Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil {REVIEW & GIVEAWAY}

I have recently heard wonderful things about coconut oil and how it's a good oil to cook with and I have always loved coconut flavored products, so I was thrilled to receive a jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to review.

Here's some information directly from the Tropical Traditions website:

Characteristics of Our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

This Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil. This coconut oil is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines. Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world! Testing done in independent laboratories reveals higher levels of phenolic antioxidants than other coconut oils. The fresh coconut meat is shredded (wet milled), and then cold-pressed using the water from inside the coconuts to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil is then filtered from the curds (coconut solids). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used, and this oil contains no trans fatty acids. We do NOT mass produce this oil. It is made by families who are coconut farmers using old-fashioned traditional methods that have been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Our coconut trees and family producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. The families who produce the oil are also trained according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and re-certified each year. This high-grade Virgin Coconut Oil has a long shelf life due to the high antioxidant properties. The Gold Label standard is our highest standard for Virgin Coconut Oil. Read more.

Check out this short video on how Tropical Traditions discovered this virgin coconut oil:

How did I use it?

When I received the 32 oz. jar of Gold Label Coconut Oil, I started doing some research on what recipes I would like to make.  There are plenty of options at FreeCoconutRecipes.com and I had a hard time choosing just one!  I ended up choosing the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter No-Bakes.  My husband loves a recipe that is very similar to this one but uses oatmeal in place of the coconut so I thought I would broaden his horizons and try something new.  These turned out to be incredibly delicious!  We both loved the texture that the shredded coconut added and the flavor from the coconut oil was really subtle.  I originally thought these would be greasy due to the coconut oil and the peanut butter, but they weren't.  I didn't even have a chance to take any pictures because they were gobbled up so quickly!  I can't wait to try more recipes!

Where can you buy some?

Tropical Traditions sells all of their products on their website but they also are sold in some retail outlets.  Check out the listings by state here.  Tropical Traditions also has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number 6062973. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet.  If you need help getting started, just contact the customer service department here.

How you can win!

Tropical Traditions has agreed to give away a free quart of coconut oil to one of my readers!  This quart of coconut oil is valued at $27.50!

Mandatory Entry

You must be a follower of my blog through Google Friend Connect and subscribe to the Tropical Traditions sales newsletter.  Please leave a comment letting me know that you have done both of these things for your mandatory entry.

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Win a quart of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil! @curlyq776 @troptraditions http://bit.ly/cZNc3j Ends 5/19

This giveaway will close on May 19th at 11:59 pm PDT. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. The winner will be chosen via random.org, announced on this blog and notified by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen and notified.

Thanks to Tropical Traditions for sponsoring this giveaway! 

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.