Freshest Fresh Buko!

Some fresh buko stalls/stores out there are selling coconut juice and meat that aren't the freshest possible. Some have bottled the juice and chilled them to last a few days. Then they add a few strips of meat that was already prepared in advance. Buy coconut in its original form and you're sure its fresh! Its the cheapest this way, and you're assured of the best nutrients and cleanest product from the best source - nature!

A few years ago, I posted about coconuts here. The coconuts used to be P25. each (in the city), now its P35. each. But its still much cheaper than buying it in commercial stalls or ordering it from restaurants.
I buy coconut at a neighborhood street vendor, he already knows that I want the young coconut, with the outer shell chopped, but with the meat and juice still intact. I take it home and chop it open myself, to make sure its perfectly clean.
Each coconut is good for two servings.

Simply Coconut!

I really love eating coconuts and drinking the fresh juice. It is the most refreshing and energizing drink you can find, for a very affordable price. (Here in the city its about P25., in the provinces, much cheaper.) However, it took me a long while to get accustomed to buying coconuts and most of all in cutting it up by myself. The shell looks intimidating, but in young coconuts it really is easy to cut and slice. If I can do it, you can do it. Just make sure you got young coconuts. It is full of juice (even up to two glasses), and its meat is soft and sweet. 

Coconut Fruit Salad

Here's an all-year-round delicious, nutritious, natural food treat you can make yourself! If you order this at a restaurant it would probably cost at least 2 times more. I got inspired to make this when I saw the guy at the Buko (coconut) kiosk at the mall making one. They sell it at P69., not including the coconut juice which they sell separately at P35. At home, it will only cost you around P50., (and you get to drink the juice)... lower if you buy ingredients at the big wet markets. This can be shared by 2 persons as a snack. If you're hungry, finish this all by yourself and it can substitute for a breakfast meal.

Coconuts cost around P25. here in metromanila. Choose one that has a lot of juice and with coconut meat that is still soft but firm and fleshy. (The coconut man knows how to pick this). For the other fruits, choose those that are in season.

Here's what I included in my fruit salad:

1 whole coconut (pour the coconut juice in a tall glass), cut the top off and put in slices of:
1/4 watermelon, sliced into cubes
1 kiat-kiat orange, sectioned
1 ripe banana, sliced
1/2 mango, sliced into cubes

Enjoy!!