If you read my blog, you know that we rely heavily on coconut oil in our cooking. Since we try to avoid dairy products, we don’t use butter in our cooking or baking much any longer. And we consider it a healthier option than olive oil, which used to be my go-to cooking oil.

But we also use coconut oil for more than cooking. We use it to make our own toothpaste, to help with my son’s eczema and cradle cap, to condition our hair and my husband has even been experimenting to see if it helps with warts and athlete’s foot.

So, I was very excited when Tropical Traditions recently provided me with samples of their Green Label Virgin Organic Coconut Oil and Expeller-Pressed Organic Coconut Oils for review.

The first thing that impressed me about these products was that, just like the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil that I reviewed last month, these coconut oils both arrived packaged in glass jars. We try to avoid plastics as much as we can in our household, especially for food storage, so I consider that a real benefit. Plus, once we’ve finished the coconut oil, I can always find a good use for nice big glass jars like these.

Green Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Photo courtesy of Tropical Traditions.

Like the Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, the Green Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconuts without any refining and retains the scent and taste of coconuts. Both oils are USDA-certified as organic and do not contain genetically modified organisms. Both are also high in medium-chain triglycerides and lauric acid. They are not hydrogenated oils, nor do they contain trans fats. And Tropical Traditions does not use any solvents in their processing. Basically, these are very healthy oils.

The main difference between the two is that the Green Label is machine-made in a central location, while the Gold Label is made by hand by small farmers. The Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil is produced by cold-pressing the oil out of dried coconut, which produces more oil per coconut, while the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is made using coconut water, which yields less oil per coconut but results in higher levels of antioxidants.

The difference in the manufacturing methods leads to a slight cost difference between the two oils. Tropical Traditions Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in a 32 fl. oz. glass jar retails for $40, while the Green Label retails for $37.50. A 1-gallon (plastic) tub of the Gold Label retails for $120, while the Green Label sells for $110.

In terms of my experience, I did not notice a difference between the Gold and Green labels when it came to cooking performance. They both are high-quality cooking oils that produce a rich flavor when you cook with them. In a raw taste-test, though, I prefer the Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

Overall, I was very pleased with the Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil. For a budget-conscious consumer, it is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a high-quality virgin coconut oil.

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil

Photo courtesy of Tropical Traditions.

The Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil shares many of the same qualities as the Green and Gold Label coconut oils — high in medium-chain triglycerides and lauric acid, no solvents used in the processing, no hydrogenation or trans fats, no genetically modified organisms and it’s USDA-certified as organic — but it’s processed differently. It goes through a steam deodorizing process that produces a bland, tasteless oil.

I really like this coconut oil for cooking recipes where a coconut flavor really isn’t desirable (say, when I’m making an Italian meat sauce). And, to me, the lack of flavor is definitely a benefit for raw consumption. For those who really love coconuts this might not be the case, but as a recent convert to the coconut who still isn’t totally fond of the coconut’s flavor, I prefer a bland oil for raw consumption.

I feel that it’s important to note as well that the Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil, unlike the Green and Gold labels, is refined and not made using fresh coconuts. Like the Green Label, it is machine-made and contains lower level of antioxidants than the Gold Label. It is also lower in some nutrients than the virgin coconut oil, such as Vitamin E (although coconut oil is not a significant source of Vitamin E anyway).

Another huge benefit of the Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil is its affordability. A 32 fluid-ounce glass jar of the Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil retails for $25 — that’s about 38% less than the Gold Label. You can also achieve even greater savings by buying in bulk. For example, you can buy a 1-gallon (plastic) tub for $70. This makes the Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil an especially great option for uses aside from cooking.

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Try it (or win it) yourself

One thing I love about Tropical Traditions is that they always have great promotions running. If you’re interested in trying their coconut oils yourself, here are some of their current promotions on the oils mentioned in this review:

• 26% off Tropical Traditions 32 fl. oz. glass jar of Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• 27% off Tropical Traditions 32 fl. oz. glass jar of Green Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• 33% off Tropical Traditions 32 fl. oz. glass jar of Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil

Also, I’m very pleased to announce that Tropical Traditions has agreed to sponsor a giveaway on my blog! One of my lucky readers will win his or her choice of the Green Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil or Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil. I’ll be posting more details on entering the giveaway soon!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this review post. Tropical Traditions provided their products for review. My opinions are 100% honest and 100% mine. This post also contains affiliate links. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you. Thanks for supporting Our Natural Journey at no cost to you. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

Tweet