Organic, Fairly Traded Coconut Range from Essential

June 8, 2009 by Brenda
Filed under Featured Posts, Featured Retailers, Food & Drink

Essential is introducing an organic coconut range – comprising Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Cream and Organic Coconut Milk – to use in the kitchen and on your skin! Coconut oil, cream and milk are increasingly popular for their health and beauty benefits. Sadly, some producers are making the most of this by clearing tropical forestland to plant coconuts and exploit this market. You can rest assured with Essential: it sources its coconut products from sustainable co-operative groves in Sri Lanka that are on established land in balance with the environment and not on cleared land.

A healthy choice – Coconut oil, cream and milk were once mistakenly considered to be unhealthy as they are high in fat. But it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is in fact a good fat with many health giving properties. Coconut oil comprises medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that do not have a negative effect on cholesterol; in fact can help to protect against heart disease. The body uses MCFAs differently from other fats and it can actually help to reduce weight by increasing the metabolic rate; it is digested and assimilated readily and unlike other saturated fats, isn’t stored as ‘fat’ in the body.

Functional food – Coconut is rich in nutrients, fibre, vitamins and minerals and is classified as a ‘functional food’ because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. In countries where it grows it is a staple in the diet. Nearly one third of the world’s population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. So it’s hardly the ‘rare’ ingredient we consider it to be in the UK!

How to enjoy Essential organic coconut milk, oil and cream

Essential Organic Coconut Milk (400g £1.19) – use it in place of cow’s milk for vegans and people with a lactose intolerance.

Essential Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (210ml £2.99 & 690ml £7.99) – use it in sweet and savoury dishes, biscuits, ‘cheesecake’, salad dressings and for sweet and savoury dips.

Essential Organic Coconut Cream (200g £0.82) – use it in place of double cream in both sweet and savoury recipes. It makes excellent ice cream and is ideal to swirl into stews and curries as it enriches and thickens sauces.

The Essential Coconut range is available to buy at good health food stores and online stores listed at www.essential-trading.coop.