Ilaneer ... the tender coconut !

 

The coconut has cultural and religious significance in India offered to Gods and used in rituals.   ‘ilaneer’ is sold and consumed in large quantities – one would be interested or frightened by the way, the top of tender coconut is cut with a sickle (aruval) wielded deftly by the seller – elsewhere nearer Gir Forest, saw a totally different methodology and this video enthused me to this post !

தமிழகத்தின் ரோடோரத்துல  அருவாளை ஒரு வீசு வீசி, இளநீரை வெட்டி தருவதை பார்த்து இருப்பீங்க .. .. இளநீர் பற்றிய ஒரு பதிவு .. மற்றும் குஜராத்தில் வேறு விதமாய், இளநீரை குத்தி திறக்கும் வீடியோ.   

Strange description of something known : - a  piece of high-hanging fruit inspired Mark Rampolla to step off the corporate ladder and into the beverage startup scene. In 2004, Rampolla was living in El Salvador running a packaging business for a FORTUNE 100 company. The former Peace Corps volunteer had become restless and was no longer passionate about his professional path. After some serious soul-searching, he decided to pursue a more entrepreneurial path and plunge headfirst into the unchartered waters –of coconut water. He and his family had spent years sipping on the refreshing drink, which was a staple in Central and Latin American culture but had yet to reach the U.S. Rampolla launched ZICO Coconut.. .. …

Much was to happen later .. .. … Coke acquired Zico in 2013, after taking a minority stake for $15 million in 2009. At the time of the acquisition, coconut water was a small but growing category in the U.S., and Zico was the No. 2 brand. Zico never caught up to market leader Vita Coco, and U.S. coconut water sales have slumped in recent years. Retail-store sales of coconut water fell to $528 million in 2019, down 22% from 2015, according to Euromonitor International. Coconut-water sales in U.S. retail stores ticked up during the pandemic, climbing 4.4% this year to date, according to Nielsen data compiled by Coke. But Zico’s sales plummeted 46% during the same period, as Coke deprioritized it in favor of higher-demand products like Smartwater and Powerade, the Coke spokeswoman said.  Cheaper coconut water brands such as Goya and private-label products have gained ground.

In an unusual move, a minister in Sri Lanka climbed a coconut tree to talk to members of the media about a pressing concern – the shortage of coconuts in the island country. For the press conference,   Arundika Fernando, climbed a coconut tree in his estate in Dankotuwa even as he held onto the tree with one hand and a coconut with his other hand. Fernando, who is the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah, and Rubber Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing & Export Diversification was seen climbing a coconut tree using a new kind of gear introduced by a local inventor from Warakapola, reported Adaderana.

 

The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos.  The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut")  can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut.  It is one of the most useful trees in the world, and is often referred to as the "tree of life". It provides food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many other uses. The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut milk extracted from it, forms a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called coconut water or coconut juice (ilaneer). Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. Dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking – frying in particular – as well as in soaps and cosmetics. The hard shells, fibrous husks and long pinnate leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decoration.

               In hot atmosphere with scorching Sun, people need to quench their thirst ~ and most tend to buy cool drinks …. ‘tanda mathlab…..’….  most think that an icy-cold soft drink is the necessity ! – you go to any mall or any shop even it be a roadside one – you get the multinational branded Coke or Pepsi and can enjoy the chill bottled drink.   You can read that it contains – carbonated water, sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid, caramel colour and natural flavouring but does not contain any fruit juice or fruit pulp, yes a fruit drink where fruit is not a component in any manner.   From the days of Fanta, Campacola and Goldspot backed up by Kali Mark,  Bovonto and Mapillai Vinayakar in interior places, the industry has come a long way.  People would say that there is nothing like taking ‘tender coconut water’ [ilaneer] which is nutritious, a health drink promoting digestion. There are many many medicinal properties  attributed to tender coconut water  which is an excellent oral rehydration medium, which would keep the body  cool.  It will kill intestinal worms; presence of saline and albumen in it makes it  good drink in cholera cases; it checks urinary infections.  It aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect.

In Chennai city, in keeping with the rising temperature, prices of tender coconut water  soared 20-30 % this summer due to short supply.  The red variety from Pollachi sold like hot cakes.  In bigger shops, the bottled tender coconut water was also on sale….~with increased shelf-life, it also was bought by many.

To say interesting would be understatement – there was this newsitem circulating in social media of a shop in Alwarpet Chennai advertising for ‘people to cut/slice ilaneer’ – remuneration Rs.22000/- to 32000/- ! during these pandemic times.

Tender coconut water is a wholesome, nutritious drink. It is one of the most preferred drinks in India.  Since the early 21st century, coconut water has been marketed in Western countries as a natural energy or sports drink having low levels of fat, carbohydrates, and calories, and significant electrolyte content.  Now comes the news that Coca-cola plans to discontinue ZICO: 'Their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness,' says founder   Coca-Cola Co. KO +1.21% is discontinuing its Zico coconut water brand and considering axing some less-popular versions of Coke and Diet Coke as it slashes its product offerings in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to discontinue Zico by the end of the year “comes at a time when we are hyper focused on delivering on our consumers’ wants and needs,” a Coke spokeswoman said. The company is winnowing down its brands to ones that can achieve a large scale, she said.

Interesting and do see this video of ilaneer cutting in Gir, Gujarat.. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

10.10.2020.