Coconut oil is the number one oil we use in our home. We don’t just use it for cooking either. Oh no! There are literally over a hundred uses for the stuff. We consume it daily by the spoonful, use it in our baking and cooking, rub it on as a moisturizer, use it as a hair treatment and even make candy with it, like this Raw Peppermint Coconut Oil Fudge.

Tropical Traditions Weekly Sales

Tropical Traditions is our favorite brand of coconut oil because they carefully source out the oil and support small family producers in the Philippines where it is imported from. Not only this, but the quality and taste of their Virgin Coconut Oils is uncompromisable.

The trouble is that Tropical Traditions offers several varieties of quality coconut oil and it can often be confusing to the consumer. There is their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, the Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil, the Organic Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil and the Non-Certified Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil. So what are the differences?

Before we discuss the differences, let’s take a look at the similarities:

• All of Tropical Traditions’ coconut oils are Non-GMO
• All of Tropical Traditions’ coconut oils are not hydrogenated and contain zero grams of trans fat
• All of Tropical Traditions’ coconut oils are processed without the use of chemical solvents (a common factor in some coconut oil brands for deodorizing)
• All of Tropical Traditions’ coconut oils are high in Lauric acid

Basic Differences

• All of the coconut oils are USDA certified organic, except the Non-Certified Expeller Pressed, which is still grown by natural practices
• All of the coconut oils are machine-made at a central location, except the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil which is Hand-Made the traditional wet-mill way, using the pure coconut water from inside to extract the coconut oil, which produces less yield. Recent studies show that the hand-made coconut oil contains the most anti-oxidents.
• The green label and gold label virgin oils are made from fresh, high-quality coconuts, whereas the Expeller pressed are not made with fresh coconuts.
• The green label and gold label virgin oils are both unrefined. The Expeller pressed oil has been refined, mostly to remove the smell and taste of coconuts. The Green and Gold label virgin coconut oils still have the flavor and smell of coconuts intact.

Is there really any difference between the Green Label and Gold Label Oils?

Yes! They are both very high quality, but the main difference is in how they are made. The Green label is machine made in large volumes using the quick-dry method of cold pressing the oil out of dried coconut, which results in a higher yield. The Gold label is produced in smaller batches by families using the wet-milling method, which produces a lower yield, but higher anti-oxidants.

My family has been purchasing the Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil for years. I had never had the opportunity to try the Gold Label oil until Tropical Traditions sent me some to review.

On a side-by-side taste test by spoon here are some of my observations:

• The Gold label oil has a stronger, more distinct coconut flavor (though this can vary from batch to batch according to Tropical Traditions), whereas the Green label oil has a more mild coconut flavor.
• The Gold label oil has a stronger aroma of coconuts than the Green label oil.
• The Gold label oil is more delicate on the tongue and has a more velvety mouth-feel. It seems thinner and I believe it may have a slightly lower melting point than the Green label oil.

I also made a batch of some of my favorite homemade coconut butter using a little bit of the Gold Label oil in place of the Green label I usually use. The taste and texture were both different than usual. The coconut butter tasted more coco-nutty and the texture was finer. I also had a bit of separation when it cooled, which doesn’t usually happen, and some of the oil rose to the surface. The flavor was really nice though. I imagine that this oil would also be really nice in this Chocolate Coconut Bark.

For baking purposes, Tropical Traditions says that both kinds of oils should mostly lose their coconut flavor when baked with. I didn’t have the opportunity to test the Gold label for baking, but I do know that I love to bake with my Green Label coconut oil and often replace the butter that is called for in recipes with it. I have not noticed my baked goods having any coconut flavor really.

I also used some of the Gold label to make my favorite moisturizing/healing oil that I use daily. It consists of coconut oil, Argan oil and Tamanu Oil. I use it all over and then use the leftovers on my hands to rub into the ends of my hair. I didn’t notice any difference in the consistency or results with this from the Green Label I usually use.

Who Should Purchase Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil?

• Those who want to support small family producers. The Gold Label oil is the only oil that is produced by small family businesses in the Philippines using the traditional, by-hand extraction method.
• Those who want the freshest, highest-quality, small batch oil.
• Those who consume coconut oil raw and want the highest anti-oxidants. According to recent studies, the Gold label oil has the highest anti-oxidents of all the other oils.

Want to see the difference of the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil yourself? Enter the giveaway below using the RaffleCopter widget to win some Gold Label Coconut Oil for yourself!

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Disclaimer:Tropical Traditions sent me 2 pint sized jars of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut oil for purposes of this review. I was under no obligation to write a review or to write anything specific, and everything written in the post is completely my own opinion or based off of my research. I was also not obligated to run a product giveaway in return for the free product. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway