Ok, I am a bit cynical sometimes (don't cough so loudly!), skeptical about giveaways and promotions. And I have purposely shied away from the commercial on my blog (I don't want to give mixed messages and have my hands tied). Add to that a previous experience with a product I didn't like and why would I try a product offered from the same company on the condition that I review it on my blog? Well, curiosity and trust in my own internal "truth-teller". And I was out of coconut oil (that last part's only kinda sorta true--I had a bit, and this town is not that small. We have an adorable health food store! I can buy what I need, really. But who doesn't like free?).
So when Tropical Traditions approached me about reviewing their new Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil I said yes, but with those reservations intact. I knew I would have to write whatever my truth was, and that they might not like that, but that I will not compromise my beliefs just for some free product.
They sent me a quart jar and a book on coconut oil. Very trusting, I'd say. They don't know that much about me. They don't know that I have told people in the past that theirs was not my favorite product.
What I learned very quickly was that they have reason for this faith: the oil is really good. No, great. Smooth and delicately delicious, it has a coconut scent but does not smell like suntan lotion (my husband's usual complaint). It disappears into dishes but adds a gentle richness. In short, it has all of the best attributes of a coconut oil and none of the drawbacks. Click over to Tropical Traditions' explanation of how this oil is made, because I found it very enlightening; it seems to make a lot of sense as a process.
I tried the oil straight out of the jar (yum!) and in many dishes. I tried it on friends and family. And we did blind taste tests against other brands, where I had people give me their impressions without knowing what kind they were tasting. And this oil passed all of those examinations with flying colors.
Most of you are probably already using some coconut oil and understand it's potential benefits. If you choose to try the Gold Label oil out, do mention that I referred you (my ID# is 5015484). I may be cynical, but I am practical: I like the stuff and I would love to get some more!
Enjoy, and add some coconut goodness to your meals and your life.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
8 comments:
This sounds good. I have been getting coconut oil from the Coconut Grove Farmer's Market aka Glaser Farms, which is supposed to be very high quality. I know they buy it in bulk and package it for the market and I don't know the name of the company that produces it. Did you ever try it when you were here, and if so, how does this brand compare?
That last post was from me. It got to be "anonnymous" by mistake.
Good to read you review. I use coconut oil on everything, my skin, my hair, my sons excema...oh yeah, and cooking! it's like the Windex in the movie Big Fat Greek Wedding. I love coconut oil.
Thanks for the review, I have never tried their product, but will.
Hi Maddy! No I never did use the oil from Stan, but my guess is you can get an equivalent product at a better price by looking around some. I used to order in bulk from Simply Coconut and I still like their oil, but I don't have a lot of storage space here (which I am sure you can understand)
I really think it's a matter of personal taste. There are a lot of good quality oils out there, but each has a different nuance and you have to try a few until you find the ones you prefer.
Amanda, I use coconut oil alot, though I have used less since moving to WA, with it's cooler, totally non-tropical climate. I am using more animal fats here, which seems right. I like it in baking and for sauteing greens especially. And I used to use it as deoderant in Miami, with a couple of drops of tea tree oil in the container . . .
I love coconut oil but have trouble reconciling the price discrepancies between the small, premium oils marketed in small bottles versus what you can get at Wal-mart (I hate saying that but it's like 1/4 the price!)
Well, that's one of the problems with the Wallmart-ization of commerce: they undercut other suppliers with inferior product and people can't help but succumb to the charms of buying cheaply. So then the other suppliers, who produce food (or clothes or whatever) with integrity, paying decent wages, not cutting corners, not pushing through regulations to favor the commodity mentality, they get squeezed out of business. Then none of us have any choice. Look at the milk that WalMart sells as organic: it's from Dean foods (Horizon is the branded version) and is not at all up to organic standards, in fact is the subject of lawsuits
I do understand the need to economize, and have been known to shop at WalMart on occasion, but it is wise to at least have our eyes open and understand what we are doing when we make those choices.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the kind words! Come by again soon.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the kind words! Come by again soon.
Post a Comment