- WHAT IS HAMONA
Hamona - HARMONY WITH MOTHER NATURE - is the premium raw young coconut, unique in the world by its genuine natural flavor that distinguishes itself from any other coconuts. Hamona coconut originates in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, where the fertile soil, abundant water, fresh open air and year-round sun combine to create the so-called Essence of Heaven and Earth.
- WHAT IS HAMONA DOING
Hamona coconut is the natural beverage that helps improve our health.
Hamona is committed to expanding coconut plantation to make the earth green and help slowing global warming.
Hamona cares about life on earth and strives to improve life quality by providing stable income and safe working environment to all people it is destined to work with.
- THE STORY OF A COCONUT
A FRUIT, A NUT OR A SEED
A coconut is all of these: a seed, a fruit and a nut. Coconut is a seed because it is the reproductive part of the tree, coconut is a fruit because it is a fibrous one-seeded drupe and coconut is a nut because a loose definition of a nut is nothing but a one-seeded ‘fruit’.
Coconut is usually thought of as a fruit because it grows on trees and tastes sweet. However, coconut is botanically classified as a fibrous one-seeded drupe.
A drupe is a fruit with a hard stony cover enclosing the seed (like a plum or olive). A coconut, and all drupes, have 3 layers: the exocarp (outer layer), the mesocarp (fleshy middle layer), and the endocarp (hard, woody layer that surrounds the seed). The convenient ready-to-drink coconut usually found at stores is far different from the coconut growing at the farm. The original - or the untouched - coconut on the tree has all 3 layers: the exocarp - typically smooth with green or brown color, the mesocarp - normally called the husk, and the hard woody endocarp. The convenient coconut at stores is actually the endocarp surrounding the seed while the exocarp and mesocarp are removed.
A seed is the reproductive unit of a flowering plant with a “baby” plant inside which has 2 basic parts: the embryo root (hypocotyl) and the embryo leaves (epicotyl). Take a closer look at one end of the coconut, you will see 3 pores (also called eyes). When the baby plant inside the hard shell germinates, a shoot emerges from the softest pores. In addition to the “baby” plant inside the coconut seed, there is the food to kick off its life called the endosperm, or the yummy white flesh/copra.
A nut is a one-seeded fruit. With such loose definition, a coconut can also be a nut. However, a coconut is not a true nut. A true nut does not open at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds are only released when the fruit wall decays or is digested by an animal.
Once and for all, a coconut can be a nut, a seed and a fruit, all at the same time. Now it’s time to grab a Hamona premium coconut, plug in and enjoy as a delicious, healthy reward.
COCONUT LIFE CYCLE
The coconut tree grows from a single seed, which is an entire coconut, taking between 3 and 8 years to bear fruit, and living between 60 and 100 years. Each coconut takes almost a year to develop from a flower into a fruit. Coconut is an important fruit in many parts of the world though humans are one of the few species that actually make use of them. Its structure protects it from hungry animals and protects the embryo on long ocean journeys, keeping out salt water and preserving the seed for up to three months at sea.
Coconuts are a natural product which are in season all year long. They grow in bunches of 5 to 20 drupes and a new bunch begins to grow every month, meaning a coconut palm can produce about 100-200 coconuts a year.
The word “coconut” comes from Spanish “coco” meaning skull or scary face because of the 3 pores (or 3 eyes) making the little face on each and every coconut shell.
Botanically, the coconut palm is not a tree since there is no bark, no branches or secondary growth. A coconut palm is a woody perennial monocotyledon with the trunk being the stem.
Just like any other plant, a coconut has a life cycle. Let’s take a look at such wonderful circle of life.
SEEDING
A coconut palm reaching maturity will sprout several coconuts at a time. Over almost 12 months, the nut grows heavier and heavier until eventually falling to the ground or being picked down for planting.
SPROUTING
Coconut seeds, like other horticultural life forms, need to germinate in order to grow into new plants. This entails the nut falling to the ground and being buried, similar to how seeds would be planted on a field. A coconut seed can take up to 9 months before it starts to sprout. Once several weeks have passed, the outer shell and husk of the nut splits apart, and the root bursts out.
GROWING
A coconut that has sprouted will continue to grow at a quickened pace. Over a few months, a coconut’s sprout with reach 60 - 100 centimeters. The sprout’s trunk will also increase in diameter and become thicker.
REACHING MATURITY
A coconut palm typically takes 3 or 6 years before it starts flowering. The trees can be classified according to the size and stature of the palm and referred to as Talls and Dwarfs. They are also monoecious. In other words, they consist of male and female flowers on the same inflorescence that develops within a woody spathe. The Talls are approximately 8 meters tall, although some trees can grow to be 20 meters or more. The Dwarfs can be just 2 - 3 meters tall when producing fruits. The tree will also grow about 30 leaves, which grow in layers. Old layers on the bottom fall off, while new layers develop on top to maintain the umbrella shape.
BLOOMING
After 3 to 6 years, flowers begin to grow from the tree tops. The flowers cluster together near where the leaves cluster. The flowers eventually produce fruits, more coconuts, after about 9 months. Once the nuts mature, they drop to the ground, and the cycle restarts.
COCONUT - THE TREE OF LIFE
Coconut palm is called the “Tree of Life” as it provides basic necessities for humans. Coconut tree not only provides a source of food and drink but is also used for shelter, fuel and raw materials to make utensils, musical instruments and much more.
Coconut tree is not just gorgeous to look at but also an important sustainable resource, which can often survive hurricanes and tsunamis. Every bit of the coconut tree is used, from the water, the husk, the shell, the flesh, the leaves, the heart, the spathe, the trunk to the roots.
Coconut water is high in vitamins, proteins, ascorbic acid and contains several minerals including potassium, sodium and calcium. It has long been widely used as a beverage and as medicine - an alternative intravenous rehydration fluid. The low sugar content, high nutritional value, minimal processing and many other health benefits, together with the rising needs for substitutes for carbonated drinks by consumers around the world are the major factors boosting the demand for coconut water globally.
Coconut flesh/copra is vitamin-rich that can be eaten raw or cooked, or processed to manufacture other products. Oil extracted from the kernel can be used for cooking, prevent hair damage and moisturize the skin.
Coconut husk - the rough exterior of a coconut which is made up of the tough fibers - is used as stuffing to make homemade mattresses. The whole husk is also great to plant with, fuel fires, fertilize soils and make toys.
Coconut shell makes a great charcoal replacement and is also used by artisans to create long-lasting handicrafts.
Coconut leaves are used to weave hats, baskets, mats and make brooms. These are also used for thatching traditional houses and making barbecue skewer, decorations and traditional toys.
Coconut heart is found right underneath the leaves of a coconut tree. It is a delicacy that is on high demand by both locals and visitors in Southern Vietnam.
Coconut spathe is the scope-like structure that encloses the flowers of coconut tree. It can be polished and varnished to make containers. The flowers are used as a broom when dried. When the spathe and flowers are still closed, they can be tapped to release a sap, which is collected and fermented to make coconut toddy - a marvelous palm wine.
Coconut trunk is turned into planks, used to board and partition houses, and also makes great pillars as well.
Coconut root holds medicinal properties which can be used to treat gall bladder, urinary infections, kidney-related diseases, heartburn and eczema.
Since being used as an important source of food, drink, clothing and shelter for thousands of years, coconut tree is truly the “Tree of Life”.
