Makapuno coconut, also known as solid coconut or creamy coconut, is a unique specialty found only in Tra Vinh. This type of coconut has a solid core, thick, soft and fatty coconut meat, and the coconut water is as clear as dew. According to legend, this was a gift from Cambodian monks to a Khmer monk living in Tra Vinh.
At first, wax coconut trees were not widely planted, mainly only a few families planted them for shade and as gifts to entertain guests from far away. But the special flavor of wax coconuts captivated tourists to the West, gradually people planted more for trade.
Wax coconut is a very picky tree and can only be grown in Cau Ke district, Tra Vinh province. If wax coconut is grown in other places, the tree will still live but will not produce fruit.
The wax coconut tree looks exactly the same as the regular coconut tree, but if you look closely you can see the differences between the two. The wax coconut tree has darker leaves, a shorter trunk and produces less fruit than the regular coconut tree.
The shell of the wax coconut is usually dark in color, the coconut meat is quite thick, fatty and has a distinctive attractive smell. You can shake the coconut and use your headphones to know which is a good wax coconut and which is not.
SOME WAYS TO ENJOY WAX COCONUT
Eat fresh
Cut the coconut in half, use a spoon to scrape the coconut meat and eat it fresh, without processing or adding any ingredients. You will feel the freshness, aroma, softness, fat and sweetness. However, many people commented that fresh wax coconut is very difficult to eat and the fatty taste will make you get tired of it very quickly.
Make smoothies
Use a spoon to scrape the coconut into the blender, add a little condensed milk and ice and blend. When eating, add a little peanut on top. Be careful not to add too much milk because the wax coconut is already very fatty. When blended with ice, the rich flavor is somewhat neutralized, making this dish very easy to enjoy.
Mix with sugar
Take some coconut meat and put it in a cup, add some thick coconut water then add sugar to taste and mix well. This dish is more delicious when served cold. On hot days, there is nothing better than eating a spoonful of coconut mixed with sugar, both cool and fatty.
Mix with other fruits
Choose your favorite fruits according to your taste: kiwi, strawberry, jackfruit, custard apple… then cut them into small pieces. Put the chopped fruits in a glass, add a little sugar, milk and shaved ice. Add coconut rice on top and add a little syrup to complete.
