Coconut oil comes from the nut (fruit) of the coconut palm belonging to the Arecaceae family. The name coconut comes from the Old Portuguese word coco, meaning “head” or “skull”. About 75% of coconut supply is produced by Indonesia, the Philippines, and India combined. In Hindu rituals, coconut has a special place with cultural and religious significance.
There are two varieties of coconut oil-
- Refined coconut oil
- Virgin coconut oil
Refined coconut oil is a processed oil with heat. It has a mild coconut flavour because of dried coconut or copra preparation. First, bake the coconuts before the oil extraction. Then the oil is “bleached” to kill off microbes and remove any dust particles and insects. Bleaching does not involve a household cleaner. It is a process by which the oil passed through a bleaching clay for filtration. After that, the result is a clear, mild-tasting oil.