The first documentary record on coconuts on the mainland is from the Western Han Dynasty literary scholar Sima Xiangru's Shanglin Fu, which has a description of the Shanglin Garden built by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "Sha Tang Oak Oak, Hua Feng Maple, Liu Luo Xu Evil, Ren Pin and Lu Lu, Tan Tan Mulan, Yu Zhang Female Virgin." The "evil" refers to the coconut tree.
Coconut is a typical tropical fruit, is a famous specialty of the mainland Hainan Province, coconut tree is known as the "tree of life" and "treasure tree", its coconut water can be said to be a pure natural drink, cool, slightly sweet, crystal clear, has the effect of quenching thirst and diuresis, is an excellent summer thirst quenching products. The coconut meat has an aromatic smell, the color is like cream paste, the touch is smooth, the entrance is crisp and fragrant, and it can be eaten directly while making dishes, preserves or various snacks.
Origin
There are many theories about the origin of coconuts, some say they are produced in South America, some say they are in tropical islands in Asia, but most believe that they originated in the Malay Archipelago. It is now widely distributed in tropical coastal and inland areas of Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. It is mainly distributed at about 20° north and south latitude, especially in the equatorial coastal area. Secondly, there is also a large area distribution in the range of 20° to 23.5° north and south latitude. Coconuts have been cultivated in the mainland for more than 2,000 years, and are now mainly concentrated in various parts of Hainan, southern Taiwan, Guangdong Leizhou Peninsula, Yunnan Xishuangbanna, Dehong, Baoshan, Hekou and other places also have a small number of distributions.
variety
Coconuts are divided into high-variety coconuts and dwarf coconuts, of which high-variety coconuts are currently the most abundant commercial coconuts grown in the world.
The high-species coconut plant is 15 m to 30 m tall, the base is expanded, the plant is pollinated, and it begins to bear fruit in 7 to 8 years, with high oil content and an economic lifespan of up to 70 to 80 years.
Dwarf coconuts are divided into three categories according to fruit and leaf color: red dwarf, yellow dwarf and green dwarf. The plant is only 5 meters to 15 meters tall, pollinated from the flower, and began to bear fruit in 3 to 4 years, the fruit is small and numerous, the coconut meat is thin and soft, and the oil content is low. The economic life expectancy is 30 to 40 years. It is mainly used for fruits, hybrid parents and ornamental purposes.
Growing environment
Coconuts are tropical light-loving crops that grow well in conditions of high temperatures, rain, sunshine and sea breeze. Coconuts are suitable for growing at low altitudes, and Hainan Island on the mainland can grow well at altitudes below 150 to 200 meters. In addition, the soils suitable for coconut growth are marine alluvial soils and riverbank alluvial soils, followed by sandy loam soils, and then gravel soils, with clay being the worst.
There are also requirements for the temperature of irradiation, and the average annual temperature is generally above 25 ° C. If the average temperature in one month of the year is below 20 °C, coconuts will have a more obvious reduction in production. If the temperature is below 15 °C, it will cause the flowers and fruits to fall off and the leaves to turn yellow. Not only that, coconuts also like abundant water sources, if the annual rainfall can be maintained at more than 1500 mm, then it will grow happily, the size of the coconut will be large, the number will be large.
Health benefits
In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it is recorded that coconut meat is "sweet, flat; Non-toxic". "Food is not hungry, it is pleasant". Coconut water "sweet, warm; Non-toxic". Coconut shell "can cure syphilis and bone pain." ”
1
Coconut contains sugars, fats, proteins, vitamin B groups, vitamin C and trace elements such as potassium and magnesium, which can effectively supplement the body's nutrients and improve the body's disease resistance.
2
Coconut milk is rich in potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and its composition is similar to that of intracellular fluid, which can correct dehydration and electrolyte disorders and achieve diuretic and swelling effects.
3
Coconut meat and coconut juice have the effect of killing intestinal parasites, drinking its juice or eating its meat can drive away ginger flakes and tapeworms, used in clinical practice, not only reliable efficacy, and no toxic side effects, is the ideal insecticidal anti-chancre food.
4
Coconut contains sugars, vitamins and a variety of trace elements can expand blood volume, replenish intracellular fluid, long-term consumption can have the effect of rejuvenating beauty, but also prevent and treat skin diseases, coconut shell oil can also treat ringworm and bayberry sores.
It should be avoided
■ People who excrete stools should not eat coconut meat.
■ Patients with body heat, viral hepatitis, fatty liver, bronchial asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, pancreatitis, diabetes and other patients should not eat coconut.
■ Spleen and stomach deficiency cold, spleen deficiency and wet heavy, cold intolerance and frequent urination of the taboo, diabetes should eat less, uterine cold menstruation, pregnant women in the first trimester and postpartum taboo, should not be long-term excessive consumption.