As many of you know, I’m a longtime lover of Tropical Traditions. I shop Tropical Traditions for almost ALL of my coconut products including coconut oil, coconut cream concentrate, coconut chips, shreds, and flour. Here I am with a 5 gallon container of their organic expeller-pressed coconut oil. Did I use it all? Heck yes!

I love coconut oil!

Tropical Traditions was kind enough to send me a quart jar of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to review (and one to give away… Keep reading for more info!)

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

The many uses of coconut oil…

There are hundreds of uses for coconut oil! Click here for a video that shows just a few. Personally, I use it for cooking, baking, roasting, sauteeing (you name it) as well as skincare.

Skincare

For the Face

For the past year I have used Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil as my one and only facial moisturizer. I use it in the morning and evening, and have found that it works wonders on my acne. If I have a blemish, I load it up with coconut oil and it is significantly smaller (if not gone) within 24 hours.

For the Body

I got the idea for making “whipped body butter” from a FemFusion Fitness Facebook friend… It’s so easy! Here’s what you do: Whip 1/2 cup of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil in a food processor or blender and add a few drops of essential oils…  I made a small jar of arnica-infused body butter for sore muscles, and a small jar of wild rose-infused body butter for relaxation.

For Cooking

I always use the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for my body/skin, but in the past I have opted for the Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller-Pressed coconut oil for most of my cooking (it’s much more economical). I’m too cheap to use the “super-good stuff” (the Gold Label) for cooking, so it was a treat to use the quart jar of Gold Label not only for my “whipped body butter” (see above) but ALSO for cooking. I wanted to see the difference between the expeller-pressed that I typically use and the Gold Label.

My thoughts on cooking with Tropical Traditions Gold Label virgin coconut oil:

The Gold Label oil is definitely softer and smoother than my expeller-pressed oil. It’s more luxurious, like butter. It has a stronger (although still subtle) coconut flavor, which I was concerned about when I used it in savory items… But it worked out! To reduce the “coconutty” flavor when cooking savory items, I “cut” the coconut oil with another oil. For example, I used half olive oil + half coconut oil for an Italian-style chicken recipe, and half sesame oil + half coconut oil for an Asian-style stirfry.

The Gold Label oil was perfect when used full-strength in baking. I had great results using it in the following recipes from Real Sustenance: Chestnut Banana Bread, and Worlds Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. It was also amazing — I’m talking melt-in-your-mouth-amazing — in Betty Rawker’s Raw Chocolate Truffles (from www.fastpaleo.com), and my Frozen Chocolate Mint Meltaways.

Are you hungry yet?

Tropical Traditions also has several recipe videos on their YouTube channel that you might want to check out (click here)!

The Giveaway!

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil! A $40 value!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the  advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Enter Today…

Click on the following link to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway. You will be guided through different entry options that will score you points. The more points you earn, the more likely you are to WIN! The contest will run from today, February 5, 2013 through next Tuesday (February 12, 2013). Winner will be notified via email. Note: Open to US and Canada residents only (US military APO addresses included). 

One more time… Here’s the link to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway!