To create quality coconut jam or coconut candy, different types of coconuts need to be used in order for the final product to meet the standard. If you want to handpick coconuts and make coconut candy yourself this year, refer to this article.
1 Differentiating coconut varieties for making coconut candy
Before choosing coconuts for making coconut candy, you need to know how to differentiate between different types of coconuts. You can easily identify them with the following signs:
Young coconuts
Young coconuts will have a soft, white texture. When you press your fingernail against it, you’ll see coconut milk coming out, which means it’s a young coconut. With coconuts like this, you can easily peel off the outer brown husk.
Young coconut
Banh te coconut
Banh te coconuts will be slightly thicker than young coconuts, and the coconut meat will have a light white color. When you press your finger onto a piece of coconut, you will feel the crunchiness, but it won’t be excessively tough. The outer husk of banh te coconuts will have a light brown color, and when peeled, you will see fibrous strands inside that are not too smooth.
Banh te coconut
Mature coconuts
Mature coconuts will be the hardest among the three coconut types. You will find it difficult to press your fingernail into the meat of mature coconuts. The husk of mature coconuts will have a dark brown color and tightly wrap around the coconut meat.
Mature coconut
2 Choosing the best coconut for making coconut candy
Choosing coconuts for making coconut strips
To make long, intact coconut strips, you should choose banh te coconuts. To easily separate the coconut meat, place a coconut (with the water drained and cut in half) on the stove to heat it up. When the coconut is hot, you’ll be able to easily separate the coconut meat. Alternatively, you can buy pre-separated coconuts from the market to save time.
Choosing coconuts for making coconut strips
Choosing coconuts for making shaped coconut candy
If you want to make coconut candy in star or fruit shapes, choose young coconuts. Soft, pliable coconut meat is easy to cut using molds.
To make shaped coconut candy, cut the coconut meat, wash it several times with water to remove excess oil. Marinate the coconut with sugar and food coloring for a beautiful appearance. Then, simmer the coconut candy in a pan until it becomes dry.
Choosing coconuts for making shaped coconut candy
Hopefully, with this article, you can choose the right type of coconut to make your own coconut candy. Good luck!
Tips for making delicious homemade coconut jam for Tet holiday
Coconut candy is one of the traditional candies that are essential during the Tet holiday season in Vietnam. During the first few days of the new year, almost every family prepares coconut candy, peanut candy, and chewy mango candy, with a variety of colors, to invite guests to come and enjoy. In fact, you can easily make delicious coconut candy at home with simple ingredients and various methods.