Two Main Processes used for manufacture of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Two Main Processes used for manufacture of Virgin Coconut Oil

Starting Point
	1. Quick drying of fresh coconut meat. Using this method, minimal heat is used to quick dry the coconut meat, and the oil is then pressed out via mechanical means. 2. Wet-milling. The oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. "Coconut milk" is expressed first by pressing, then the oil is then further separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and mechanical centrifuge. The final moisture content of the oil must be reduced to 0.1% or less to prevent the oil from becoming rancid. The manner in which this requirement is met depends on the extraction method used as described below.
DME (Direct Micro Expeller).
	This oil is extracted from freshly grated coconut meat which is first dried and then pressed. Since there is still moisture in the coconut meat the liquid produced is about 90% oil and 10% water. This mixture is allowed to stand so that the oil will separate from the water. Some heat is then generally used to remove any water that remains. This oil has a light to medium texture.
Premium Virgin Oil.
	This process produces oil with the least amount of processing so that the natural vitamin E, antioxidants and fresh coconut "essence" are retained. Fresh coconut meat is grated and expeller pressed to produce coconut milk (like the process below). The coconut milk is then centrifuged to separate the mixture into solid components, water and oil. This oil has a very light texture and since no heat at all is applied it retains all the flavor and scent of fresh coconut.
*Traditional Hand Pressed/Home Made*.
	In this process, fresh coconut meat is grated and pressed to produce a coconut milk which is a mixture of oil, water, proteins, etc. The milk is then fermented for 24-36 hours, and the oil is then separated and filtered from the curds. No chemical or high-heat treatment is used. It is made by families who are coconut farmers using old-fashioned traditional methods that have been used here for hundreds of years. The coconut trees and family producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. This high-grade virgin coconut oil has a long shelf life due to coconut oil's natural anti-oxidant properties. It has the longest shelf life of any plant oil!