Ingredient Name:  Seabed Coconut, also known as Coco de Mer, Double Coconut, Coco Fesse or Seychelles Nut.  Its scientific name is Lodoicea maldivica.

Traditional Chinese Name:  海底椰 (hai di ye)

What is this?
  • It is the fruit of the Coco de Mer palm tree
  • The fruits are known to produce the largest fruit known to man
  • The fruit takes 6-7 years to mature and another 2 years to germinate
  • It was mytically believed to grow from the bottom of the sea (hence part of its name)
  • The fruit is commonly used in Chinese medicine
  • The trees are considered “threatened” and “vulnerable” and have become extinct in many tropical islands where they used to grow

How do I prepare it?

  • Fresh seabed coconut is usually found in frozen form and prepackaged (see picture on the left)
  • Remove packaging and thaw at room temperature for at least an hour
  • Wash in warm water to remove debris and dirt
  • You can halve it or use it whole in soup
  • Dried seabed coconut needs to be rinsed with warm water and can directly be added to soups (see picture on the right)

Where can I buy this?

  • You can purchase frozen seabed coconut from most wetmarts in Hong Kong
  • They are also available frozen at most Asian supermarkets
  • You can buy dried seabed coconut from Asian pharmacies

What is the cost?

  • A bag of 6 frozen seabed coconuts cost around $25 HKD / bag

Any benefits?

  • Seabed coconuts are said to help nourish the skin and keep skin tone even
  • It asissts in eliminating sputum and suppressing cough
  • It also assists in removing mild heatiness
  • When boiled in soups, it is mild enough for children and ideal for everyone to drink

Any precautions?

  • Use with neutral vegetables (such as corn and carrots)

Additional Information?

  • Dried seabed coconut have a long shelf life of up to a year if kept in the fridge
  • Frozen seabed coconut can be kept for up to 1 month in the freezer, but if thawed, must be used within a few days

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