Known as the best coconuts you can find in the market globally, coconut from Indonesia maintained its reputation as one of the socioeconomic commodities internally and externally. There are many layers of this favorable tropical fruit you can sort before tasting the natural sweetness and nutrition it has. Find the details throughout this post.
Discovering The Curves of Coconut in Indonesia
Having coastal areas does not necessarily suggest one has sweet coconut waiting to quench your thirst. But, the archipelago once again surprised the world with not only an abundance of coconuts but also with the quality that comes with Indonesian coconut.
Indonesia: the Largest Coconut Palm Tree-Growing in Worldwide
Indonesia is still the largest coconut producer globally, especially in 2021 and 2022. In terms of trading, the country is also one of the major exporters of coconut and its derivatives (like coconut oil) worldwide, alongside the Philippines.
In 2019 alone, records revealed that the export of Indonesian coconuts worldwide reached 474,000 tons. If you wonder how it could be that way, the answer lies in the vast planting area across the country. Coconut palm trees grow tremendously not only in five or ten areas but across all 34 Indonesian provinces.
The 5 primary provinces that produce coconut in the largest number in 2022 are the following:
- Riau with 408.800 tons,
- North Celebs touched 270.400 tons,
- East Java provided 233.600 tons,
- North Mollucas came with 209.500 tons, and
- Central Celebes contributed about 205.000 tons.
Related Article: How to Buy Coconut Products From Suppliers in Indonesia?
The Quality of Indonesian Coconut
Regarding the quality, Indonesian coconut is also placed in the top rank along with other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and the Philippines. Supported by the demographic factor of the country itself, coconut grows graciously in Indonesia with several kinds of types.
Natural factors play vital roles in the abundance of coconut fruits within a relatively short planting duration.
Besides, Indonesian coconut production also provides both fresh and comprehensive derivative products. All of them are necessary for daily routines and necessities. For example, such as fresh coconut, coconut sugar, coconut briquettes, RBD coconut oil, and desiccated coconut are common items that are used daily by Indonesians.
RBD Coconut Oil
- RBD Coconut Oil has a high smoke point
- Can withstand higher temperatures without burning or producing harmful compounds
- Enable to achieve delightful textures and flavors in your dishes
Derivatives Types of Coconut from Indonesia
Even though the fresh water and flesh from coconut are very refreshing and nutritious, you can get an extensive kind of coconut products that come with high quality.
People often transform coconut water into Nata de Coco, coconut sauce, and vinegar. When mixed with the flesh, you can get delicious coconut milk. Besides that, you may have copra, coconut butter, powder, or virgin coconut oil (VCO).
Aside from coconut water, the coconut tree root also serves as a traditional remedy for several illnesses, such as fever, heartburn, skin disease, and urinary infections.
Indonesian people extract the coconut blossoms’ sap to produce coconut sugar. This coconut derivative product offers you a healthier sweetener, containing a glycemic index lower than regular sugar. Even the trunk and leaves of the coconut in Indonesia are beneficial. Some Indonesian tribes’ traditional houses use those parts of coconut palm trees to create the structure of the house. You will see the roofs patched with coconut leaves and fronds in the eastern Indonesian provinces.
Furthermore, there are many household utensils or accessories you can create using coconut husks and shells. For example, bowls, dining and cooking utensils, mats, bags, coir yarn, and fiber boards. They are also useful for planting purposes. Coconut shells are also the primary material for coconut briquettes and activated carbon.
Organic Coconut Sugar
- Lower glycemic index than regular sugar.
- Contains vital minerals.
- Providing a more nutrient-dense option than traditional sugars.
What Kind of Coconut Products Produced in Indonesia?
Indonesia has various coconut products that are exported all around the world. Find out 10 coconut products from Indonesia in our upcoming article!
FAQ
Where do coconut trees grow in Indonesia?
Coconut in Indonesia grows across its 34 provinces from the west to the east. However, the top tier coconut producer provinces are East Java, Riau Island, and North Celebes.
Why do coconuts grow in Indonesia?
Coconut is a versatile plant that possesses rich benefits from top to toe. Yet, the tree needs a proper condition to grow well. It depends on the weather and climate, the soil conditions and characteristics, and land heights as well.
Considering all of the natural aspects, Indonesia is bestowed with proportioned rainfall and an amicable blend of equatorial and tropical climates. Moreover, the vast coastal zones along with the ideal land height provide a homey home for coconut palm trees to grow glamorously.
What is coconut used for in Indonesia?
Across the archipelago, coconut is a common ingredient in traditional and modern dishes. For example, the infamous dish called rendang requires a lot of coconut milk. Javanese snacks, particularly from East Java province, used both coconut milk and shredded coconut as garnish or decoration and as an ingredient as well.
Indonesian people also consume fresh coconut water routinely as a refreshment or remedy to some illnesses. Nowadays, the oil is beneficial in body and skincare treatment, as well as cooking oil.
Both leaves and fronds are usable to make various kinds of household furniture and utensils, such as broomsticks, coasters, fruit holders, and wastebaskets. The same goes for coconut husks and shells. People produce dippers, glasses, reusable spoons and forks, charcoal brisket, and plant fertilizer.
Which country is famous for coconut trees?
Alongside Indonesia as the largest coconut palm tree growing country, India and the Philippines are also famous for the very same value.
What variety of coconut is Indonesian?
There are numerous kinds of coconut varieties grown in Indonesia, the country with the largest coconut plantation in the world. However, references break down the types into two most significant varieties based on the coconut palm heights, flower biology, pollination process, and earliness.
They are the ordinary (tall ones), dwarf, and hybrid coconut palm trees. Several of coconut from Indonesia are kelapa gading, kelapa pandan wangi, kelapa entog, and kelapa kopyor kuning.
