Nata de coco


Nata de coco, also marketed as coconut gel, is a chewy, translucent, jelly-like food produced by the fermentation of coconut water, which gels through the production of microbial cellulose by Komagataeibacter xylinus. Originating in the Philippines, nata de coco was originally invented in 1949 by Teodula K. Africa as an alternative to the traditional Filipino nata de piña which is made from pineapples. It is most commonly sweetened as a candy or dessert, and can accompany a variety of foods, including pickles, drinks, ice cream, puddings, and fruit cocktails.

Etymology

Nata de coco comes from the Spanish meaning "cream of coconut" or "coconut milk-skin".

History

Nata de coco was invented in 1949 by Teodula Kalaw Africa, a Filipina chemist working for the National Coconut Corporation. It was originally conceived as an alternative to nata de piña, another gel-like Filipino dessert produced since the 18th century. This was because though the demand was high, nata de piña was seasonal, as it relied on pineapple harvests from the declining Philippine piña fiber industry.
Commercial production of nata de coco began in 1954, when the Philippine Coconut Authority opened a branch in Alaminos, Laguna and introduced the technology to local farmers. Nata de coco production was later optimized in the mid-1970s through the efforts of a team of microbiologists led by Priscilla C. Sanchez. In the 20th century, the demand for coconuts increased. Products from coconuts became a major export product of the Philippines, including nata de coco.

Nutrition

Nata de coco is mainly made from coconut water, so it has a modest nutritional profile. One cup of it contains 109 calories, 1 gram of protein, and 7 grams of carbohydrates. It is often characterized as healthful since it contains dietary fiber to aid digestion while carrying fewer calories compared to other desserts, gram for gram.

Production

Commercially made nata de coco is made by small farms in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, especially in Laguna and Quezon, and Indonesia, especially in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. It is commonly sold in jars.
The primarily coconut water dessert is produced through the following steps:
  1. Extraction of the coconut water,
  2. Fermentation of the coconut water with bacterial cultures,
  3. Separation and cutting of the produced fat of the nata de coco,
  4. Cleaning and washing off the acetic acid,
  5. Cutting and packaging

    Dessert

Nata de coco can be consumed on its own, but it can be used as an ingredient as well for fruit salads, halo-halo, coconut cakes, ice creams, soft drinks, bubble tea, and yoghurts.