How is coconut oil produced?

The coconut tree bears the botanical name of Cocos nucifera. It is a palm tree belonging to the Arecaceae family, the origin of which remains somewhat uncertain today, although it appears to be Malaysia. Nowadays, the coconut tree is one of the most cultivated plants in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world ; it thus grows in more than 90 countries including Indonesia, 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 nicknamed coconut butter, is renowned in both skincare and haircare as well as in cooking. It is a concrete oil at a temperature less than or equal to 20°C.

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 the harvesting of the fruits. To obtain a good quality coconut oil, it is necessary to choose 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 flesh of the coconut (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 within 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 as virgin coconut oil. It retains all its natural properties and is thus recommended in the design of various beauty treatments.