Review: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Until just a few months ago, I had never heard of coconut oil. Boy, was I missing out! Since then, I’ve tried several brands.

Recently, I received a 32 oz. jar of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions in return for a review here on my blog. I must admit that so far, it’s my favorite of the brands I’ve tried! (See my Disclaimer below.)

This unrefined coconut oil comes from the Philippines. “Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world!” (Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil page)

I can vouch for this statement…this coconut oil has a rich flavor & scent. I have used it in numerous recipes & can’t wait to try even more. Some of our family favorites include:

* Homemade granola

* Stovetop Popcorn (it gives the popcorn a hint of coconut flavor that my kids love & the only topping we put on is a dash of salt)

* Skillet-fried potatoes

* Stir-fry chicken (YUMMY!)

* as a spread on toast instead of butter

* Homemade toothpaste

Coconut oil comes in a solid form that can easily be melted for a wide variety of uses. When its temperature reaches above 75 degrees F, it will be a liquid. From articles I've read, it does not hurt the coconut oil to go back & forth in it's form. 

It is one of the healthier oils & can be easily used in place of other oils for baking & cooking. And, as you can see from my list above where I made toothpaste, it's not just for baking. While I haven't tried it yet, I've heard of others using it as a facial cream. No wonder Tropical Traditions carries a variety of sizes...16 oz, 32 oz, 1 gallon, & 5 gallon!

There are hundreds of uses & you can find many recipes on Tropical Traditions website. They also provided this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x28yuVzwrMk

If you've not tried coconut oil yet, I encourage you to give it a shot. While Tropical Traditions may cost more than those coconut oils found in grocery stores, theirs is well-worth the price. They also offer occasional specials, too, so be sure to check their website often. 

(Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.)