A young boy amazing cutting green coconut | village green coconut.

All You Need to Know About Green Coconut

Benefits

Green coconuts are the same variety as the brown, hairy ones with which you may be more familiar.

Both come from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) (1).

The difference lies in the age of the coconut. Green coconuts are young and not completely ripened, while brown ones are fully mature (2).

Green coconuts have far less meat than mature ones. Instead, they’re prized for their refreshing and healthy water (2).

This article reviews green coconuts, including their health benefits and uses.

Share on Pinterest

Ripening stages

Coconuts take 12 months to fully mature and ripen. However, they can be eaten anytime after seven months (1, 2).

They’re mostly green until they fully mature. The meat of green coconuts is still developing, so they contain mostly water (2).

During the ripening process, the outside color gradually darkens (2).

The inside goes through various stages as well (2):

At six months. A bright green coconut contains only water and no fat.

At 8–10 months. The green coconut has more yellow or brown spots. Its water becomes sweeter, and jelly-like meat forms, which gradually thickens and firms up.

From 11–12 months. The coconut begins to turn brown, and the meat inside thickens, hardens, and develops its high fat content. The

свернуть