Which oil – lesson 4

Is tasteless good?

Here is a change of tone. In this lesson, I’d like to introduce you to a typical oil choice dilemma.

Out there in a big market place, there are coconut oils that have absolutely no taste. Is this a good thing?

In short, if it is doesn’t smell like something, it’s sterile. (It may get your metabolism moving, but it is not truly Virgin).

If it says, “Pharmaceutical grade” look out!

If it has no taste, something is missing. The image below is virgin coconut oil, which has a coconut smell. But not much of one. One person who was used to the tasteless smell of Ceres High Heat Cooking Oil thought the smell was quite prevalent.

We’ve edited a typical email which shows you the predicament people find themselves in.

“Dear Coconut Oil Shop,

I thought I would try the Ceres from the supermarket which is the purple label 200ml. I read what you’ve stated on your website about it and on the purple label on the jar I purchased it. It just states “CeresOrganics Coconut Oil high-heat cooking oil. Nowhere on the jar does it state it is virgin or cold-pressed. So perhaps they’ve changed their labeling and taken off the “organic cold-pressed” part. Either that or they also sell the “organic cold-pressed” oil which wasn’t available at the supermarkets I tried.

Anyway, the Ceres from the supermarket has no taste.”

I was wondering how the Ceres you sell in the pail (Extra Virgin Coconut Oil) compares in taste to the supermarket one, or to Induskera so I can decide which brand bulk amount to buy.”

Here is our reply, again edited.

“Thanks for your email.

We’re going to try and mask the coconut taste by adding some other oil, and letting it solidify, and putting it on bread, we’ll let you know what happens.

As far as deep frying is concerned, we’ve got a deep frier (bench top variety) and set it just below 170 C and only steam rose from the top.

To answer your question directly.

Ceres (VCO) has very little taste or smell. (By the way, this one of it’s redeeming qualities).
Give it a try.”

The purple label oil by Ceres Organics is organic oil, we understand. But as Dr Gursche, in Canada points out, don’t confuse the importance of organic coconut oil with the importance of Virgin oil.

Purple label Ceres Organics coconut oil would make a great diesel ingredient, we have no doubt. But it has already been heated up to 180 C, and pressurised under great pressure to extract the last remnants of oil from second grade copra (sun dried coconut oil flesh).

It is certainly not virgin oil.

There are other oils like this that don’t fit in the “trans fat” category. These coconut oils are not processed with chemicals. But they are not unrefined either.

In our opinion if you’re paying a high price for vegetable oils in return for extra special health benefits, like Laurice Acid – also available in mother’s milk, then a “high heat cooking oil” is not going to provide them for you. That is what we believe.

So if it doesn’t smell of something natural, there is something wrong. In the case of Ceres Organics purple label high heat cooking oil, it is not Virgin. They have pressurised the remnants of oil out at high heat before you even use it for cooking.

We also stated above, if it is “Pharmaceutical grade” watch out

Let me ask you a simple question. Are you like the person standing, lying or sitting closest to you? I mean, just the same as them?

The last person I asked that question to agreed it was probably a good thing we two were not alike!

“Pharmaceutical grade”

When a product meets Pharmaceutical grade, it means that everything is alike. We think that cooking oil should be allowed to be unrefined, and bio-dynamic. In other words, we don’t think it is natural for every batch of coconut oil produced to meet the exact same specifications. You and I don’t!

Any deodorising technique other than room temperature fermentation will damage the oil’s special qualities. With regard to Ceres Organics purple label high heat cooking oil, it has been heated to temperatures well in excess of 170 C (degrees).

As you can see, we think unrefined oil is best for human consumption because excessive refinement is not natural.

Virgin oil needs no refining

Coconut Oil comes from the milk found in coconut flesh. It flushes out in a clean way. It doesn’t need any refinement. But when you start dealing with the dregs, the second pressing, and what can be called Crude Oil, then the oil is no longer clear when liquid. It doesn’t taste nice, and it will require refining, deodorising, and or bleaching.

This oil is called RBD oil. This is the quality of oil that is used for fuel or making into diesel.

As Coconut Oil becomes more mainstream, there will always be people who cut corners on quality to achieve a sterile taste or achieve a higher smoke point. Purple label Ceres oil is one of them.

But we decided that we want to serve those who care about the quality of their oil. We select and reject our oil based on taste, type of processing, and bulk packaging being available. What makes us different in the New Zealand market place is that we specialise in the supply of virgin coconut oil because Wit is a complete product which requires no refining to deliver its life giving properties to those who eat it, oil pull with it, and use it on their skin or hair.

Proceed to lesson 5 – what about which unfermented oil?