Everything You Need to Know about Desiccated Coconut
Desiccated coconut has been around for quite some time. Maybe you have encountered it in some dishes especially in desserts and pastries, but you really didn’t know what it is. Perhaps you just addressed it as “that thing” that gives your food that nutty taste. Read on and discover everything you need to know about “that thing” called desiccated coconut.
DESICCATED COCONUT: DEFINED
In simple terms, desiccated coconut is mature coconut meat which is dried and granulated. It is manufactured to be sweetened and unsweetened to cater on the specific needs of the consumer. It is also cut in various sizes, is used in many ways, and is packed with much nutrition.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF DESICCATED COCONUT
The coconut tree is known to be loaded with nutrition and health benefits. Being a by-product of the coconut tree, desiccated coconut also carries most of the tree’s nutritional content such as the following:
- Fats – Coconut is a source of healthy saturated fat. Having a good source of fats, desiccated coconut is a common additive in keto-friendly meals as the keto diet requires foods containing high fat.
- Lauric Acid – Desiccated Coconut is also rich with lauric acid. This compound is also present in breast milk. This is known to enhance our immune system.
As desiccated coconut’s nutritional content is many, so as its uses and applications.
USES OF DESICCATED COCONUT
Generally, desiccated coconut is prevalent in the following industries:
- Confectionery and Baked Goods Industry
- Frozen Foods and Processed Foods Industry
- Consumer Products Industry
Specifically, desiccated coconut is used in cakes, pies, brownies, and other pastries and desserts. It is even used in savory meals such as in soups, as rice toppings, and as additives in main course-meals.
PRODUCTION OF DESICCATED COCONUT
Here in Greenville, we give you only the best quality products. So, this is how we process and manufacture our desiccated coconuts.
1. Harvesting
To give you premium products, we make sure that within three days after harvesting the fruit, we deliver the harvest to our plants to immediately commence the manufacturing. This way, we can ensure the freshness of the raw material.
2. Dehusking and De-shelling
For the desiccated coconuts, we choose mature coconuts only. The coconuts are cut in half to drain its water. After draining, the meat is washed with fresh water to remove all solid residues. Then the kernel is blanched to clean it from all microbial presence. Afterwards, the meat is shredded and granulated.
3. Drying
The shredded and granulated coconut meat is then set for drying. Using mechanical blowers, it is dried for several hours to reduce moisture content. Once it reached the standard moisture percentage, the coconut is ready for the next step.
4. Sieving
Our desiccated coconut is sieved to ensure that there are no alien objects incorporated in the product.
5. Packing
After filtering, desiccated coconut is packed into different bags of different weights. They are now ready for labeling and delivery.
Regarding the packaged product, the desiccated coconuts can be cut into a variety of sizes, namely:
- Fine cut
- Medium cut
- Super fine cut
- Chips
- Flakes
- Threads
- Shreds
Desiccated coconuts can also be distributed through the following distribution channels:
- Supermarket
- Online stores
- Specialty stores
THE MARKET OF DESICCATED COCONUT
Nowadays, the demand for desiccated coconuts is flourishing, hence the production of it is also prospering.
Since coconut is a tropical fruit, tropical countries are naturally the main producers of desiccated coconuts. Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, in particular, are the major players in desiccated coconut manufacturing. Generally, these producers cater to Western countries, specifically those in Europe. Belgium is considered to be the number one consumer of desiccated coconuts. Next in the list are Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Now you know what that thing called desiccated coconut is, now is also the time that you try Greenville’s premium desiccated coconut!