Coconuts are the exotic fruits we adore adding to our juices. Whether in a sumptuous Piña Colada or a vibrant fruit salad, their versatility knows no bounds.
To mark World Coconut Day on Monday (September 2), TikTok users are utterly captivated by a newfound revelation about this beloved fruit. It turns out, many enthusiasts are just discovering what coconuts are truly made of.
So did you know they weren’t made from nuts? In a video posted by user @ramonsmid, who enjoys a following of 5,600, a man revealed: “I searched up what is a coconut.”
He continued: “To my surprise, an interesting fact is that coconuts is not in any shape a nut or tree nut. It’s not a walnut, it’s not a pecan, it’s not a nut. I found that really interesting. Imagine it’s just a fruit.”
Garnering 500 likes and numerous comments since being uploaded, one viewer expressed shock: “Ohhhh s***, I never knew that about coconuts.”
While another offered praise: “Love your content bro.” A third shared: “*laughing emoji* ‘It’s not a NUT’.”
Indeed, the bombshell is true because coconuts are not botanical nuts. They’re categorised as fruits, specifically a type known as drupe, akin to peaches, pears and almonds, owing to their hard shells encapsulating a seed and succulent flesh.
Coconuts possess a tri-layered armour around the seed, however, when purchased from stores, you are usually encountering only the innermost layer, or endocarp, distinguishable by its hollow centre and thin brown seed coat.
It’s also worth noting a nut can be defined as a one-seeded fruit. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration recognises coconuts as tree nuts, however, most people who are allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconuts.
World Coconut Day is observed annually on September 2 and it’s a global celebration of the coconut, a fruit which has been revered for centuries for its versatility and numerous benefits.
