Ölmühle Solling Organic Shredded Coconut. Natural, unsweetened organic shredded coconut – gently dried, sweet and nutty with an intense coconut aroma.

Ölmühle Solling Organic Shredded Coconut consists of finely shredded, dried fruit flesh from freshly harvested organic coconuts. They are unsulphured, unbleached, and unsweetened, and contain no preservatives. The Ölmühle Solling from Boffzen on the Weser river packages them in a light-protected, resealable 300 g bag.

Shredded coconut from Ölmühle Solling is the simplest way to bring coconut into your kitchen. For the shreds, the white flesh is removed from the shell, finely chopped, and then dried. According to the mill, they dry the coconut gently at approximately 80 °C. This allows the fruit flesh to lose its water content while retaining its aroma and flavor. For these shreds, "natural" means three things: They are unsulphured, meaning they are dried without added sulfur. They are unbleached, retaining their natural color. And they are unsweetened; the sweetness comes solely from the coconut. The ingredient list therefore consists of a single word: shredded coconut. The light-protected bag can be resealed after opening. At 300 g, there is enough for multiple cakes, mueslis, and curries.

Flavor

According to the manufacturer, the shreds taste sweet and nutty and have an intense coconut aroma. Eaten plain, they are slightly fibrous with a mild, round, sweet flavor. The scent of coconut rises as soon as you open the bag.

When toasted, they change significantly. In a dry pan, they turn golden brown in just a few minutes, smell more intense, and become crunchy. Those accustomed to sweetened coconut flakes from the baking aisle will find these shreds less sweet. In recipes that call for sugar, however, this is hardly noticeable.

Usage

The manufacturer provides a long list of uses. For breakfast, the shreds can be added to muesli, porridge, or sprinkled over fruit salad. In the bakery, they are the foundation for coconut macaroons, cookies, cakes, and pralines. They are also used to coat energy balls made of dates, nuts, and cocoa. Sprinkled over a chocolate cake or lemon cake, the shreds look like fresh snow. In banana bread, they provide moisture and a delicate coconut note.

In savory cooking, the shreds refine curries, especially if you toast them briefly beforehand. According to the manufacturer, they are also suitable for breading, for instance for chicken strips or shrimp with a coconut crust. And if you like, you can even make your own coconut milk: pour hot water over the shreds, let them steep, puree, and strain through a cloth.

Our tip: Toast two tablespoons of shredded coconut until golden brown and sprinkle them over a lentil curry with spinach. The crunch and roasted aroma make the dish complete.

Origin

The coconuts for these shreds come from non-EU agriculture according to the organic logo; the inspection body is DE-ÖKO-039. According to the manufacturer, Ölmühle Solling sources organic coconut from Sri Lanka, where they have supported the Naturland Fair project Serendipol since 2006, as well as from small-farmer cooperatives in the Philippines. The manufacturer does not specify which of these countries the shreds come from on the product page.

Coconut is a major focus for the mill in Boffzen, ranging from coconut oil and coconut fat to coconut milk and coconut blossom sugar. According to their fact sheet, the assortment includes 17 coconut specialties. For their coconut project in Sri Lanka, the mill has also released a "monkey-free" statement: according to the manufacturer, no monkeys are used during the harvest.

For whom

These shreds are for everyone who enjoys baking, mixing their own muesli, or cooking Asian cuisine. For many, they are an essential ingredient in Christmas baking. According to the manufacturer, they are vegan and lactose-free. They may contain traces of cereals containing gluten. Store the bag in a cool, dark place and seal it well after opening to prevent moisture from entering. For baking, we recommend coconut blossom sugar; for curries, try the organic Naturland coconut milk. More can be found on our page dedicated to Ölmühle Solling. These shreds are not suitable for recipes that explicitly require sweetened coconut flakes.

Unsweetened organic shredded coconut in a resealable bag – for macaroons, muesli, and curries with a crunch.

Image credit: Ölmühle Solling/Maike Wittreck