Kukur Nyiur / Coconut Grater

Dear Diary,

I still remember one riddle (teka-teki) given by my late grandmother when I was just a little girl. It was:

Naik kuda, tabur bunga.

I don’t even know if this riddle is still relevant in today’s modern life or not. The answer to it is the old fashioned kukur nyiur or coconut grater like the one in the picture.

I have mentioned in an earlier entry, I was raised by my grandparents so I’m used to old fashioned beliefs and ways. During my childhood days, whenever coconut milk was required in a cooking we would get the milk manually. There was no instant coconut milk in my grandmother’s vocabulary. Heck, she didn’t live to see it even.

First, old coconut that had fallen from tree was chopped to get rid of the outer skin (sabut). Next, the coconut shell (tempurung) inside was slashed into two halves. After that, I as the kitchen helper would grate the coconut flesh using the grater. Coconut milk was then extracted from the flesh using hand.

Now, with technology there are faster ways to grate a coconut and easier ways to prepare coconut milk. Yes, my mother still keeps this coconut grater even though she doesn’t use it anymore. It is just a replica and a reminder from days gone by.