The Amazing Tree We Call, Coconut !

If I am to choose a tree we can call amazing, it will be the coconut tree which is indigenous here in the Philippines as well as other Asian Countries and those in the Pacific.

That’s because coconuts thrive in places where the soil is a bit sandy and there is an abundant amount of sun and rain. Thus, they can be found growing near the ocean and beaches.

Going back to why it is so amazing, is a fact that it is one tree where every part can be turned into a useful thing.

First , let’s go to its trunk. A young coconut tree when damaged by a typhoon can still be useful. Its young trunk can be a source of food, which we Filipinos call “ubod” , a picture of which that is from google is attached.

This “ubod” can be cooked in coconut milk , and could be made so delicious by adding some chopped chili and dried fish. Or it could be sautéed with minced pork, sliced of carrots, garlic and onions , and you have a delicious viand.

Or you can wrap that sautéed “ubod” in a spring roll wrap them fried and you have what we Filipinos call “lumpiang ubod” .

Or it could be wrapped in a special wrap made of egg cooked and flattened in a pan , then you have the lumpiang sariwa, with bits of chopped peanuts along with the sautéd “ubod”.

The trunk is also made into coconut wood or coconut lumber. Although, two months ago, there was a prohibition to cut the coconut trees and be made into woods by the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

The leaves can be made to wrap “suman” , as shown in the picture below.

And it the coconut oil is also made into cooking oil that is used for frying and sauteing foods.

The midrib of the leaves can also be made into “walis tingting” or broomstick.

The flesh of the matured coconut can be made into coconut oil or virgin coconut oil that has become so popular because of its many health benefits.

Or the flesh of it can be made into a “bukayo” a sweetened delicacy as the picture shows. Actually, this is one dessert I so love especially when its soft to eat.

The young coconut also can give a juice that is so good in cleansing our kidneys, since it really makes you urinate so well. The flesh of the coconut after the juice have been drank can be scooped and be eaten as it is. So delicious, I swear.

Its flesh can be made into bukosalad, which is a combination of some condensed milk, all purpose cream and the fruit cocktail, which can be bought in can, from stores. This is a favorite salad in particular, of my daughter. She doesn’t like those salads with mayonnaise, but buko salad, she loves it.

The husk of the coconut can be made into what we call in Tagalog as bunot or coconut husk, which is used in making the floor shiny, by rubbing and pushing the floor with it using our feet, or by our hands.

Most of all, when it is a decorative plant at the beach. Maybe you have seen a beach with coconut trees instead of the palm trees.

To those of you who have coconut trees in your country, maybe you can share what else are the other products of the coconut tree.