Coconut

History and origin

The coconut, native to Southeast Asia and Polynesia, has been appreciated for millennia for its soft flesh and refreshing water. Discovered by Marco Polo in the 13th century, he nicknamed it the “Pharaoh’s nut” and brought back fascinating descriptions of it to Europe. However, it was not until the 17th century that the first specimen was presented to the French Academy, in 1674, by Charles Perrault. Today, coconut remains a symbol of exoticism and a key ingredient in many cuisines and traditions around the world.

Variety and cultivation

The coconut, fruit of the coconut palm, grows in clusters on this tree which can reach 20 m. An adult coconut tree produces 50 to 200 nuts per year, which can be harvested all year round. It thrives in sandy soil, hot and humid climate, and can fruit for a long time.

Did you know?

Coconut fiber, a by-product of the coconut, is rot-proof. For this reason, it is used in many ways: as a brush or broom, in carpets, in carpets, in horticultural substrate, padding and even fuel.