Copra

Copra is the meat of the coconut and in shredded form probably the most familiar to those who do not live in the tropics. It is an oil-rich pulp with a very light, slightly sweet and nutty flavor. As with most fruits, it’s best eaten fresh, but does preserve very well in dried and frozen form, and both the oil and the milk derived from the copra have long shelf lives.

The process of producing copra involves several steps. First, mature coconuts are harvested from coconut palms. The outer husk is removed, exposing the hard coconut shell. Copra has several uses across different industries and culinary traditions. The primary use of copra is for the extraction of coconut oil. The dried copra is pressed or processed to extract the oil. Copra is also used as an ingredient in various culinary preparations, including curries, desserts, snacks, and confectionery items.