FAQ

How is coconut oil made?

Coconut oil can be extracted through several methods. Usually, two main types of coconut oil are extracted through these methods, viz., virgin and refined coconut oil.

Virgin Coconut Oil focuses on preserving the natural flavour and aroma of the coconut. It is made from fresh or dried coconut meat or milk.

Here are some common methods for extracting virgin coconut oil:
Wet-milling: In this method, fresh coconut meat is grated and mixed with water. It is then squeezed to extract coconut milk. The oil is then separated from the milk through skimming, fermentation or centrifugation.

Drying: In this method, dried coconut meat (called copra) is crushed and pressed to extract the oil. This is considered less efficient than wet-milling. 

Refined Coconut Oil extraction involves additional processing to remove impurities, free fatty acids and odour.

It uses copra or dried coconut kernels.

Here are some common methods for extracting refined coconut oil:
Expeller Pressing: In this method, copra is crushed and pressed with a mechanical expeller to extract most of the oil.

Solvent Extraction: Sometimes, chemical solvents like hexane are used to extract any remaining oil from the coconut pressings. This method is efficient but can leave trace amounts of solvent in the oil, if not properly refined.

Refining: The extracted oil undergoes further processing to remove impurities, colour, and odour. This may involve bleaching and deodorization.