The origin of coconut dates back to the dawn of time. It has long been believed that coconut is native to our Caribbean beaches, but in reality, the Caribbean coconut palm originates from West Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Some history
Our indigenous people used coconut not only to drink the water but also as a remedy to cure all diseases, and they made cups from the shell.
The coconut palm is a variety that grows along the coast, and its dispersal is thanks to the sea. Coconut palms live near the coast, very close to the water, in tropical or subtropical climates.
To disperse its seed, the coconut palm drops its fruit, the coconut, which rolls until it reaches the water. When it falls into the sea, it floats protected by its husk, a thick outer shell, traveling great distances and surviving because it requires no maintenance.
When it touches land, the seed germinates and is nourished by the water inside the coconut.
From the islands
Immigrants who arrived in Panama from Caribbean islands brought the first coconut palms that they planted on the beach. The palm has been used in construction of houses, while its leaves, bark, along with coconut shells, have been used in crafts.
Coconut has always been utilized in beverage preparation, as a special ingredient in culinary arts, in the extraction of oil, scent, and flavor.
In remote times in Panama, oil was made from coconut milk, which was left to dry in the sun for a day, then strained through a piece of coral found in the sea near Puerto Viejo.
