Coconut - The Tree of Life

As the tall coconut tree sways, many of us expect to see these graceful palms or look forward to an authentic pina colada. Some of us took pictures and mail the coconuts to their snowbound relatives elsewhere. In reality, however, the coconut tree, cocos nucifera, doesn't thrive in Hawaii like it does on islands closer to the equator. The tree symbolizes life itself. Niu, as the palm was called in the Polynesian language, probably originated in prehistoric times in the Indo-Malaysia-Melanesia triangle.

The tree is considered the most useful tree in the tropics because it provides everything needed to sustain life. Besides drink, food and shade, coconuts "niu" offers the possibilities of housing, thatching, hats, baskets, furniture, mats, cordage, clothing, charcoal, brooms, fans, ornaments, musical instruments, shampoo, containers, implements and oil for fuel, light, ointments, margarine, soap and more.

Coconut trees are grown in tropical countries mainly for the high oil content of the endosperm (copra), which is widely used in both food and non-food industries. Large production areas, in particular, are found along the coastal regions in the wet tropical areas of Asia in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In these countries millions of people make a living from the coconut palm and its many products.

Note: Keep posted for my next feature about "Virgin Coconut Oil and it's Wonders"