How Long Can Coconuts Be Stored? And the Seven Major Differences from Betel Nuts!
The coconut is a tropical fruit, mainly produced in China in the southern islands of Guangdong, the Leizhou Peninsula, Hainan, Taiwan, and the tropical regions of southern Yunnan. Its coconut meat is fragrant, smooth, and crisp, and its coconut water is cool and sweet, suitable for both young and old. So, how long can coconuts be stored?
1. A brief introduction to coconuts!
1. How many years does it take for a coconut to bear fruit?
Coconuts are mainly divided into two types: tall and dwarf. Tall coconuts are commercial coconuts with a high oil content; they generally begin to bear fruit after 7-8 years and have an economic life of 70-80 years. Dwarf coconuts are mainly used as fruit, as hybrid parents, and for ornamental purposes; they generally begin to bear fruit after 3-4 years and have an economic life of 30-40 years.
2. How many times a year does a coconut bear fruit?
Coconuts flower and drop their flowers throughout the four seasons, and the fruit is continuous. A single tree can simultaneously have flowers, young fruit, tender fruit, and old fruit, with autumn being the peak harvest season. There are three kinds: green coconuts, yellow coconuts, and red coconuts.
2. How long can coconuts be stored?
1. Green-skinned tender coconut
The green-skinned tender coconut is characterized by having more juice, a relatively thick skin, and softer meat. After being picked from the tree, it can only be stored for about 10 to 12 days.
2. Green-skinned old coconut
The green-skinned old coconut is characterized by having a little less juice than the tender coconut, being able to be shaken, and having thick meat. After being picked from the tree, it can be stored for about 15-20 days.
3. Peeled tender coconut
The peeled tender coconut is characterized by a relatively white appearance. It is generally bleached and soaked with chemical agents, and with preservatives added, it can be stored for about 8-10 days.
4. Peeled old coconut
Peeled old coconuts can be divided into multiple varieties according to their degree of age. There are certain differences in shelf life among different varieties, but the most conventional ones can be stored for 20-30 days.
5. King coconut
King coconut has been artificially peeled and processed and can be stored for about 15-30 days. Some look very nice on the outside, but the coconut meat may already be rotten.
6. Opened coconut
An opened coconut should be consumed in the shortest possible time, otherwise the taste will change.
3. What are the differences between coconuts and betel nuts?
Difference 1, different plants: The coconut is the fruit of the coconut tree, a tree plant in the palm family, genus Cocos. The plant is 15-30 m tall, with a stout stem, ring-like leaf scars, and line-shaped lanceolate leaves. The betel nut is the fruit of the betel nut tree, an evergreen tree plant in the palm family, genus Areca. The plant is more than 10 m tall and can reach up to 30 m at most, with an upright stem, obvious ring-like leaf scars, and narrow lanceolate leaves.
Difference 2, different places of origin: The coconut originated in southeastern Asia, from Indonesia to the Pacific Islands, and is cultivated in the southern islands of Guangdong, the Leizhou Peninsula, Hainan, Taiwan, and the tropical regions of southern Yunnan in China. The betel nut originated in Malaysia and is cultivated in tropical regions such as Yunnan, Hainan, and Taiwan in China.
Difference 3, different fruits: The coconut is about 15-25 cm long, oval-spherical or nearly spherical in shape, and green, orange, or brown-red in color, with a thin exocarp, a thick fibrous mesocarp, and a hard woody endocarp. The betel nut is 3-5 cm long, oblong or oval-spherical in shape, and green or orange-yellow in color, with a thick fibrous mesocarp.
Difference 4, different tastes: Inside the coconut meat there are coconut water and coconut meat. The coconut water is clear as water and sweet as honey, making it an excellent refreshing and thirst-quenching product, and the coconut meat is fragrant, smooth, and crisp. Betel nut is generally put in the mouth and chewed; when first put in the mouth it has a cool taste, and after the coolness passes there is a faint bitter taste.
Difference 5, different ways of eating: Coconut can be drunk directly for the coconut water inside, and the coconut meat can be eaten raw, or pressed for oil, used in dishes, and made into desiccated coconut, shredded coconut, canned coconut jam, coconut candy, etc. Betel nut is generally made into a chewing food and eaten directly by chewing.
Difference 6, different effects: Coconut meat has the effects of tonifying deficiency and strengthening the body, benefiting qi and dispelling wind, and eliminating malnutrition and killing worms. Coconut water has the effects of nourishing and clearing summer heat and quenching thirst. Coconut shell oil treats ringworm and treats syphilitic sores. Betel nut has the effects of killing worms, breaking accumulations, directing qi downward and resolving stagnation, and moving water and transforming dampness. It was once used to treat parasitic infections such as tapeworm, hookworm, roundworm, pinworm, and fasciolopsis.
Difference 7, different economic values: The roots of the coconut can be used as medicine, the leaves can be used to cover roofs or woven, the coconut trunk can be used as building material, the coconut shell can be made into handicrafts and high-grade activated carbon, and coconut fiber can be made into brushes, carpets, cables, etc. The coconut meat and coconut water can be eaten, and the coconut meat can also be pressed for oil. Betel nut can be used as a Chinese medicinal material and can also be made into a chewing product.
Coconuts can generally be stored for more than 10 days. If they have already been opened, it is best to drink them within two hours. If you want to store them longer, you can keep them fresh or refrigerate them in the refrigerator. Coconuts and betel nuts look similar. The above seven differences can help everyone distinguish between them.