The coconut era: 'Coconut Island'

Until tourism arrived, coconuts were the heart of Koh Samui's economy. The island's sandy coastal plains were planted almost edge to edge with palms, and Samui earned the nickname 'Coconut Island' - some sources even call it the 'Coconut Capital of Thailand'. At its peak, the island reportedly shipped more than two million coconuts per month to Bangkok and the mainland, a figure quoted by many sources. A famous local tradition was the use of trained pig-tailed macaques to climb the tall palms and pick ripe coconuts. This practice became controversial after animal welfare investigations in the 2010s-2020s, and most working coconut monkey labour today is reported on the mainland south (Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat) rather than on Samui itself. Rubber was also grown on the lower hill slopes. From the 1990s onwards, tourism steadily replaced agriculture, and many coconut groves - for example around Taling Ngam - were sold and converted into resorts and villas.

Dates

Roughly 1800s to late 20th century

Highlights

• Over 2 million coconuts per month shipped at the industry's peak (commonly quoted figure)
• Trained pig-tailed macaques traditionally used for harvesting
• Rubber was a secondary crop on hill slopes
• Most coconut land has now been converted to tourism use

Local tips

• Look for remaining working coconut groves in the island's interior and west coast
• Coconut products at local markets connect directly to this history

Frequently asked questions

Why is Koh Samui called Coconut Island?

Coconut farming was the island's main economy for over a century, and palms still define its landscape.

Do monkeys still pick coconuts on Samui?

The tradition exists but has greatly declined on Samui itself; most commercial monkey harvesting is reported on the mainland, and the practice faces animal welfare criticism.