Coconut emblem and coat of arms. Coconut trees are grown on all the islands. Before modern construction methods were introduced, coconut leaves were used as roofing material for many houses in the islands, while coconut timber was used to build houses and boats. The main coconut-producing area in the Middle East is the Dhofar region of Oman, but they can be grown all along the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea coasts, because these seas are tropical and provide enough humidity (through seawater evaporation) for coconut trees to grow. The young coconut plants need to be nursed and irrigated with
Creamed coconut grated before it is added to dishes. By adding warm water it can be made into coconut milk or coconut cream. Adding water to creamed coconut in the ratio 5:2 gives coconut cream, 5:1 coconut milk. Creamed coconut is added to Indian, South East Asian and Caribbean recipes to enrich curries and sauces. In the west, it is primarily used in confectionery items, desserts, ice cream, and sauces. Not to be confused with the related coconut cream, which is a liquid. Creamed coconut does not contain cholesterol and is a source of fiber. It is also a good source of