What is Organic Virgin Coconut Oil ?
Virgin Coconut Oil can only be achieved by using fresh coconut
meat or what is called non-copra (see below for a definition
of copra). Chemicals and high heating are not used in further
refining. There are currently two main processes of manufacturing
Virgin Coconut Oil:
1. Quick drying of fresh coconut meat which is then used
to press out the oil. Using this method, minimal heat is used
to quick dry the coconut meat, and the oil is then pressed
out via mechanical means.
2. Wet-milling. With this method the oil is extracted from
fresh coconut meat without drying first. "Coconut milk" is
expressed first by pressing. The oil is then further separated
from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the
oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration,
enzymes and mechanical centrifuge.
The coconut milk expressed from the freshly harvested coconuts
is fermented for 24-36 hours. During this time, the water
separates from the oil. The oil is then slightly heated for
a short time to remove moisture, and filtered. The result
is a clear coconut oil that retains the distinct scent and
taste of coconuts. This is a traditional method of coconut
oil extraction that has been used in the Philippines for hundreds
of years. Laboratory tests show that this is a very high quality
coconut oil, with the lauric acid content being 50% to 53%.
This oil is not mass produced, but made by hand just as it
has been done for hundreds of years. Since our suppliers live
in the community where the coconuts grow, they personally
guarantee that the best organic coconuts available are used
in producing this Virgin Coconut Oil, and that no chemicals
whatsoever are used in the growing or processing of the coconuts.
How is Virgin Coconut Oil different from other coconut oils?
Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra. Copra
is basically the dried kernel (meat) of the coconut. It can
be made by smoke drying, sun drying, or kiln drying, or derivatives
or a combination of these three. If standard copra is used
as a starting material, the unrefined coconut oil extracted
from copra is not suitable for consumption and must be purified
- that is refined. This is because the way most copra is dried
is very unsanitary. Most of the copra is dried under the sun
in the open air, where it is exposed to insects and molds.
The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil.
RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. Both high
heat and chemicals (e.g. solvent extractions) are used in
this method.
RBD oil is also often hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.
Hydrogenated oils have been shown to increase serum cholesterol
levels which contribute to heart disease.
One of the main differences between Virgin Coconut oil and
refined coconut oils is the scent and taste. All Virgin Coconut
Oils retain the fresh scent and taste of coconuts, whereas
the copra-based refined coconut oils have no taste at all
due to the refining process.
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