What in the world is Coconut Sport?
Coconut Sport is the coined English term for what Filipinos call macapuno. It is a delightful delicacy from a special variety of coconut tree. Technically, it’s a “mutant” variety. Indonesians know it in their language as kopyor.
Macapuno is fleshier than regular coconut and has a jelly-like texture. It’s frequently sold as strips or “strings” packed with sugar syrup in bottles and jars.
Many manufacturers have tried to pass off regular “young coconut” as macapuno. Regular eaters can see and taste the difference. Cooked the right way, the strings are transparent to translucent, not solidly white like ordinary coconut. The mouthfeel is distinctive as well.
What can you do with it?
Use in desserts! It’s great for baked treats and candies. You can make macapuno-flavored roll cake, balls, tarts, bars… even macarons!
Top a gloriously purple ube cake with macapuno strings!
And in the Philippines, it’s a popular flavor of ice cream, often paired with that purple yam ube.
Brands of “coconut sport” you can find at Filipino grocery stores, pan-Asian supermarkets, and even mainstream online retailer Amazon: Laguna, Tropics, Buenas, Kapuso, Florence, Kayumanggi, Angelina, Monika, and Pinoy Fiesta. Sizes are usually 12 ounces, 24 ounces, and 32 ounces.
