2. Have you ever cut and eaten a coconut?

3. Did you know that coconuts can also be used to make virgin coconut oil (VCO)?

4. Some of the HAFOTI groups make VCO and sell it in their shop in Dili
What do you think the virgin coconut oil is used for?

5. How do you think virgin coconut oil is made?
VCO can be used for cooking, or as a moisturizer or hair care product Sometimes it is even used as a medicine
How do you think virgin coconut oil is made?

6. Firstly the women cut the coconuts in half and remove the ‘meat’

7. The coconut pieces are then shredded in a machine

8. The shredded coconut comes down the chute

10. The shredded coconut is placed in a bowl and mixed with warm water

11. The coconut is then placed in a long cloth The women roll it up and squeeze it so the milk comes out

13. Once all the milk is squeezed out, the scraps go to feed the pigs

14. How do you think the oil is separated from the milk
How do you think the oil is separated from the milk? And how long does it take?

15. The milk is left overnight in a dry warm place to ferment This allows the oil to separate from the coconut milk and rise to the top The separated oil can then be easily scooped off the top

16. The oil then needs to be filtered through filter paper several times

18. Once the oil is perfectly clear it is placed in 5 litre containers These are sold in the HAFOTI shop in Dili

19. Image credits: Helen Reynolds