38 FOOD FOR THE TROPICS 



in India and Ceylon : the King, which is very good ; the 

 Dwarf, much sought after in Ceylon for gardens ; the 

 Brahmin, with large nuts, principally esteemed for its milk. 



The oil is used as food, and must be eaten soon after its 

 extraction as it quickly decomposes. It is obtained in the 

 usual way by expression, or boiling and skimming. The 

 kernel is often preserved in sugar and made into various 

 sweetmeats. When " young " the kernel is a delicious food, 

 being easily separated from the shell with a spoon, and 

 when ripe is grated and added to puddings, etc. 



The young coco-nut has a large cavity in the centre of 

 the kernel containing the liquid commonly called *' milk," 

 which is considered very refreshing and nourishing, and is 

 used as a substitute for water. It is often substituted for 

 cows' milk in the preparation of puddings. 



The white outer part of the kernel is, when dried, known 

 as " copra." In India, copra is eaten with parched rice ; 

 or rasped and put into curries ; or made into sweetmeats. 

 The grated kernel produces a sweet milk, used instead 

 of cows' milk in cookery. 



The other products of the palm are "sugar" and 

 " vinegar," which are obtained in the following manner. 

 When the spathe is about 2 feet long and 3 inches thick it 

 is tightly bound with strips of young leaves to prevent 

 expansion, and the point cut off transversely to the extent 

 of one inch. The cut end of the spathe is gently hammered 

 in order to crush the flowers thereby exposed, and to deter- 

 mine the sap to the wounded part. The stump is then 

 bound up with a broad strip of fibre. This process is 

 repeated morning and evening for several days, a thin layer 

 being shaved off on each occasion and the spathe trained to 



