Do you know your Coconut Oil?
By Susan Dewhirst in Natural Products
Coconuts have been getting a lot of attention lately, with the oil from coconuts showing up as an ingredient in everything from vegan ice cream to shampoo. Have you noticed an influx of coconut products in your regular shopping? It can sometimes be confusing knowing what all the attention is about!
I recently spoke with Paul and Kathy from our Product Innovation Team to get some background on coconut oil generally, and specifically, the Fair Trade Certified™, virgin, organic coconut oil used in Tom’s of Maine’s New Natural Creamy Coconut body washes and bar soaps. Think you know your coconut oil? Read on.
Origin of Coconut Oil
Originally from southeast Asia, coconuts have spread to different areas of the world through human migration. The majority of coconuts come from Indonesia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Thailand
For decades, coconuts have been grown on larger farms and co-operatives. Recently, coconut farming has evolved further, with hundreds of small farms in the Philippines leading the way in organic and Fair Trade Certified™ (FTC) coconut production. These coconuts grow
Coconut Oil Uses and Varieties
Have you recently tried a recipe that called for coconut oil? Coconut oil has become popular to cook with, and is often highlighted in healthy cooking blogs. It is also increasingly found in personal and home care products where it’s used as a moisturizer, for its lovely scent or, as a surfactant, a substance that helps other liquids spread.
You may have noticed in your own shopping that coconut oil comes in different varieties. For many people, this is where things can get confusing! In talking to our team here at Tom’s of Maine, I learned that the processing of the oils is often what distinguishes Refined from Unrefined.
Refined Coconut Oil is made with minimally processed copra, the dried coconut fruit removed from the shell. The oil from copra usually has to be made into a surfactant through a purifying process because contaminants can arise during the drying process. It’s then put under high heat to remove the odor and the flavor.
Unrefined Coconut Oil, also referred to as Virgin or Pure, is the oil taken from the fresh, just picked wet coconut meat. The unrefined oil can be processed using two methods; quick drying or cold processing (also known as wet milling). With quick
When it came time to formulate our new line of
What is your favorite coconut oil use?
Learn more about Tom’s of Maine products with Fair Trade Certified™ organic, virgin coconut oil:
NEW – Tom’s of Maine Natural Creamy Coconut Bar Soap
NEW Tom’s of Maine’s Natural Moisturizing Body Wash
Tom’s of Maine publishes the purpose and source of all the ingredients we use on our website. If you would like to learn more, contact us on Facebook or give us a call at 800 FOR TOMS (367 8667).
Why It’s Good
Coconut oil has been getting a lot of attention lately, showing up as an ingredient in everything from vegan ice cream to shampoo. Understanding the terms Unrefined, Refined, Pure and Virgin can help naviate the ingredients on product labels. I spoke with the Tom's of Maine Innovation Team to get clarity the terms, coconut oil generally and the virgin, Fair Trade Certified™ coconut oil used in Tom's of Maine's New Natural Creamy Coconut body washes and bar soaps.