How to Buy The Best Virgin Coconut Oil
Posted by MK LIFE on
People frequently say, "there is no difference in coconut oils" but they couldn't be further from the truth. Pure, high-quality oils are rare and easy to replace with faked or impure products. Make sure you always have the real deal!
Become A "CocoPro"
It is nearly impossible to know what is in coconut oil by reading the jar. Almost all virgin coconut oils claim to be cold-pressed, raw, pure, etc… but these “buzzwords” have no industry standard for measurement or certification.... They are for marketing purposes, plain and simple.
If these terms don’t mean anything, how are consumers supposed to know which coconut oil is good and which is bad? Fortunately, there are 5 basic characteristics of coconut oil that can help you find the best one and become a "CocoPro".
1. Manufacturing Method. Always choose virgin coconut oil that is processed at the lowest temperature.
1. Manufacturing Method. Always choose virgin coconut oil that is processed at the lowest temperature.
- Expeller-pressed (heated up to 230°C)
- Centrifuged (49°C+ & often subjected to chemicals or heated)
- Cold-pressed (Exposed to heats of 49°C - 104°C)
2. Type. Wild coconuts are the best, period. They grow sustainably in nature without the use of pesticides. Buying ethically-sourced products help to ensure the proper treatment of the people, nature, and communities involved in the coconut oil's production. Optimally you want a product that is Tree To Table.
3. Origin. Always look for "single-origin" products. Many coconut oils are "blended" which allows companies to mix cheaper oils into products without consumer knowledge. "Single-origin" brings the focus back to the growers and the region where the coconuts were grown. Not all coconuts are equal... source matters! It's why Starbuck's single-origin Colombian Narino is better than Folger's Breakfast Blend... Or why Dom Perignon champagne is superior to Andre.
3. Origin. Always look for "single-origin" products. Many coconut oils are "blended" which allows companies to mix cheaper oils into products without consumer knowledge. "Single-origin" brings the focus back to the growers and the region where the coconuts were grown. Not all coconuts are equal... source matters! It's why Starbuck's single-origin Colombian Narino is better than Folger's Breakfast Blend... Or why Dom Perignon champagne is superior to Andre.
4. Look, Feel, Taste & Smell. Much like with olive oil, there are coconut oil “Sommeliers” who can judge a coconut oil just by holding, looking, feeling, and smelling it. These are the major traits they look for.
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LOOK: When melted (or kept above 24°C) it should be as clear as water. Any "cloudiness" signifies too much moisture or impurities in the oil. When solid, virgin coconut oil should be white. If it is yellowish, dark, or has small “unknowns” on the bottom of the container, it is not pure.
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FEEL: Pure virgin coconut oil should feel “light”, and never sticky or “gummy”. When a small amount is placed on the forearm and rubbed in, coconut oil should quickly absorb in and dissipate… If there is any “residue” or it doesn’t absorb quickly, this is an indicator that it is not pure.
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SMELL & TASTE: Truly raw and pure virgin coconut oil should smell identical to fresh coconut. If a coconut oil smells “toasted” like an Almond-Joy, overly “buttery”, or has a strong smell? Stay away… These are signals that the oil has been heat-treated, processed, or bleached. Close your eyes and smell the oil, if it has anything other than a faint smell of a fresh coconut? Find a different oil.
5. Production Size. Small-batch virgin coconut oils are almost always superior to mass-produced "contract-manufactured" alternatives. A few individuals produce nearly all the world's coconut oil and sell it to other companies for “relabeling”. This leads to very little transparency and almost no credibility… If a company does not own its own production of coconut oil, this is a huge “red-flag". (Almost all of the problems caused by large corporations can be solved by supporting ethical & vertically-integrated companies. And yes they do exist!)