How is coconut oil produced?

Thecoconut treeis botanically known asCocos nucifera. It is a palm tree belonging to the Arecaceae family, and its origin remains somewhat uncertain, although it is believed to be Malaysia. Today, the coconut treeis one of the most cultivated plants in thesubtropical and tropical regions of the world; it thus grows in over 90 countries includingIndonesia, the Philippines, and India. The fruits of the coconut tree are oval and hard and can weigh up to 1.5 kg. The oil extracted from it is rich in saturated fatty acids, and contains predominantly lauric acid. Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is renowned for both skin and hair care as well as in cooking. It is a concrete oil at a temperature of 20°C or lower.

Coconuts contain an edible pulp from which vegetable oil is extracted by first cold pressing. This process is none other than the oldest method used to produce vegetable oils.

1. The first step involves harvesting the fruits. To obtain high-quality coconut oil, it is necessary to select coconuts that come from organic farming and have reached maturity (young coconuts contain more coconut water and less flesh). For a coconut to reach this stage, it takes about a year.

2. Next comes theextraction of the pulp in question, which is then finely grated.

3. Without the use of chemical intervention or bleaching ingredients, the coconut meat (the pulp) is soaked in pure water. It is only after this that it is pressed in a hydraulic press, until a milk is fully expelled. It is in this extracted coconut milk that coconut oil is found.This step is carried out at room temperature and does not involve any chemical reactions.

4. The collected milk is then left to decant, in order to separate the aqueous phase from the organic phase.

5. The recovered oil is finally filtered to remove all impurities and aggregates. The oil obtained by this method is considered virgin coconut oil. It retains all its natural properties and is thus recommended in the design of various beauty treatments.