The coconut palm grows in abundance on the coasts of the warm regions of Asia, Africa and America. According to Jose de Acosta in Historia Natural de Las Indias, it existed in Puerto Rico in the sixteenth century. Hernandez, his contemporary, called it by the non-native name used by the Mexicans, coyolli, and Oviedo also included it in his descriptions. We do not know how these little golden mouthfuls first came to be introduced into Spanish cuisine, but they are still very popular. It is often the first sweet recipe children learn to make and they love the intense aroma which emanates from the oven as the puffs are baking. On the beaches of the south in summer, salesmen walk along shouting the local name for them, "Sultanas, sultanas!"
