Coco de Paimpol
(Bush) Coco de Paimpol (English ‘Coconut of Paimpol’) is named after the town Paimpol in the Brittany department of Côtes-d’Armor. 1 This French heirloom was initially introduced to France in 1928, by Claude Le Diaout, a sailor who was returning from Argentina. 2 (Guide Vert Bretagne Nord; De Saint-Malo à la presqu’île de Crozon, November 5, 2020)
It has since been cultivated in Brittany. 3 Traditionally Coco de Paimpol is harvested solely by hand. It is sold in market as fresh “shellies” in pods. 3 It is best used as a “shelly” or dry bean, and is a popular choice for cassoulet in the south west of France. 5
Days to Maturity:
History
“En 1928, le communiste Claude Le Diaout – dit «Coco le coco» – revient en Bretagne après un exil en Argentine, avec dans ses bagages des graines qu’il plante dans le Goëlo.” (Guide Vert Bretagne Nord; De Saint-Malo à la presqu’île de Crozon, November 5, 2020)
[English] “In 1928, the communist Claude Le Diaout – known as “Coco le coco” – returned to Brittany after exile in Argentina, carrying seeds in his luggage which he planted in the Goëlo.” (Guide Vert Bretagne Nord; De Saint-Malo à la presqu’île de Crozon, November 5, 2020)
This French heirloom was initially introduced to France in 1928, by Claude Le Diaout, a sailor returning from Argentina. 2 (Guide Vert Bretagne Nord; De Saint-Malo à la presqu’île de Crozon, November 5, 2020)
It has since been cultivated in Brittany. 3 Due to its nutritional density it was a reliable and indispensable source of nutrition in Brittany during World War II. 2, 3
Around 1997-1998 Coco de Paimpol was granted national ‘Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée’ (AOC) status in Paimpol, Tréguier and Lannion. 3, 4 Successively, in 1999 it received ‘European Protected Designation of Origin’ (PDO) status. 3 As such “Coco de Paimpol was the first fresh vegetable to obtain a designation of origin” 3 in France. As a PDO in Europe it “is produced under this name only in the region of Brittany in the north west of the Côtes-d’Armor”. 2, 4, 5, 6
Varietal Information
| Habit: | Bush |
| Avg. Plant Height: | |
| Pod Type: | |
| Dry/Fresh Use: | Dry & Demi-Sec (“shelly”) Use |
| Flower Colour: | |
| Pod Colour: | Pale Yellow with sparse Purple streaks. |
| Seed Coat: | White |
| Hilum Ring: | N/A |
| Avg. Pod Length x Width: | |
| Grain Shape: | Short oval |
| Grain Size: | |
| Avg. Seeds/Pod: | |
| Avg. Seed Gram/Plant: | |
| Notes: |