Some popular organic coconut products

Organic coconut products can be used for cooking, beauty, and health purposes. Some popular organic coconut products include: Organic coconut oil: This is a popular cooking oil that can be used for baking, frying, or as a substitute for butter. Organic coconut oil is also used in beauty products such as moisturizers, hair conditioners, and lip balms. Organic coconut sugar: This is a natural sweetener made from the sap of coconut flowers. It has a lower glycemic index compared to regular sugar and is considered to be a healthier alternative. Organic coconut milk: This is a dairy-free alternative to regular milk that is made from the flesh of coconuts. It can be used in cooking and baking, and is also a popular ingredient in smoothies and curries. Organic shredded coconut: This is dried and shredded coconut meat that can be used as a topping for desserts or as an ingredient in baking. Organic coconut water: This is a natural and refreshing drink that is rich in electrolytes and other important nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It is a popular sports drink and can also be used as a base for smoothies and other beverages. Organic coconut products are widely available in health food stores, online retailers, and some supermarkets. They are considered to be a healthier and more sustainable choice compared to conventional coconut products.

What is Coconut Sap, How to Collect and Uses

What is Coconut Sap

When we look at a coconut tree, truly, there are countless benefits of this tree for human survival, one of which is coconut sap.

The aqueous liquid obtained through a long and very dangerous process is carried out by those coconut palm farmers, although sometimes they have to sacrifice their lives.

The risk that can occur is falling while climbing coconut trees to take coconut sap. reported from page here, in Banyumas, one of the regencies in Indonesia, in 2016, the number of coconut palm sap farmers died 33 people, while injured 136 people, all of them due to falling from a coconut tree while taking sap.

Coconut sap, what is it and where did it come from

Coconut sap (Nira/Legen - Java) is coconut tree roomie, which is clear, brownish in color and is obtained by cutting bunches or coconut flowers that are not open yet, and has a very sweet taste.

How to harvest coconut sap

In the process of taking and collecting coconut sap, some equipment is needed as follows:

1. A knife or machete to cut the coconut flower.

2. Bamboo or jerry cans that have been perforated rather large, as a container to accommodate roomie

3. Tools for carrying bamboo when climbing coconut trees.

4. Rope, to tie bamboo

6. Water lime / mangosteen skin / pieces of jackfruit wood used as a preservative coconut sap.

After all the equipment is complete, the farmer will first put lime water which functions as a preservative for the sap into bamboo which is used as a storage for roomie.

Furthermore, coconut sap farmers will climb coconut trees, this process is carried out in the morning.

On top of the tree, farmers will do the pruning process at the tip of the coconut flower, the coconut flower has an outer skin which must be sliced ​​and removed first, before pruning the coconut flower.

Furthermore, the process of trimming coconut flowers, this process must be done very carefully, the wrong pruning will cause the sap will not come out or even not come out at all.

Pruning coconut flowers is trimmed with a distance of 10 cm from the tip of the flower, when the new coconut flower is pruned for the first time, it will not immediately produce sap, this pruning process must be repeated for 2 - 3 days in the morning and evening, and during that time the coconut flower must be trimmed with a distance of about 0.5 cm.

After the sap comes out smoothly, farmer will climb a coconut tree in the morning to prune coconut flowers and install bamboo as a container for the sap, and will climb the coconut tree again in the afternoon to take coconut sap and lowered for further processing.

Trimming coconut flowers to take roomie can be done until the base of the coconut flower runs out.

Uses of coconut sap.

Coconut juice is a brownish clear liquid that has a very sweet taste, because it can be drunk directly to simply eliminate thirst, but the sap from coconut trees has many other benefits if it has been further processed, including:

1. Coconut sugar

Coconut sugar is one of the processed products further from coconut juice, here in after known as coconut sugar, or brown sugar, because it has a reddish color that tends to be dark, coconut sugar is one of the ingredients of drinks and as a food flavoring, for dishes that do not use coconut sugar as a complement to seasoning, the taste of the cuisine will be less tasty.

Coconut sap is harvested and made of coconut sugar, is the largest percentage of the processing of coconut sap.

2. Sour vinegar from coconut sap

Vinegar is a food that is often consumed, and coconut sap can be made into vinegar, to make vinegar, it needs basic ingredients that have a sweet taste.

The making process of vinegar from coconut sap through a fermentation process, which will use a starter from bacteria.

3. Alcohol

Coconut sap can be served as a fresh drink that is very sweet, but its high sugar content in the sap, making bacteria very happy and very fast in the process of fermentation of the coconut sap, therefore, in the process of tapping, lime water is given to the bamboo where the sap is collected , so that roomie does not change because of the fermentation process that is very fast.

For the process of making alcohol from coconut sap, roomie after harvesting, if not given preservatives, within two hours it has been turned into aromatic alcohol with a 4% alcohol, still tastes sweet but can be intoxicating. Coconut palm sap fermentation that occurs longer, will result in higher alcohol, and makes the roomie change color to milky white and change its taste to become sour and sour.

In my country, drinking alcohol from the fermentation of coconut juice is called "Tuak". and this drink in several tribes, always served in celebrations and cultural activities.

Coconut sap, from the complexity of the process of collecting and harvesting from coconut trees, and the high level of risk for coconut palm juice farmers, the benefits and uses for human life are truly felt.

thanks for reading

Difference Between Kopyor Coconut (Macapuno tree) VS Coconut Tree

Macapuno or Kopyor Coconut

Difference between kopyor coconut (macapuno tree) vc coconut tree - First time I want to explain that Kopyor  Coconut (Indonesia), Macapuno (Philippine), is one of the same type, only different names because of different countries, and further, if I call the Kopyor coconut it's the same as Macapuno.

Kopyor Coconut is very different from ordinary coconut. This coconut is an abnormal fruit. in ordinary coconut, the meat sticks to the shell apart from coconut water. The flesh is not attached to the coconut shell. when shaken, the sound it produces is very distinctive, unlike ordinary coconut.

Difference between Kopyor coconut or macapuno tree and coconut tree

Kopyor coconut and coconut trees are 100% the same structure and shape, have the same scientific name, the difference is only in fruits that have different meat characteristic and shapes caused by many factors, one of which is genetic.

Fruit in kopyor Coconut (macapuno) and ordinary coconut have a very significant difference. Starting from the differences in the physical fruit, to the difference in economic value. Regarding the difference between kopyor coconut with ordinary coconut from its physical indeed requires special abilities.

The way to differentiate coconut kopyor from coconut is usually done at harvest time, when the fruit is not too young and not too old, because the kopyor coconut will take its flesh and water, and the best time to taste meat and water is in the condition of the fruit not too young and not too old.

This differentiation process will apply to coconut trees where the percentage of kopyor coconuts is not 100%, meaning that in one coconut bunch not all of them produce kopyor coconuts, kopyor coconuts will be harvest and sold, while ordinary coconuts will be left to age and made into kopyor coconut seeds.

Coconut becomes macapuno/kopyor because meat is not attached to the shell, cellulose (raw fiber) from kopyor coconut meat is also not formed. Until the kopyor coconut texture remains soft and tender. Therefore, many people think that Kopyor coconut is a young coconut. Though kopyor coconut is actually picked after the age is ripe but not old yet. All types of coconuts, tall type and dwarf type, can also be kopyor coconut, the only difference is the percentage of how coconut can be a kopyor in a bunch.

The ability to recognize kopyor coconut or not is not easy. It takes practice and hands-on practice to be able to distinguish coconut kopyor from ordinary coconut when it is still in the form of fruit complete with it’s husk and shell , and the fruit is still in a tree. On this occasion we will review the differences between kopyor coconut and ordinary coconut.

Difference between Kopyor coconut (Macapuno) tree VS coconut tree :

1. Different Knocking Sounds from nut fruit

Kopyor coconut when tapped with a finger and a certain rhythm will make a sound. Likewise with ordinary coconuts when knocked will also make a sound. It's just that the sound produced by coconut kopyor and the sound produced by ordinary coconut is very different.

The sound produced by kopyor coconut when tapped with a certain rhythm produces a softer sound than ordinary old coconut which is usually louder and sounds louder.

2. Different Sounds of Water Shocks

Another way to differentiate kopyor coconut from ordinary coconut is to shake it. When kopyor coconut is shaken, the water inside the coconut will emerge a clear and soft sound, this is due to the mixing of water with kopyor coconut meat. Whereas if the coconut is shaken, it will cause loud water noises, this is because the water crashes into coconut meat.

3. Different meat shapes and textures

If you want to clearly differentiate between kopyor coconut and ordinary old coconut, it is by splitting the coconut. When it is cut, it will show a clear difference in the meat kopyor coconut meat will fall out and be separated from the shell. Unlike ordinary coconuts that stick, thick and hard on the shell.

4. Difference in terms of price

There is no doubt about this difference. The price of kopyor coconut is much higher than the price of ordinary coconut. Kopyor coconut prices reach 10x the price of ordinary coconuts.

Those are some differences between kopyor coconut/Macapuno tree vs coconut tree. Hopefully this review about the difference between kopyor coconut and ordinary coconut can clarify your knowledge and answer your curiosity about both tree.

Embryo Culture Kopyor Coconuts 100% in one Coconut Bunch

Kopyor coconuts 100% in one coconut bunch

Kopyor coconuts 100% in one coconut bunch - One variant of coconut is kopyor coconut, has many names in various countries, called macapuno in the Philippines, kopyor in Indonesia and Malaysia, and coconut sport in the US.

Kopyor coconut is often also referred to as a failed coconut, because in one bunch of coconut which usually contains 5-10 nuts, there will be around 2-3 nuts which fail to form coconut meat.

Although it is called a failed nut, this type of coconut turns out to have a high demand, because its texture and taste are very unique. Kopyor coconut or macapuno, much in demand, especially for the food and beverage industry.

Kopyor coconut has meat which texture separate from shell, with a savory and sweet taste almost like young coconut meat but crisp, the water content in Kopyor coconut is less when compared to normal coconut, but has a sweeter and fresher taste.

Quoting from https://www.sciencedirect.com, The chief constituent of kopyor water was sucrose (about 92% of the total sugar); in contrast, the young or normal-mature nut water contained glucose and fructose as the main sugars. α-Tocopherol was detectable in the kopyor water. Total amino acid content of kopyor water was higher than that of the young or normal-mature water. Like the young or normal-mature nut water, kopyor water seemed to be a good source of dietary minerals, with potassium as the predominant one.
The relatively high contents of sucrose, glucose, fructose, citric and malic acids might contribute to the deliciousness of kopyor meat. The lipid content of kopyor meat was lower than that of the normal-mature meat, but fatty acid profiles were similar.

To meet the increasing market demand for Kopyor coconut, the steps that must be done is to plant. Here was the problem of  kopyor coconut seeds, for nut seeds derived from coconuts, only able to produce 25% kopyor coconuts in one coconut bunch.

To be able to produce 100% kopyor coconut in one bunch, the way is to do embryo culture techniques that can only be done in the laboratory.

Kopyor coconut seed embrio culture

Embryo culture is done by taking shoots on kopyor coconuts, in this way, we can be sure that when planted and already harvested, 100% of kopyor coconuts will be obtained in one bunch.

Kopyor coconut seed

Kopyor coconut seedlings produced by embryo culture have very high prices in my country, maybe because of its complicated process and guaranteed quality of all 100% kopyor seeds, for 1 kopyor coconut seeds produced from embryo culture are sold at Rp. 1,000,000 - Rp. 1,250,000, this price is very far compared to the usual coconut seeds or hybrids that are sold at Rp. 35,000 - Rp. 50,000 only.


Kopyor coconut seedlings from embryo culture have the characteristic absence of coconuts as a reserve of nutrients to grow.

How to Grow Dwarf Orange Coconut

Having a dwarf orange coconut tree in front of the house will certainly give you a cool and beautiful rural sensation. The added value offered by dwarf orange coconut cannot grow tall like an ordinary coconut tree, only reaching 2-4 meters, so it will not interfere if planted in front of your house.

If your home yard is large enough, then planting dwarf orange coconut trees is highly recommended, other than as an ornamental plant, this plant can be fruitful and very beneficial for health.

Dwarf orange coconut will grow well if planted in the lowlands and temperature, with temperatures between 25-35 C. This plant is very resistant to heat, so the water needs are not too much. You only need to water it once a day.

Tips for Planting dwarf orange coconut Trees in front of the house

Dwarf orange coconut plants can be planted directly or using pots, depending on the location of planting available.

Plant directly or in pots

This is a minimalist garden model that might be applicable. By way of surrounding the tree with a cement circle will be able to limit the root space, so that it will be more neatly arranged.

If you want to use a pot, use a 60 cm diameter pot. The disadvantage is the lack of pot strength, if the pot is broken it will be more difficult to handle, need extra energy,

In addition, you can also plant it directly in the ground, then plant grass around an coconut tree, and spread it evenly throughout your garden to make it more beautiful.

Watering 1-2 times a day, and cleaning the area around the plant or stem regularly is very important so that the dwarf orange coconut tree can grow optimally.

Making dwarf orange coconut Bonsai

Bonsai dwarf orange coconut is also in great demand by many people, because it has a high aesthetic value. In addition, by making a bonsai from coconut tree the more economical value and also can bear fruit.

Making dwarf orange coconut bonsai is quite easy, namely by slicing dwarf orange coconut fruit on the front, peel all the skin first but must be careful so that the incision does not penetrate into the coconut shell.

Fruit that has been cut can be directly planted in a pot. The media used are soil, manure and charcoal husks, with a ratio of 1: 1: 1

Because in the growing period of coconut bonsai requires a lot of nutrients so that the compost and charcoal husks are needed so that the nutrients in the soil are met.

Perform regular cuts, every three days to trigger the growth of new shoots, but must be careful so that the shoots are not affected by the incision. Use a sharp knife to make cuts.

Kopyor Coconut or Macapuno, and it taste

Kopyor Coconut  - Maybe this is my lucky day, when I visited my friend's house, he actually said that he had a coconut tree that was different from coconut trees in general, his coconut trees often produced kopyor coconuts.

I was lucky because he want to get it directly from the tree, and he climbed a coconut tree and took one coconut, yes, only one, coconut kopyor is a coconut that has an abnormality in coconut flesh and coconut water.

Coconut trees that often produce kopyor coconuts are almost 15 years old, planted behind his house and very close to fish ponds, the history of this tree when it was planted, also came from the parent which produced kopyor coconut, had also thought to breed This coconut is to be able to have a coconut tree that produces kopyor coconut too, but there are several assumptions that make doubt, which one is whether kopyor coconut can be cultivated from kopyor coconut.

About Kopyor Coconut

Kopyor coconut is very famous in the world, especially with the name Macapuno, the name Macapuno comes from Philippines, in several countries in Asia with a high population of coconut trees, also has their respective names in each country, such as dong kathi in Cambodia, thairu tengai in India, kopyor in Indonesia and Malaysia, niuk scratching in Papua New Guinea, pia in Polynesia, dikiri pol in Sri Lanka, maprao kathi (Thai: กะทิ) in Thailand, and dừa sáp ('wax coconut') in Vietnam quoted from the page en.wikipedia.org.

The name Kopyor Coconut is taken from the vocabulary in Javanese, kopyor means inappropriate, incomplete, damaged, or half.

Although in several regions in Indonesia also have other names, but the name of Kopyor Coconut is the most famous for the name of the coconut fruit that has this disorder.

Kopyor Coconut in general has the same shape as other coconuts, which distinguishes only the flesh of the coconut fruit has a different texture and taste. The old kopyor coconut, coconut water can be very little or even none, kopyor coconut has an uneven texture of meat, has a soft texture like ice cream, just by using a spoon, we can easily take kopyor coconut meat. Flavors produced from coconut kopyor tend to be sweet and savory.

Because kopyor coconut is very rarely found and has a high demand, the price for one kopyor coconut can be 4-5 higher than the price of ordinary coconut, the high economic value of kopyor coconut is what then makes many parties think about how to cultivate kopyor coconut .

Kopyor Coconut Cultivation.

Quoted from the page litbang.pertanian.go.idlitbang.pertanian.go.id, Kopyor Coconut Plant is divided into two types, namely the Inner type and the early type. Each has different characteristics.

In the Type Kopyor coconut has the characteristics of large stems, have a ball at the base of the stem, start flowering at the age of 5-7 years, the size of the fruit is quite large but few in number, and has a high genetic diversity because the flowers cross pollinate so that the chances of meeting the recessive genes in female flowers and pollen are relatively small. Naturally, kopyor coconut plants in type only produce 1-2 kopyor coconuts per bunch.

Whereas the early Kopyor Coconut has a smaller stem than the Inner type, does not have a ball at the base of the stem, starts to produce fruit at the age of 3-4 years, the fruit is smaller in size but a lot. Kopyor coconut types of early maturing produce kopyor fruits per bunch more than Inner types, sometimes it can reach 50%, this is due to early types of coconuts including self-pollinating plants so that the chances of recessive genes meeting on female flowers and pollen are greater.

In kopyor coconut cultivation can be done in two ways.

First, the conventional way, using seeds derived from bunches that produce kopyor fruit. Plants that are propagated this way if they have produced only produce 1-2 grains / bunches.

Second, in vitro method, which is to grow embryos from kopyor fruit on artificial growth media in the laboratory under aseptic conditions. Plants produced in this way will produce 90% to 100% kopyor coconuts.

Due to the nature of the flowering characteristics of the coconut plants cross-pollinating, kopyor coconut seedlings. In the results of in vitro techniques must be planted in an isolated area from ordinary coconut trees. The tolerable distance is 400 meter. Conversely, because of the nature of self-pollination, early Kopyor coconut seedlings can be planted in areas that are not isolated too tightly like the Inner type.

Types of Kopyor Coconut.

In general, Kopyor coconut has the same characteristics as normal coconut, as already mentioned above, but from the results of the study, at least there are already superior varieties of Kopyor coconut that have been released by official agricultural institutions in my country, namely:

1. Dwarf Brown Kopyor Coconut ( Kelapa kopyor Cokelat genjah )

2. Dwarf Green Kopyor Coconut.( Kelapa Kopyor Hijau Genjah )

3. dwarf Yellow Kopyor Coconut. ( Kelapa Kopyor Kuning genjah )

Conclusion.

kopyor coconut is one of the abnormalities in coconuts, with unique characteristics and flavors causing this type of coconut has many enthusiasts, especially for consumption, either as food or drinks, with the development of technology in agriculture, it is not difficult to get superior seeds of kopyor coconut which of course is very helpful in cultivation in order to get more benefits, especially in economic terms.

Below, I attach a video which i am documented about kopyor coconut, which I shared a little above.

How to Make Desiccated Coconut

Desiccated Coconut Source : Ramesia.com

About Desiccated Coconut

Desiccated coconut is often used as a cake ingredient to add flavor and texture. Some cakes that often use dried coconut are cupcakes, pastries, cakes and macaroons.

If you only use coconut without baking, the cake will be chewy, while if roasted, it will feel crispy when eaten. In addition, roasted coconuts have a rich, aromatic flavor first.

Desiccated coconut is a material with low water content (maximum 3%) so it can be stored for a long time. The practical benefits of desiccated coconut can be added to water, then pressed to get coconut milk that is used for cooking.

Besides, this dried grated coconut is grinded until smooth into coconut flour. How to make desiccated coconut is not too complicated, and can be done easily in your kitchen.

Coconut flour is used as a material for making bread and cakes. Before use, dried grated coconut is moistened with water, then squeezed to remove the coconut milk.

Although shredded coconut has not been widely circulated in the market, it is estimated that in the future, especially in urban areas, shredded coconut is increasingly in demand by people to make some food because it is more practical than fresh coconut which must be shredded first.

Common Ways to Make Dry Grated Coconut

Ingredients: Coconut

Equipment:
Scrapper, To separate the coconut meat with shell
knife, to separate the outer layer of brown coconut meat
Grated coconut machine, to grate
Dryer, to remove the water content in grated coconut

Making process

1. Stripping Shell, try not to break the flesh of nut. To facilitate stripping, coconuts can be preheated using hot steam for 30-40 minutes.
2. Stripping the skin of the flesh of the fruit until the outside of the flesh becomes pure white without leaving the skin of the flesh.
The pulp is cut, then washed clean and after that the flesh is drained.
Pieces of fruit flesh are dipped in hot water (80 ~ 100C) for 5-8 minutes to kill microbes, kill the enzymes that cause the grated coconut to turn brown and soften the fruit flesh tissue.
3. Grated flesh using a machine to get grated like a fine ribbon, or machine to get grated granules.
4. Grated coconut is dried to reduce the water content to a maximum of 3%. one way is to roast, there are two ways, namely,

Roasted using a stove

Put some grated coconut in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat while continuing to stir until the coconut is golden brown. If the coconut you use tends to be sweet, it will turn brownish faster so it only takes less time.

Using the oven

Preheat the oven to 160 C. Spread the grated coconut on a baking sheet with a thin layer then bake it in the oven. Grated coconut will brown very quickly, only taking about 5-10 minutes. After a few minutes, stir the coconut so that the colours are evenly obtained. Remember, sweet grated coconut only takes a short time because the sugar content accelerates the roasting process.
5. Dried shredded coconut must be airtight and not contain moisture. Packaging that can be used is polyethylene plastic bags, aluminium-coated plastic bags, semi-rigid plastic boxes, glass bottles, and tin boxes. Highly recommended to be put into the package nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas so that the dried coconut that has been packaged has a longer shelf life.

Tip: If the coconut you use is not sweet and wants to make it a little sweeter, then put half a kilogram of unsweetened grated coconut in a plastic bag or container with a lid and add 2 tablespoons of refined sugar. Rattles of plastic bags and grated coconut will taste sweet.

Well, that’s how to make desiccated coconut, it’s very easy and you can try to make in your kitchen, good luck

Interesting Reasons to Grow Coconut

Dwarf Coconut Tree

Coconut - cocos nucifera, a plant that is included in the category of areca nut, can grow very well in coastal areas and lowlands, with a height that can reach 30 meters and a lifespan that can reach 100 years, coconut is very suitable if dubbed the tree of life.

Almost all parts of this tree can be used to meet the needs of human life, from root to tip of leaves, the most important benefits of this plant are the fruit, more specifically, the flesh of the fruit, is used for a variety of recipes for drinks, cooking, health, to cosmetics, etc.


With so many coconut trees that can easily be found, of course there are benefits that can be taken if we want to plant them, there are a number of reasons why people used to have planted coconut before us, and of course it is very profitable, because of the coconut that we currently have consumption, possibly planted by parents, and even our grandfather.

5 Reasons Growing coconut is profitable

1 Versatile

Coconut trees including kopyor coconut from the bottom (roots) to the top (leaves) all have benefits. The root can be made as cocopit fertilizer, used as a health herbal drink, the stem can be used for construction, the leaves can be used as a broom stick, the shell can be used for handicrafts and coconut shell charcoal materials and the fruit can be used for consumption and delicious food raw materials.

2 Stable Prices

The price of coconut fruit tends to be stable considering that it has a high endurance. Coconut is not easy to be played by middlemen because farmers can hold it in when prices fall. Especially on the island of Java, coconut prices tend to be stable and even tend to rise at certain moments such as fasting, Eid, Eid al-Adha, the end of the year and the beginning of the year.

3 Easy Ways of Cultivation

Coconut plants are easily cultivated in various fields. It is easy to adapt in both wet and dry land. It's just that coconut trees are very good growing in low-lying or coastal areas with an altitude of 500 meters above sea level (above sea level). All that remains is to prepare fertile land or growing media, quality coconut seeds and fertilizing them regularly.

4 Cheap maintenance.

Trees of coconut trees are inexpensive. In fact, it can be at no cost. The most important thing is adequate water intake. And it's free especially in the rainy season. After planting coconut seeds you do not have to pay a high cost to buy this chemical fertilizer. With organic fertilizer utilizing the goods around you are already cost effective.

5. Long-term Investment

The cultivation of superior coconut plants such as kopyor coconut, early matured coconut, wulung coconut, hybrid coconut and fragrant pandanus coconut are long-term investments. You can reap the results after the next four years. However, coconut plants can last until their thirties. He can bear fruit for years. And even your children and grandchildren will most likely enjoy the results of your efforts that you have planted today.

Saving words, coconut cultivation provides added value for the survival of you, your family, and even your environment.

Benefit of coconut sap

Coconut Flower

Indonesia is a tropical country, with the world's number two longest coastline, no wonder coconut trees are also very much found in this country.

Coconut has become a part of life that cannot be separated by the Indonesian people, almost every day, various foods cooked at home will definitely use coconut.

In the previous article, I made a posts about how to make coconut sugar, there I am review detailed step by step about how to make coconut sugar from the beginning to completion.

Coconut sugar in my place is referred to as “Gula jawa” Javanese sugar or brown sugar, although the appearance of the color tends to be brown, but the name is indeed the most popular.

Introduction to coconut sap

Coconut sugar is made with the basic ingredients of coconut sap, which is taken from the stem of coconut flowers that have not yet bloomed.

Besides being made into coconut sugar, coconut sap can also be directly consumed, or processed into other products.

Around coconut sap

Coconut sap is a clear liquid that comes out of a coconut flower whose buds have not opened, this liquid is the main material for making coconut sugar.

Coconut sugar is often called "Nira" or "legen" in Javanese. Terms derived from the word "legi" which means sweet. In other countries it might be called almost the same namely "Neera".

In a fresh state, coconut sap feels sweet, has a distinctive smell and colourless.

The process of extracting coconut sap is by cutting the base stem of the coconut flower, and the stem of the coconut flower that has been cut will then be put into pieces of bamboo or jerry cans, to collect coconut sap, this process is called tapping.

Tapping process is usually carried out in the morning and evening, because that's when coconut produces a lot of sap.

Why coconut sap is quickly fermented

Coconut sap has a very high content of nutrients or nutrients, potentially very popular and revives microbes in the form of fungi or bacteria around it.

During the tapping process, after the coconut sap drips and comes out of the flower bunches, the sap is directly related to free air.

Like other living things, microbes in the form of fungi will quickly multiply if their life needs are met, namely in the form of adequate food from coconut sap, Air / Oxygen (O2), the appropriate temperature, and the absence of inhibiting growth and development factors, the fungus will can remodel the sugar content of the fresh coconut sap into fermented juice by getting faster and causing the coconut sap to become increasingly sour or bitter or aromatic with alcohol.

I quote from a book written by Child and published in 1974, it can be concluded that coconut sap is a very nutritious food because it has a water content of 75 - 90%, total solids of 15 -19.7% which includes sucrose levels of 12.3 -17.4%, reducing sugar 0.5 -1%, protein 0.23 - 0.32% and ash 0.11 - 0.41%.

Another book reference is written by Gautara and Wijandi (1972) stating that fresh coconut sap contains sugar as much as 14-15%, 8-21% of which is sucrose.

Therefore Nira is very favored by all kinds of bacteria / microbes / microorganisms that cause damage and changes in the properties of the sap.

The speed of fermentation that occurs in coconut sap, will cause the quality of sap for this sugar to decrease, because some sugar is overhauled by enzymes produced from the fermentation process to acid and alcohol.

This process causes the coconut sap to become sour (sour) and slightly bitter. The longer this fermentation process occurs, the more acidic substances are formed, the more there is a change in sugar, which means less sugar.

Coconut sap contains several nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals. Sweet taste for sap due to its carbohydrate content reaching 11.28%.

This coconut sap is easily fermented because it contains wild yeast that is very active. If the Nira is cooked late, usually the colour of the sap changes to cloudy and yellowish brass, it feels sour, and it smells pungent.

This is due to a breakdown of sucrose into reducing sugars because of the presence of microorganisms in the coconut sap that undergoes fermentation.

Benefits of coconut sap consumed fresh.

So, at least there is 10 benefit if we want to consume coconut sap in fresh condition, here they are :

1. Overcoming constipation
The main trigger that causes a loss of a lot of fiber in food consumed daily. Fiber is needed by the body, herbal medicine has benefits to overcome constipation. Constipation can be resolved quickly and safely.

2. Reducing fever
This drink is very beneficial for adult children. Fever can occur due to a reduced immune system in the body. If you reduce a very high fever you can consume this drink because it can reduce high fever.

3. Maintaining bone health
This drink is beneficial for maintaining bone health. Bones really need vitamins to require density. Increasing age is getting higher. By drinking this drink not only for health, it also needs to support bone safety.

4. Launch breast milk
This drink is also very good to help in consumption by mothers who are consuming because the content contained in this drink that is very high is useful to prevent expenditure or oxidize nutrients that are needed to produce breast milk. If oxidation occurs, breast milk production in the mother will decrease so that the quality of breast milk will also decrease.

5. Refreshes the body
Efficacy of water sap that speaks well is that it can talk about the body. As agreed with the body's agreement, this drink is discussed once more about being drunk during the day. To add freshness, you can add ice cubes.

6. Fattening the body
If previously a lot has been sought by someone to carry out the body. But not for people who have less weight who usually look for ways to gain weight. Nira is a drink that also has the property of gaining weight or fattening the body.

7. Overcome abdominal pain
Usually the usual factors make stomach pain too late to eat, eat wrong or also because your stomach is too sensitive. Although this seems trivial, the pain that is felt cannot be ignored. To overcome this, coconut sap has benefits that are useful for treating stomach aches.

8. Warm the body
It's not just to refresh the body of the benefits of this coconut sap. You can also drink this to warm up your body temperature. In addition, if you get a virus, coconut sap can also fight viruses that have been infected in your body.

9. Prevent osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that has occurred due to increasing age where bones need more vitamins to maintain bone density. Therefore, you can drink this juice to prevent Osteoporosis in your bones.

10. Smooth the digestive system
The digestive organ is one of the organs that we must guard to prevent diseases such as intestinal inflammation and others. Coconut sap is a drink that has benefits and efficacy to facilitate the digestive system which can maintain good health in the body.

Processing of coconut sap

Besides being consumed in fresh condition, coconut sap can also be processed into other products, including:

1. Coconut sugar.
Coconut sugar is the most popular product for coconut sap, sugar is a beverage, mixture and seasoning, very multi-functional

2. Alcoholic drinks.
As discussed above, the sap is fermented very quickly, therefore there are also alcoholic drinks from this coconut sap, in my area, this alcoholic drink is called tuak, but, even though this drink is alcoholic, it is still useful for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, for I will discuss this in another paper.

3. Vinegar
This is a product that is now rarely produced, because it is difficult to compete with factory product vinegar. Although vinegar produced from coconut sap is more natural, but there is not much public interest in vinegar.

Conclusion

Coconut is a plant that has many benefits, and some even call this tree a tree of life, because indeed from the roots to the tips of the leaves all can be used to meet human needs, one of which is coconut sap, thanks for reading, hopefully useful.