Coconut products have taken the UK and the rest of Europe by storm, from coconut water to coconut cream and milk to coconut oil. More consumers are looking for coconut products, and if you have a food business and are making use of coconut products such as coconut oil, you should definitely take advantage of the trend. But whilst finding the right coconut oil can be easy as there are many good suppliers around, what type of coconut oil should you choose? There are several variations, after all. Here’s your complete guide to coconut oil and its different variations.
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Virgin coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil, made from the meat of fresh coconuts, undergoes the most minimum chemical or heat applications. Virgin coconut oil has a strong coconut smell, and its taste is certainly distinctive. Virgin coconut oil is known for its high level of anti-oxidants, and it also has high amounts of medium-chain fatty acids, lauric acid, capric acid, vitamin E, and caprylic acid. Virgin coconut oil has a pure white colouring when solid, or it can be clear and transparent when in liquid form. One notable fact which you should know: there is really no clear distinction between ‘extra virgin’ coconut oil and ‘virgin’ coconut oil – the two are basically the same.
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Pure coconut oil
Pure coconut oil can be processed and made when dried kernels of coconut (copra), undergo cold pressing or manual compression. Pure coconut oil has no additives; it is often unrefined and crude, although pure coconut oil can be more expensive than refined coconut oil, or RBD. Pure coconut oil has many uses – aside from cooking, it can be used for hair and massage treatments, the production of confectionery, and for medication. It is important to note, however, that pure coconut oil will often be converted to refined coconut oil before it is sold, which results in it being less readily found and more expensive.
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Refined coconut oil
Refined coconut oil, also referred to as RBD (Refined, Bleached, and Deodorised) has a golden colour and is filled with saturated fats. It is made by chemical and mechanical refining, then the resulting product is bleached and then deodorised. This entire process makes refined coconut oil odourless and tasteless. Refined coconut oil will always be the most readily available as well as the least expensive coconut oil product, and it is ideal for cooking dishes where the flavour of coconut is not required.
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Organic coconut oil
Wholesale coconut oil suppliers will tell you that organic coconut oil is a coconut oil product that has been made from coconuts which have no synthetic fertiliser and which have been grown on organic soil or manure. There are no chemicals used in its extraction, either, and it is considered the most expensive form of coconut oil.
