Flashback: Making Coconut Oil - 2001

 Making Coconut Oil

Back in 2001 my daughter, Chicha, had to do a science project so we decided to make coconut oil from coconuts harvested at our house. We were assisted by Chicha's cousin, Javelynn. This on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

First job is to gather mature, dry coconuts. Chicha loads the wheelbarrow.

Time to remove the husk. This is a tough job. The husking tool is a pointed bar of iron welded to an old car wheel. 

Javelynn working hard. This is a better view of the husking tool. Before steel the tool would have been a stick hardened by fire.

Husks removed. Bare coconuts remain. The leftover husks can be burned for fuel or used as a potting medium for orchids and other plants.

Coconuts are split in half with a machete and grated to get the meat out. 

The grater is a low stool with a serrated piece of spring steel sticking out front. Before steel, the grating blade would have been made from a notched seashell.

Even Dad gave it a shot.

Hot water is added to the grated coconut and the mixture squeezed to force the oil and dissolved sugar out of the coconut meat.

The wet mixture is massaged and then strained so that only coconut milk is kept. The leftover coconut meat can be used as feed for pigs and chickens.

The coconut milk is boiled and boiled and boiled.

The water is slowly boiled away. It takes several hours.

Coconut oil floats to the top.

It has to be stirred constantly to keep it from burning and sticking to the pot.

Finally we have pure, clear coconut oil in the jar at left plus coconut oil mixed with coconut sugar in the glasses to the right.