Northern Mariana Islands Territory Foods

Coconut STATUS Unofficial THE FOOD Coconut Young coconuts are already very hard and covered with a thin, green skin. Though it’s possible to eat gelatinous young coconut flesh, these are usually gathered to drink the juice, called coconut water, inside. A mature coconut has a thick, brown, fibrous husk covering a hard shell. Inside, the coconut meat is pure white, very firm, and has a more nutty than sweet flavor. Grated coconut is a common addition to fruit salads, curries, puddings, and baked goods. Mature coconuts also contain liquid, but have far less coconut water than a young coconut. Cooking fresh or dried coconut with water and squeezing out the moisture yields coconut milk, a common ingredient for sauces and drinks. THE SIGNIFICANCE The coconut has been common in the Northern Mariana Islands for perhaps 4,000 years. Called niyok in Chamorro, it’s an important staple and a part of the local culture. Every part of the coconut tree has a use. Coconut and coconut milk are everyday ingredients in Chamorro food, especially in soups, salads, and stews. Coconut milk is also a common drink. Though the coconut is becoming less a part of daily life as the Northern Marianas is influenced by other cultures, it’s still a regular on the dining table. Pineapple STATUS Unofficial THE FOOD Pineapple The pineapple plant produces a single fruit from a cluster of flowers. The individual flowers develop into small fruits that gradually fuse together around a central core, forming a single, fleshy green, brown or yellow oval fruit with scaly, prickly skin and a crown of pointed blue-green leaves. Yellow inside, with soft fibers radiating from a solid core, a ripe pineapple tastes both very sweet and acidic. It’s commonly consumed raw by itself or in fruit salads, and also sold canned in sugar syrup. Both can be used in baked goods, sauces, and salads, though fresh pineapple contains enzymes and must be cooked before it is added to some dishes, such as gelatin salads. The plant is native to southeastern South America but now grows in the tropics all over the world. THE SIGNIFICANCE Growing conditions on the Northern Mariana Islands are favorable for pineapples, especially on Tinian, but the fruit is mostly grown for the locals and not much of an export crop. Many families have their own pineapple tree, a local variety that produces small, sweet pineapples. They’re mostly eaten fresh as a salad or snack, or baked into sweets like cakes. -World Trade Press