coconut oil that tastes like coconut

[Robert Lauriston]

Anybody found coconut oil that tastes and smells like coconut around here?

I bought some from an Indian grocer but it was so expensive that I suspect it was intended as skin lotion.

[Melanie Wong]

Grocery Outlet currently has in stock a brand called Tresomega that's labeled organic extra virgin. Anyone tried it?

[Chowbird]

If you have a Vitamin Shoppe near you, they carry an organic coconut oil -- not very strongly flavored, but at a good price.

I use mine for popping popcorn -- the hint of coconut flavor makes it really yummy! The flavor is just strong enough that I *wouldn't* use the oil for anything I wouldn't want some coconut flavor in.

[MacGuffin]

I recently reviewed Jarrow Formula Extra-Virgin for Amazon Vine and liked it a lot--a rather strong, Mounds-like flavor, aroma, and texture. It's in a plastic jar, though, for those concerned with that.

[demitasse04]

Trader Joe's has an organic version that has a light coconut odor and about $5

[MacGuffin]

Have you tasted it?

[demitasse04]

Well, yah- that's how I know it has a light coconut odor; I've used it for scrambling eggs and such. Was planning on using it more due to touted health benefits but keep forgetting it's there- maybe this will prompt me to use it more. Do you use coconut oil regularly- if so, how? TIA!

[MacGuffin]

I just eat it out of the jar--it's not so bad. I have a lot of Tropical Traditions Gold Label I bought on sale and while it doesn't taste as good as Dr. Bronner's, it has a very nice mouthfeel (comparatively speaking). I bought a sample of a brand called Coconut Oil Supreme that claims to be fabulously delicious but it's just "eh," and very expensive to boot.

[emily]

How does Dr. Bronner's compare to Nutiva?

[MacGuffin]

I've never had Nutiva.

[organix]

I think that Jarrow brand is by far the best. Make sure you get "organic-extra virgin"
Whole foods carries it.

[MacGuffin]

FWIW, coconut oil has no actual "extra-virgin" industry designation; even "virgin" isn't official (although it's understood to refer to COs that meet certain criteria). The CO industry shanghaied the terms from the olive oil industry; no other type of food oil is so labeled. Coincidentally, Steve Jenkins ran an olive oil class (nine oils!) at Fairway's flagship store last week during which he explained that "virgin" and "extra-virgin" refer to the level of acidity in olive oil and that this term is often misused by vendors and hence misunderstood by consumers. If you do some research (which I did when confronted with both descriptions on labels), you'll learn that "extra-virgin" is, in this case, marketing hype, i.e., meaningless. I have an aversion to hype although such oils can certainly taste good (the aforementioned Living Foods, in my case).

[boris_qd]

According to the USDA there are further distinctions between "Virgin" and "Extra Virgin" besides acidity.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfi...

See the chart on page 9.

[Robert Lauriston]

For olive oil. As MacGuffin said, there's no regulation of either term on coconut oil labels.

[boris_qd]

Yes sorry. I was replying to the olive oil portion of the post.

[MacGuffin]

Yes, I'm aware of the USDA distinction (which I don't think anyone takes seriously but it doesn't surprise me that they had to get their 2¢ in). I was referring to the standards of the IOC (of which the US is not a member), i.e., those who actually produce olive oil, not government regulatory agencies (read: bureaucrats).
http://www.fairwaymarket.com/evoo/

[scubadoo97]

"organic-extra virgin" "Whole foods carries it"

Figures

[MacGuffin]

LOL and of course there's no agreed-upon industry standard for "extra-virgin" coconut oil. Pure hype. To their credit, Bronner's doesn't use it. Still, if the oil's good, e.g. Jarrow Formula...

[MacGuffin]

Dr. Bronner's with the brown label smells/tastes like coconut; so does Living Foods. You're probably okay with anything that's labeled "virgin." As to "raw," they all have to be heated during processing to remove moisture, not to mention that coconuts grow in tropical climates and are pretty much always hot in their raw state. The allegedly healthful qualities aren't denatured during heating which is why consumers are encouraged to cook with it.

[Robert Lauriston]

I got some of the Dr. Bronner's, it's delicious.

[MacGuffin]

It really is, isn't it? I'm playing with a few different brands; once I use up this one, I'll try another. This sets the bar pretty high, though.

[walker]

Is that the brand they carry at WF? I've seen some at TJ. Where did you get yours? (This is in ref. to Dr. Bronner.)

[MacGuffin]

I live in NYC and bought it at a local health food store but I saw it today at WF and my guess is that they probably carry it nationally. They had both types--the "white kernel," which is made with just the meat, and the "whole kernel," which is processed with the brown skin as well and isn't quite as white. The latter (which has a brown label) is the one I have and if you like the taste/aroma of coconut, it's a safe bet you'll be happy with it: http://www.drbronner.com/coconut_oils... . It's not cheap but it really does taste good and given the fully merited success of their soap, I think they're very committed to quality.

[Robert Lauriston]

I think at Berkeley Bowl.

[Melanie Wong]

This thread was helpful when I was shopping at Rainbow Grocery yesterday and confronted with a shelf full of different coconut oil brands. I bought Dr Bronner's and used it to fry some eggs this morning. Previously I'd only used Trader Joe's. Dr. Bronner's has a much more clean and pure aroma.

Rainbow also has Nutiva and Living Foods. I bought Dr Bronner's because it was priced less than the other two. Another brand, Aunt Patty's, was on promotion sale, less than $15 for 30+ ounces.

I've also been using coconut oil for stir-fries. I especially like it for making fried rice dishes from day-old rice and leftovers, gives the dish something new.

[MacGuffin]

:)
Which Dr. B.'s did you get, the white or brown label? If you want a neutral coconut oil without flavor or aroma, get one that doesn't state "virgin" on the label. From what I've read, there's very little difference in nutritive value between virgin and refined as long as the non-virgin isn't hydrogenated. I know that Jarrow Formula offers virgin and refined.

I'm pretty sure that both of the Dr. B. offerings are virgin; it's just that one is processed with the brown skin intact.

[Melanie Wong]

Aha! This is the white label:

Dr. Bronner's
MAGIC
"All-One!"
Fair Trade & Organic
Fresh-pressed Virgin
Coconut Oil
White Kernel Unrefined
Mild Delicate Flavor

It has coconut aroma but not as much on the palate. I don't mind the coconut taste, goes with most of what I'm cooking anyway.

Oh, I also use it to pan fry fish.

[MacGuffin]

I haven't tried the white label, mainly because the brown label is so much up my alley. I have no doubt, though, that it's good stuff. I've been a fan of all things Bronner's for many, many years. It seems to me that coconut oil is their first foray back into food in a long time.

[bbq babe]

I've heard good things about the International Harvest brand. It's raw (which I would think would preserve flavor/aroma), organic, and less expensive than many others.

[goodhealthgourmet]

of all the major widely available brands, i've found that Nutiva has the strongest flavor & aroma.