The Mighty Coconut
Coconut Water
Coconut water grew to mass market popularity by 2012 as a go-to sports drink and mainstream hydrator. Most coconut water on the market is harvested from trees in the Philippines and Thailand. Methods of preservation will usually depend on the choice of packaging. Fresh from the shell or frozen is as pure as it gets but most coconut water is pasteurised and/or filtered then packaged in plastic bottles, glass bottles or tetra packs for your convenience. Imported Coconut water sold in shell is usually neatly husked, dipped in a Sodium Metabisulfite solution to prevent moulding and vacuum wrapped in plastic then refrigerated to preserve and prolong freshness.
Coconut Meat/Milk
As the coconut matures, a white jelly flesh forms along side the coconut water inside the shell. The more mature the coconut, the thicker the jelly flesh or meat. Coconut meat is available frozen or dried and shredded in various sizes from thinly sliced coconut chips to a super fine snow like shred or pressed into coconut milk, an extract from the coconut meat.
Coconut Oil
There are currently three(3) main way of extracting coconut oil from coconut meat for use in the food and beauty industries. These methods of extraction fall under two main categories, Refined(expeller pressed) and Unrefined(cold pressed or centrifuge). The Refined oil is made from dried coconut meat with the use of pressurised machinery and steam to extract the oil from the coconut meat which results in a neutral oil(both in smell and taste) for cooking and baking. Cold pressed/ Virgin coconut oil is often considered raw because it is pressed or extracted from fresh coconut meat with temperatures not exceeding 103 degrees (F). This keeps the nutrients as well as the coconut aroma and flavour intact, making it useful in many traditional recipes and skincare products. Centrifuge extracted coconut oil is extracted from the coconut cream or milk and is said to be raw and unrefined as the process follows a similar temperature rule to the cold pressed/virgin variety. Although it it welcomed in cooking, it is often preferred for external use since it can be especially nourishing to the skin and hair.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is strictly educational and is not meant to treat or diagnose. Consult your local physician/medical practitioner before making any drastic changes to your diet/lifestyle.