Coconut

The coconut sold in the UK is the de-husked, hard, brown ‘stone’ of a ripe coconut. This brown shell has three eyes at one end. Inside is a further thin, brown, coat called the testa: the creamy-white, firm flesh of the coconut is attached to this. The middle of a coconut is hollow and filled with a sweet liquid known as coconut juice or coconut water. The testa of a coconut hardens as the coconut ripens. Occasionally, young, unripe, green coconuts are sold as ‘jelly’ coconuts: their white flesh is still soft and jelly-like with a slightly more ‘milky’ water (this liquid is not coconut milk or coconut cream).