Coconut
When you think of Konkan what pictures in front of you are the vast green coconut groves. Coconut are the pride of Konkan. They grow straight tall and are surmounted with a graceful crown giant feather like leaves. These trees grow from a central point on the top called an apical bud. These trees flower all year round. In Konkan every meal consists of coconut in some form. Every religious ceremony has this fruit content.
Uses-
Each and every part of fruit has various uses. Any festival starts with breaking a fruit and growing one. In summers, coconut water and the soft fruit inside is very beneficial for the body. It’s water is an effective remedy for urinary inconsistency. It has a cooling effect on the body in summer days. The inside of the hard fruit is used when preparing various meals. Konkan’s famous steamed Modaks are also made of coconut. The leaves of the tree are used dried and used in roof making in the villages. It is also used to make fires.
How to get it –
Coconut felling is a daunting and adventurous task. For certain people, this is their daily occupation. With the help of a strong rope, they climb a full 30-4 foot tree, and with their shrewd eyesight they can spot the fruit ready to be dropped to the ground below. Trying to get a fruit open is also a tedious and hard process. But now a days, there is machinery available that can be used to cut open the tough and hard fruits. After the monsoon, on the full moon day, the fishermen start fishing by offering coconuts to the sea. On the day of Holi, the coconut that is offered in the holy pyre can be removed by only some Bravehearts (It requires a lot of practise hence do not attempt this activity). Adding fresh coconut to Popti (one-pot harvest winter camping dish, a speciality in the Konkan) adds delicious flavour to it.Different varieties are famous in Alibag:
Rural – This tree grows very tall and has a long life. The size of the fruit is large, and the inner pulp is also quite thick.
Singapore – This tree doesn’t grow very tall, yet it bears fruits. The water of the coconut is very sweet. This coconut is orangish in color.
Sweet – This variety is rare in Konkan and not very popular. It looks like any others and so does the tree. Only a few of fruits have a distinctive sweet taste. This is generally not used in food preparations. This variety is sweeter than the others. When one comes across a sweet coconut as this it is said to have been heaven sent. Such a fruit is believed to break in shot with a scythe.
Scientific name – Cocos nucifera
Nick name – Coconut
Harvest period – All year round
Uses – Relegious ceremonies, food preparations, snack, medicine for urinary issues, tonic drinks
