Coconut Oil, All you Need to Know

Our Philippine Coconut Oil has a rich aroma and taste. It is unrefined and cold pressed and is a natural substitute for processed oils and butter. 

  • Monkeys are NOT used to harvest the coconuts
  • # 1 Ethical Best Buy, as voted by the Ethical Consumer Magazine, scoring 18/18
  • No gluten, lactose, cholesterol, additives and non GM
  • Nut and peanut free
  • Perfect for cooking, baking and beauty
  • Use as a hair mask, skin moisturiser & for oil pulling
      How to Use

      You can use it to replace all processed oils, butters and margarines.

      Fry with it
      Roast with it
      Bake with it
      Spread it instead of butter
      It is even great for applying to skin and hair as a natural beauty product!

      More Info

      What do I Taste Like?
      Coconut oil varies in taste depending on where the coconuts are grown and how it is produced. Our Coconut Oil is from the Philippines and has a rich aroma and taste.


      Where am I From?
      The coconuts used for this oil are grown in the Philippines in agroforestry (an eco-friendly environment) amongst banana trees. The oil is from single estates and is not blended.


      Why Fair Trade?
      With your help, we’re making a difference to the lives of those who produce our Coconut Oil.
      In the Philippines we’ve helped build two wells, providing clean, safe water; solar panels; and scholarships for children’s education.


      Ethical Best Buy
      Leading ethical and environmental magazine, Ethical Consumer (est. 1989), recently voted Lucy Bee Coconut Oil as the ‘Best Buy’, for coconut oil in the UK market. We came out as the winner for the most ethical coconut oil.


      Packaging

      Our 500ml Coconut Oil is bottled in a recyclable glass jar, which is made from approximately 20% recycled glass and uses an easy peel label.

      The lid is tin plated steel of the highest quality available and is BPA free with a liner which is a BPA-Non intent design. The tamper seal is PET plastic, which is recyclable. 

      FAQs
      • Are monkeys used to pick the coconuts?

      Absolutely not.

      Part of our Fair Trade certification guarantees no animal cruelty and you can read more about this on our blog here, including an interview with Winfried Fuchshofen PhD, the director of FairTSA who certifies our Coconut Oil.

      Our producer from the Philippines says “In the Philippines, it is not custom to utilize monkeys or any other animals to collect coconuts from the tree. Harvesting method is either manual (climbing) or using bamboo pole.”

      • Is there mass deforestation in the areas where the coconuts used in your products are grown?

      There is not mass deforestation in the areas where the coconuts are grown which are used in our products. Our producer in the Philippines, confirms, “Unlike Palm Oil - where the forest is totally denuded or burned to make way for the planting of the palm trees, the coconut plantation grows with other crops and does not need the forest or farm to be completely cleared.

      "Also, the harvesting of the coconuts involves the farmer climbing the coconut trees and pick the coconuts that are of mature age.  All parts of the coconut are processed into a particular product and nothing is thrown away.  All are biodegradable and does not affect the environment."

      • Can you deep fry with Lucy Bee Coconut Oil

      Lucy Bee Coconut Oil is unrefined and has a smoke point around 178C, 350F. As such, it is best suited for general frying, roasting or use as a dairy free alternative in baking, rather than deep frying.

      • Is it ok to fry with coconut oil?

      Unrefined coconut oil is a saturated fat and because of this is a stable fat that is non-toxic when heated - it doesn't become a trans-fat or create harmful free radicals.

      It has a smoke point of approx. 178C, 350F and a flash point (the point at which the vapours will ignite) around 315C or 600F degrees.

      Unrefined coconut oil is a good replacement for processed oils when frying, roasting and baking.

      • What is the smoke point of your coconut oil?

      Our unrefined coconut oil has a smoke point of approx. 178C, 350F. The smoke point is the point at which an oil starts to give off a blueish haze.

      Coconut oil is non-toxic when heated because it is a saturated fat (made up of medium-chain fatty acids) which is a more stable fat.

      The smoke point is not to be confused with the flash point, which is the point at which the vapours will ignite. The flash point of coconut oil is 315C, 600F.

      • What is the flash point of your coconut oil?

      Our unrefined coconut oil has a flash point of 315C, 600F.

      The flash point of an oil is the point at which the vapours will ignite.

      This is not to be confused with the smoke point, which is the point at which the oil starts to give off a blueish haze. The smoke point for unrefined coconut oil is approx. 178C, 350F degrees. It is non-toxic when heated because it is a saturated fat (made up of medium-chain fatty acids) which is a more stable fat.

      • Can you use Lucy Bee Coconut Oil as a replacement for butter either as a spread or in cooking?

      Lucy Bee Coconut Oil makes a great dairy free butter replacement. It can be used as a spread, for example in sandwiches, and baking.

      Generally speaking, you’ll notice a slight coconut taste when used as a spread and in cooking the coconut flavour is usually lost – of course, taste is a very personal thing and so this is a guide only!

      • Do I use the same amount of coconut oil as I would butter?

      When replacing butter in a recipe with coconut oil, you only need 3/4s of the amount stated ie. for every 100g of butter, use 75g of coconut oil. If baking, you can also reduce the stated amount of sugar by about 1/3.

      • Do you use heat at all in the extraction process of your Coconut Oil?

      Lucy Bee Coconut Oil is unrefined, extra virgin and raw. Minimal heat is used (approximately 41C) during the cold pressed extraction, keeping it as natural as can be.

      The oil is bottled at a BRC grade A facility. With the UK's cooler climate, coconut oil solidifies below 24C and in order to bottle the oil here, it is very gently warmed.

      • Does your coconut oil contain cholesterol?

      We test our oil using a top UK certified independent food testing laboratory and their reports show that our coconut oil contains negligible amounts of cholesterol, less than 0.7 parts per 100,000 - so small that Trading Standards are happy for us to say it contains no cholesterol.

      • Does coconut oil contain sulphites?

      As an organic product, our coconut oil does not contain sulphites in its ingredients. 

      A raw, fresh coconut contains about 6-8 ppm of SO2. Since the process to make oil will undergo drying and expelling, the SO2 should go down to trace amounts.

      • Are the benefits of coconut oil affected when it melts in warm weather?

      No is the simple answer! As a saturated fat, coconut oil is solid below 24C and will melt above this temperature. 

      Nutrients are not lost when it changes from a solid to a liquid and vice versa.  In warmer countries coconut oil is always a liquid, which explains why it is put in to narrow-necked bottles that would not work in the colder UK.

      • Is there a recommended daily amount of coconut oil per day?

      No there isn’t. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, made up of medium-chain fatty acids. It should be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

      • How many calories are in coconut oil?

      Coconut oil is slightly less calorific than other oils and butter.

      Coconut oil = 117 calories per tablespoon / 39 calories per teaspoon

      Olive oil = 119 calories per tablespoon

      • What is 100g coconut oil in tablespoons?

      100g of coconut oil is equivalent to 8 tablespoons as per this useful resource which provides conversion:  

      Click on this link to go to the conversion site.

      • Does Lucy Bee Coconut Oil contain cocamide DEA

      No. Cocamide DEA is a chemically modified form of coconut oil which is used as a thickener in some shampoos and soaps.  As such this has no place in Lucy Bee Extra Virgin Organic Raw Coconut Oil.

      Our Coconut Oil has not been modified in any way and contains no additives.

      • Does unrefined coconut oil have an SPF?

      There are varying reports that coconut oil has a natural SPF value, and these reports range between 3-7. We would always err on the side of caution and do not recommend using this as sunscreen.

      In our experience, coconut oil is a great after-sun soother for skin.

      • How is your coconut oil produced?

      Organic, fresh, mature coconuts from the Philippines are shelled and pared to remove the outer shell and brown skin.  The flesh is grated, dried under controlled conditions then expeller cold pressed, to produce our Coconut Oil.

      The coconuts used in all of our coconut products are grown in an agroforestry environment (rather than plantations), which is eco-friendly. It is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use systems.

      For a full explanation of how the oil is extracted for our Coconut Oil, please see our blog 'How Coconut Oil is Made'

      Part of our Fair Trade certification guarantees that monkeys are NOT used to harvest any of the coconuts which are used in our products.

      • Is your coconut oil cold pressed?

      Yes, our coconut oil is cold pressed extracted. It is an unrefined oil (hence the use of ‘virgin’) and as such is not bleached, deodorised or chemically altered in any way. It is also raw which means that minimal heat (approximately 41C) has been used in its extraction. Being raw means our Coconut Oil is in its most natural state and full of its nutrients and health benefits.

      • Is your coconut oil raw?

      Yes, our Coconut Oil is raw. Minimal heat is used in its extraction (approximately 41C) meaning our Coconut Oil maintains all nutrients and benefits and is in its most natural state.

      It is cold pressed from the flesh of organic, fresh, mature coconuts.

      • I’ve noticed a brownish colouring in my jar of coconut oil. Is this normal?

      This is a natural, minimally processed and filtered product, and occasionally brown coconut fibres particles may settle at the bottom - this is totally natural and does not affect the quality of the oil at all.

      It is the ‘price’ we pay for having an unprocessed product. 

      If we bleached and deodorised the raw oil we could guarantee no discolouring or small particles but then we would lose all the advantages and aroma of the raw product.

      • Is your coconut oil suitable for someone with a nut allergy?

      Coconuts are not classified as nuts, despite the name.

      According to the Anaphylaxis Campaign, most people who are allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut, though we would always advise caution. This information is offered on their website here: 

      Our coconut oil is produced and bottled in nut free, peanut free and dairy free production plant.

      It is also an egg free and sesame free environment. Though they do handle chickpeas, the packer confirms, “the chickpeas or derivatives (gram flour), while present on site, are not used at all on the line on which the Lucy Bee Organic Coconut Oil is produced. Chickpeas are not treated as an allergen by our company as we use the Food Standard’s Agency list of 14 allergens here.

      • Is your coconut oil hydrogenated?

      No, it isn’t.

      Our Coconut Oil is unrefined, extra virgin, organic and raw meaning it’s in its most natural, pure state.

      • What is the pH level of coconut oil?

      pH determination is not valid on an oil sample. 

      Put simply pH is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration in an aqueous (water based) solution. As there is no water in coconut oil it does not have a pH.

      • Do you test for aflatoxins?

      Aflatoxins develop in poorly dried foods including grains and copra that have been exposed to bacteria growth for extended periods.

      So how does this relate to coconut oil? We need to consider the differences in refined and unrefined coconut oil.

      Refined Coconut Oil:

      Aflatoxins may develop with coconut oil that’s extracted from copra, where the split coconuts are exposed to sunlight for a couple of weeks to a month before the oil is extracted. The flesh can turn rancid and mouldy in this time, which produces a brown coloured oil. In order to make it fit for human consumption, this oil has to be heavily processed and is bleached and deodorised.

      Unrefined Coconut Oil:

      There’s a difference with unrefined, unprocessed coconut oil, like Lucy Bee. Our oil is cold press extracted from the flesh of fresh coconuts and this is typically done within 1 – 4 hours of the coconut being cracked open. Since Lucy Bee is extracted in this way, there is no issue with aflatoxins as there is no time for any fungal growth to occur between splitting open the coconut and extracting the oil.

      • Do you use hexane in the extraction of your coconut oil?

      Hexane is used by some manufacturers of coconut oil during oil production to increase the oil yield. 

      Absolutely no hexane is used during the extraction of Lucy Bee Coconut Oil.

      • What checks are made during the filling of the jars?

      Our Coconut Oil is bottled in a BRC Grade A factory, where hygiene and food safety is of the highest degree. As well as checking for correct levels of oil, the following hygiene checks are also made during the filling of jars of Lucy Bee:

      All production staff wear overalls, hair nets (mob caps) and beard snoods (if applicable).

      Each jar is inverted by hand and visually inspected.

      Each jar is inspected after capping and labelling while the coconut oil is still clear

      • Why does my new jar of coconut oil look different? The last jar had a smooth appearance.

      Lucy Bee Coconut Oil is a natural product and as such each jar can have a slightly different appearance.

      For bottling, the oil is gently melted below 38 degrees and once it solidifies there’s no uniform look! Some will solidify with a smooth surface; others will have ‘holes’ but rest assured it will be the correct quantity (300ml, 500ml, 1litre, 5 litre accordingly) and is absolutely perfect.

      Since it is a natural product and minimally treated, you might see brown speckles which is quite normal and is small particles of the coconut.

      • Is your coconut oil cruelty free?

      Our Coconut Oil is certified Vegan, by the Vegan Society.

      Part of our Fair Trade certification also guarantees no animal cruelty, including monkeys are NOT used to pick the coconuts which are used in our coconut products.

      • Will cooking with coconut oil make the food taste of coconut?

      Obviously, taste is such a personal thing. From our experience, particularly in savoury recipes, the coconut flavour is lost when heated. Fried eggs, for example, will taste the same – what may be different is the aroma when frying.

      Again, from our experience, we’ve found that in some baking recipes the coconut flavour may remain e.g. a Victoria sponge cake was rather coconutty when we replaced the butter with coconut oil, but a chocolate cake didn’t taste of coconut at all!

      As a general rule, in savoury dishes the taste isn’t altered but some sweet recipes the sweetness may be enhanced.

      It might be worth using less, if you can taste the coconut but, as mentioned, taste is very personal.

      • Is coconut oil a saturated fat?

      Coconut oil does contain saturated fats, per 100g it contains 94g of saturated fat. Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, which are transported in our body and used for energy differently to other fats. However, it is important to use coconut oil in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet.

      • What is Canola Oil?

      Canola oil is a vegetable oil, derived from rapeseed oil.

      • What is Lauric Acid?

      Lauric acid is a type of saturated fatty acid and is found in coconut oil, coconut milk, palm kernel oil and breast milk.

      Coconut oil is predominantly made up of lauric acid (approximately 48%) and as such enjoys the benefits associated with lauric acid.  

      • Is Lucy Bee Coconut Oil Good? 

      Yes, it is! Our Coconut Oil is an unrefined oil which is cold press extracted from the flesh of fresh, organic coconuts. It is also raw and certified Fair Trade. This natural oil is a great replacement for processed oils in all cooking from roasting, frying, baking to using as a dairy free spread.

      Our Coconut Oil is from the Philippines with a rich and natural coconut aroma.

      It is vegan and vegetarian approved, contains no cholesterol and is free from dairy and gluten.

      When we started Lucy Bee, we had a number of key objectives, to supply the best quality coconut oil possible at the most competitive price.  We wanted to make a quality product available to everyone not just a few. We were also insistent that any coconut oil we supplied would fulfil the following: 

      Organic

      We totally buy into the need to protect our individual health and the health of the planet by following organic ways of production and avoiding pesticides and intensive farming practices. 

      Raw

      Being organic is only one part of the quality of a product like coconut oil. It is important for us that the product is raw.  That when being produced the utmost care is taken to ensure that only low temperatures are used so that all the goodness and nutrition is maintained. 

      Fair Trade

      For too long the wealthy West has exploited the producers in Third World countries.  By buying Fair Trade we want to properly reward the small local farmers and provide funds for local community projects.  Our first shipment helped drill a fresh water well for the local community.  Before the well, they had to walk 2 miles to get clean drinking water. Other projects include the installation of solar panels and solar light bulbs into the one room wooden homes in the Philippines; proper housing and scholarships for schooling children. Lucy Bee pays a premium for its organic coconuts that goes to the local farmers and local communities for social projects. We then give 0.75% of our sales to the Fair Trade body., FairTSA  Our Fair Trade certification also guarantees that monkeys are NOT used to harvest the coconuts. We could buy the exact same product for less and not be Fair Trade. 

      Packed in Environmentally Sound Packaging

      We use recyclable glass jars, easy peel labels and BPA free lids.

      Did you know that many food storage packaging, such as cans, contain BPA in their linings?

      BPA is a chemical which is used to harden plastics and has been used for numerous years.

      For this reason, not only do we use recyclable glass jars to store our 500ml coconut oil, but we also use BPA free lids. The lids and the liners inside, are with a BPA-Non Intent design, which is of the highest quality available and free from BPA.

      Our display trays are manufactured from recycled paper.

      To encourage reuse of the jar we use easy peel labels.

      Bottling

      Lucy Bee Coconut Oil is bottled in a BRC Grade A bottling plant and we are totally able to guarantee the integrity of the product. 

      Testing

      Every import of raw Lucy Bee Coconut Oil is subjected to a number of tests to confirm its purity, its oil content and that it is lactose and gluten free.

      We also conduct shelf life testing and check for bacterial and funguses. 

      Ethical Best Buy

      Leading ethical and environmental magazine, Ethical Consumer (est. 1989), has voted Lucy Bee Coconut Oil as the ‘Best Buy’, for coconut oil in the UK market. We came out as the winner for the most ethical coconut oil. You can see more information here.

      • How Do I Store Coconut Oil? 

      Your jar of Lucy Bee Coconut Oil can be stored in the cupboard, without the need for refrigeration. Assuming good food hygiene ie. always use a clean and dry utensil to remove the oil and so avoid any contamination, coconut oil should keep up to the best before date.

      • Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Beard? 

      As with all hair, coconut oil can be used to massage into beards to help nourish the hair follicles.

      • What is Coconut Amino? 

      Coconut amino is a sauce made from coconut sap and is a gluten free replacement for soy sauce. 

      • Coconut Oil for Baking (Baking with Coconut Oil) 

      Coconut oil is a dairy free replacement for butter and is great to use in baking. We’ve found that you only need to use 3/4s of the amount stated for butter eg. if a recipe calls for 100g butter, only use 75g Lucy Bee Coconut Oil.

      In baking, it’s easier to use if you melt the required amount of coconut oil before mixing in with other ingredients.

      Nutritional Information

      Ingredients

      100% Extra Virgin Fair Trade Organic Raw Coconut Oil

      Typical Values Per 100g

      Energy (kj) 3696
      Energy (kcal) 899
      Fat 100g
      of which Saturates 94g
      Carbohydrate 0g
      of which Sugars 0g
      Fibre 0g
      Protein 0g
      Salt 0g