According to FAO estimates, almost a third of the world's population depends to some extent on coconuts and coconut products. Coconuts also grow in Vietnam, where they are a raw material for the food and cosmetic industries. The palms and fruits growing there do not have any particular features in terms of species or quality. Their natural habitat covers almost the entire country, with the exception of the northernmost regions. Vietnam has been exporting many healthy Coconut Products such as Fresh Young Coconut; Coconut Milk; Coconut Oil; Coconut Cream; Coconut Sugar; Soft Dried Coconut
Vietnam Coconut
According to FAO estimates, almost a third of the world's population depends to some extent on coconuts and coconut products. Coconuts also grow in Vietnam, where they are a raw material for the food and cosmetic industries. The palms and fruits growing there do not have any particular features in terms of species or quality. Their natural habitat covers almost the entire country, with the exception of the northernmost regions. Vietnam has been exporting many healthy Coconut Products such as Fresh Young Coconut; Coconut Milk; Coconut Oil; Coconut Cream; Coconut Sugar; Soft Dried Coconut
Cultivation
Approximately half of the country's territory is located in the tropical and subequatorial zones. The area under coconut palms here is approaching 150 thousand hectares. About 1 million tons of fruits are harvested annually. According to various estimates, Vietnam ranks 6th to 20th in the world in terms of coconut production. In the northern part of the country, located in the subtropical zone, coconut palms also grow, but not on an industrial scale. Recently, coconut cultivation for export has been taken up in the provinces of the central part of the country, although the climate there in the winter months is slightly cooler than in the south. However, the Mekong Delta remains the main breadbasket in this regard. In Ben Tre Province, 300 million pieces are harvested annually, followed by Cha Vinh Province. The yield there is 6,200-6,800 pieces per hectare. The harvest is harvested all year round. Ben Tre is called the capital of fresh young coconut. Fresh young coconuts here are very sweet, and old coconuts have thick flesh. Ben Tre hosts an annual Coconut Festival. It is organized to promote local coconuts on the international market.
Due to climate change, seawater during high tides has begun to flow further up the Mekong and flood part of the land. In connection with this, Ben Tre began to breed coconut varieties that are resistant to salt water. There have also been reports of the development of genetically modified coconuts in Vietnam with altered fatty acid composition characteristics. It is still unclear how true this is. But the country's authorities have been very loyal to GMO engineering in recent years.
Picking coconuts is much more difficult than many other fruits, such as bananas. The fruits are removed from the palm tree by Vietnamese pickers using a pole or by a picker who climbs to the top of the palm tree. Using a pole, one person can pick up to 1,500 fruits per day. A palm tree picker removes diseased leaves, insects and mice along the way. Trained pickers move from palm tree to palm tree at a height of 20-30 m, jumping 3-4 m between palm trees.
Here is a brief description of some types of coconuts according to the classification that can be found in Vietnam.
Green coconuts are the most common type. They contain a lot of juice that can be used for cooking. Its sweet taste gives Vietnamese dishes a unique taste.
Pineapple coconut gets its name from its pineapple aroma. It is more valuable than others because of its exceptional taste. It is more difficult to find this variety in fruit markets than others because it is in high demand.
Ripe coconut. This coconut has the thickest flesh, so it is great for making coconut milk. It takes quite a long time to grow a tree, about 4-5 years.
Export
The annual export of coconuts from Vietnam is constantly growing. They are exported to 74 countries, including countries with a hot climate, such as the Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. The main importers are North America, South Korea, Japan, France, the Netherlands and Germany.
Coconuts are a very profitable product in terms of export. This is a fruit that stays fresh for a long time, so it can withstand long-distance transportation. Vietnamese coconuts are very competitive due to their good taste.
In addition to whole fruits, frozen juice and pulp, shavings, leaves, shell products and palm products (for example, yacht models) are exported. Vietnam is the only country exporting so-called "coconut rice".
By-products of the palm are activated charcoal, coconut fiber, pulp. Furniture is made from the trunk of the palm. All this is also exported.
Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk
Another valuable product is coconut oil. It is produced from copra. This oil does not contain cholesterol, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, cancer and degenerative processes. It contains a lot of vitamin E, which promotes normal reproductive function. Coconut oil is absorbed very quickly. It has been increasingly used in cooking.
It has long been noted that coconut oil is stored for a long time, even when opened, due to its bactericidal properties. Therefore, it increases resistance to bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
For the preparation of confectionery, instead of 100 g of margarine or butter, you need to use 75 g of coconut oil.
Coconut oil is very useful for hair. It prevents the removal of protein from them, which is the main building block of hair. In addition, it can protect the hair root from the harmful effects of the environment, damage, and also reduce the damage from dyeing. Therefore, it is used in the cosmetics industry, including soap making.
Scientists from Oxford University in Britain conducted research on coconut oil in 2012 and found compounds in it known as ketones. It is believed that ketones fuel the brain. Coconut oil can improve the condition of patients with dementia, but only for a short time, according to researchers.
Sometimes coconut oil is confused with palm oil. Both are removed from palm trees. But palm trees are different: coconuts are from coconut, and palm oil is extracted from oil palm. These plants are only distant relatives. The reason why many doctors and nutritionists recommend giving up palm oil is the presence of trans fats in its composition, which are harmful to the body. However, there are no trans fats in natural palm oil. They appear as a result of processing in factories.
Coconut milk is a white sweet liquid obtained from the pulp of a ripe coconut. It is used in the preparation of quite a few dishes of Eastern cuisine. Coconut milk and coconut water (juice) are different things. Unlike coconut water (juice), which can be drunk straight from the opened fruit, coconut milk is obtained by mixing the crushed pulp of the fruit and regular water.
Coconut milk contains: 27% fat, 6% carbohydrates, 4% proteins. In addition, it contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, C.