastal countries traversed by the equator.
In general, there are two types of coconut trees, namely tall (tall) and dwarf (dwarf). Coconuts with long stems can grow as high as 15-27 meters and can bear fruit after 7-10 years. While the dwarf coconut can only grow about 4-18 meters and begins to bear fruit after 4-5 years.
Another benefit, the dwarf coconut type has a life span of about 40-50 years, while the long-trunked coconut type is about 90-100 years. Also, the long types can bear fruit through cross-pollination, while the dwarf ones can only bear fruit by self-pollination.
In addition to the two types above, there is a type of coconut which is the result of a combination of tall and dwarf, which is called hybrid coconut. Coconut hybrids generally come from mating: Tall x Dwarf (TxD) and Dwarf x Tall (DxT).
Meanwhile, based on the color of the skin and coconut husk, there are three types of coconut, namely: green coconut (Cocos nucifera veridis), red coconut (Cocos nucifera rubescens) and yellow coconut (Cocos nucifera eburens).
The following types of coconuts exist in the world:
1. Green Coconut
Green coconut, also known as young coconut, is a type of coconut that is commonly found on the streets. Green coconuts vary in size, from medium to basketball size. The green coconut that consumers like is usually when it is still young (it has little flesh) or is often called lumeho.
The trunk of the green coconut tree is relatively tall and is a coconut native to Indonesia. The coconut flesh and its water are widely used by the community, such as to make grated coconut, coconut milk, or take the water as a cooking mixture.
2. Red Coconut
If you find a coconut that is red or pink when you peel it, it is most likely red coconut. For most people, calling it the real green coconut.
Although called red coconut, the color of the outer skin can be green, brown or orange. Red coconut is believed to be more nutritious than ordinary green coconut, because it contains compounds that can neutralize toxins in the body. In terms of price, the price of red coconut is usually twice the price of ordinary green coconut.
3. Yellow Coconut
Besides green coconut, yellow coconut is also widely found in the market. This type of coconut is believed to have the ability to nourish the body so the price is almost similar to red coconut.
In terms of taste, yellow coconut water is not as delicious as green coconut water, but this coconut water can be used to wash your face to stay young. Then the coconut meat content is thicker and more abundant and the oil content is abundant.
Yellow coconut is an old coconut and can be harvested after 3 years from planting. Besides being used for its fruit, yellow coconut trees are often used as glugu, the roots of which are processed into decorations and high-yielding crafts.
4. Dwarf coconut
This coconut is a type of dwarf coconut which is generally only about 3-4 meters high, and when it is nearing the end of its productive age it is only 10 meters. Although dwarf, the tree trunk is very strong and sturdy and the size of the coconut produced is almost the same as a long trunked coconut.
Dwarf coconuts have a productivity of up to 140 fruit per tree per year at maturity.
5. Aromatic Dwarf Coconut
When we enjoy this coconut water, it tastes sweet and refreshing with a distinctive aroma of pandanus leaves, no wonder people call it fragrant pandanus coconut. This type of coconut comes from high-yielding varieties from Thailand.
In addition to the very sweet water, the flesh of the fruit is also crunchy when chewed. Besides being consumed directly, fragrant pandanus coconut is usually processed into other forms of food, in its home country it is often processed into ice cream.
Fragrant pandanus coconut is a dwarf coconut.
6. Coconut Kopyor
Kopyor coconut is a type of coconut whose flesh does not settle or blend with coconut water. This causes the amount of coconut water to decrease and the aroma produced is different from coconut in general.
This unique trait is the result of spontaneous natural mutations in chimera-like creatures. These trait changes can occur before or after fertilization. The kopyor's head can be recognized by shaking it and then a sound that resembles sand, not water.
7. King Coconut
It is called king coconut because this coconut water has a fresh sweet taste among other types of coconut. In the country of origin of Sri Lanka, this coconut is called the honey yellow coconut, but the world community calls it "King Coconut".
King coconut is usually intended for water only or similar to young coconuts from Indonesia. Although both are taken from water, coconuts are classified as dwarf coconuts with a maximum height of 10 meters.
8. Fiji Dwarf Coconut
This type of dwarf coconut comes from an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Fiji. The year-round tropical climate, moderately high humidity, and unique soil nutrients create the short-trunked coconut variety that is, perhaps, the shortest in the world.
Fiji coconut is famous not because of the sweetness of coconut water or the high productivity of one tree, but is known as one of the coconuts that has resistance to various diseases that attack it. After doing research, Fijian coconut has the highest genetic difference compared to other coconut varieties.
Enjoying Fijian coconuts is even more delicious when picked directly because our eyes will be amazed, how unique the trees and leaves that cover this coconut are.
9. Hybrid Coconut
Hybrid coconut is a type of coconut that is produced from artificial crosses with the aim of obtaining superior varieties.
The advantages of hybrid coconuts are generally fast fruiting, which is about 4-5 years, the fruit produced is quite large such as green coconuts, fruiting faster, the production rate per year is high, coconut trees are resistant to disease. pests and diseases. Here are some hybrid coconuts that have been made:
Mawa, is a hybrid coconut from a cross between the yellow dwarf coconut from Malaysia and the long coconut from West Africa. Mawa was first created in 1962 in Ivory Coast. This type of coconut bears fruit after four years of planting and is capable of producing 130-170 coconuts per year.
Camren, is a hybrid coconut from a cross between the red dwarf coconut from Cameroon and the long coconut from Rennel Island. Camren was created in Ivory Coast in 1971. This type of coconut bears fruit after four years of cultivation and produces 80-130 coconuts per year.
Matag, is a hybrid coconut from a cross between red dwarf coconut from Malaysia and long coconut tagnanan from the Philippines. Matag was created in the Philippines in 1979. This type of coconut bears fruit after five years of cultivation and one tree produces about 150 seeds per year.
Maypan, is a hybrid coconut resulting from a cross between the red/yellow dwarf coconut from Malaysia and the long coconut from Panama. Maypan was first made in Jamaica in 1974. This type of coconut bears fruit after five years of planting and in one tree can produce 122-143 seeds per year.
Maren, is a hybrid coconut from a cross between red dwarf coconut from Malaysia and long coconut from Rennel Island. Maren was first produced in the Solomon Islands in 1974. This type of coconut bears fruit after four years of planting and one tree produces about 128 seeds per year.
Waren, is a hybrid coconut from a cross between the long coconut from West Africa and the long coconut from the island of Rennel. This type of coconut was created in Ivory Coast in 1969 and one tree produces about 122 seeds per year.
Wavan, is a hybrid coconut resulting from a cross between the long coconut from West Africa and the long coconut from Vanuatu. This type of coconut bears fruit after five years and is able to produce 110 seeds in a year.