Our coconut oil is made from coconuts grown on traditional tall palms on an organically certified plantation. This ensures a supply of high quality coconuts. Our company is the sole UK importer of this top quality, OHGA certified organic, smooth, light and creamy virgin oil. Our supplier can guarantee the production method, from the harvesting of the coconuts, right through the low heat production process, to delivery.
So, what makes our coconut oil a superior, top quality oil?
Extraction, Processing and Good Management Procedures
Harvesting and use of only correctly identified mature coconuts.
It is argued that all coconuts are grown organically but
this
is a huge misconception. In many areas there is cross-cultivation
of cocoa trees and other crops such as vanilla, which are
planted in the same areas, and agents are often used to keep
grass and weeds manageable. In this regard, our organic certification
(OHGA - Organic Herb Growers of Australia) is a true reflection
of how
the coconuts are produced - on a plantation* growing only
traditional tall coconut palms (not hybrid varieties).
Reducing the time to a minimum between harvesting, opening
and drying of the fresh coconut flesh and the extraction of
the oil.
All communities, plantations and processing centres carry
current certified organic processing certificates from AQIS
and IFOAM accredited Australian Certification Agencies.
All communities have to comply with stringent hygiene and
cleanliness standards.
Low temperature and pressure mechanical extraction methods.
Particle extraction though sedimentation processes or low
pressure filters.
All our oils are free from any chemical processes, no trans
fatty acids and produced below 60°C.
In a more detailed outline, the day begins at about 6 in the
morning when the nuts are harvested in the field. They are
then cut in half and the fresh coconut flesh is cut out of
the nut. The fresh meat is taken to the centralised dryer.
By 10am the drying process begins and lasts for around 24
hours. The meat is dried using warm clean air generated from
the internal bio-mass electricity generator (classically known
as a steam engine) that drives a turbine, generating green
power for the entire estate*.
The next morning the dried coconut flesh is crushed and pressed to extract the oil. When the oil flows from the mill it runs through a sieve to extract the larger particles that may still be found in the oil. After that, the oil is pumped through a cloth filter, pressed to remove most of the fine particles that may be found in virgin oil, and placed into a settling tank. From the settling tank into drums ready for sale.
* Wainiyaku Estate is located on Taveuni Island, in the north east corner of Fiji. Unlike most plantations around the world, Wainiyaku Estate only has traditional tall coconut palms, cultivated by Adrian Tarte and his family over the last 130 years. Adrian Tarte CBE has just received an Award from the Fiji Coconut Board for his long and outstanding contribution to the production of coconut oil over the last 50 years. His experience is immense, his dedication to both the environment and his 300 staff who all live on the Estate is amazing and his desire to keep producing the best Virgin Coconut Oil gives us much confidence for the future.
In the not too distant future we hope to be able to take you to Fiji via the internet to allow you to have a good look at where our oil comes from.