Native to
the Seychelles Islands
, the Coco de Mer takes 25 to 50 years just to reach maturity.
Where is coco de mer found?
coco de mer, (Lodoicea maldivica), also called double coconut, native palm of
the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean
. The flowers are borne in enormous fleshy spadices (spikes), the male and female on distinct plants.
How much is a coco de mer palm tree worth?
Coco de Mer – The Most Expensive Palm Tree
It is said to cost anywhere
between $300 and $9000
depending on the size of the plant. This highly valuable palm originates from the Praslin and Curieuse, two of the 115 islands that make the Republic of Seychelles near Madagascar.
Which plant produces coco de mer?
On the beautiful islands of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean grows a legendary palm.
Lodoicea maldivica
, also known as the double coconut, or coco-de-mer, is renowned for producing the largest and heaviest seeds in the world.
What does a coco de mer palm tree look like?
The coco de mer tree grows to 25 to 34 meters tall. The
leaves are fan-shaped
, 7 to 10 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. It is dioecious, meaning that reproduction requires separate male and female plants. These plants grow wild on nutrient-starved, rocky soil.
What does Coco de Mer fruit taste like?
The seed of the Coco de Mer is the largest in the world. Each one weighs about the same as three bowling balls. When foragers harvest the fruit early—while the seed is still forming—it contains a milky jelly that tastes like
a sweet, slightly citrusy coconut with the texture of soft Turkish delight
.
How long does it take for Coco de Mer to grow?
Native to the Seychelles Islands, the Coco de Mer takes
25 to 50 years
just to reach maturity. Once mature, the palms begin to flower, creating seeds that take two years to germinate and fruit that then takes six to ten years to ripen.
How much does a coco de mer cost?
Cost + Significance
My coco de mer cost me
about $300 USD
which may sound a bit expensive, but it's a rare nut that makes one fantastic souvenir.
What is the largest nut in the world?
The world's largest and heaviest nut,
the coco de mer
, is getting an upgraded anti-counterfeiting system. Found on just two islands of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean, the coco de mer palm has seeds or nuts that reach half a metre in diameter and can weigh as much as 25 kilograms.
Are palm trees good for anything?
Indigenous populations use the palm tree for almost all their timber needs, since it is the most readily available source of wood. Palm trees are readily used
as a building material for house walls, rafters and roofing
.
What does coco de mer smell like?
The fruit is used in Ayurvedic medicine and also in traditional Chinese medicine. Male flower of the Coco de Mer. The small yellow blossom
smell like popcorn
.
What does coco de mer mean?
The name coco de mer is French, and means “
coconut of the sea
“.
Why is it called sea coconut?
The coco de mer has been coveted for centuries. Originally, nuts were found drifting in the open sea, or washed up on beaches in the Indian Ocean. Having never seen it grow on land,
sailors thought it came from trees rooted in the seabed —
hence its name in French, coco de mer, or sea coconuts.
How big is the biggest seed?
I had presumed it was a cacao seed, but in truth it was a
Coco-de-Mer
, better known as the world's largest seed. Coco-de-Mer, also known as “the double coconut”, is the seed of the Lodoicea maldvica plant, a large fan palm that reaches 25 m (82 ft) in height.
What does sea coconut taste like?
Unlike the regular coconut, which offers rich, creamy flesh and delicious nectar, the sea coconut is all flesh and no nectar. In a surprising twist, you'll find its flesh tastes like
sweet, faintly tangy coconut nectar
—a coconut nectar jelly, if you will.
What fruit grows in Seychelles?
Special feature Seychelles: Tropical fruit
delight
Coconuts, mangoes, bananas, papayas, guavas, avocados, passion fruit, melons, jackfruits, starfruits, soursops, pineapples, oranges
, grapefruits… The Seychelles are a tropical paradise where fruits are abundant all year round.
