On Food and Cooking

Middle Ages. About 20 billion nuts are
produced each year, mainly in the Philippines,
India, and Indonesia. The word coconut comes
from the Portuguese coco, which means
goblin or monkey. The markings on the stem
end of the nut can look uncannily like a face.
The tiny embryo resides under one of the
eyes, through which it grows when it sprouts.
Coconuts consist of a thick fibrous fruit
layer, the husk, within which is the seed
proper enclosed in a woody shell. The meat
and milk constitute the seed’s endosperm,
which contains enough nutrients and moisture
to support the seedling’s growth for more than
a year. The entire fruit may weight 2–5 lb/1–2
kg, of which about a quarter is meat, 15% free
water.
Coconut provides a backbone flavor in
many tropical cuisines, from southern India
and Southeast Asia to Africa and South
America. It’s often used in the form of
coconut milk, which provides a rich, flavorful