Monday, November 22, 2010

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Oil Review & Giveaway

**This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please watch for other giveaways.**


Boy do I have a giveaway for all of you natural foods folks! Tropical Traditions sent me a quart jar of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to try and today, I gave it a try. I made a batch of cold process soap and used some of this wonderful oil in the recipe.


Coconut oil is great in soaps because it is natural, vegan, and it causes the soap to lather very well. Because the oil has a lathering ability, I do not have to add any chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, to do the job. 

When I compared my usual brand of coconut oil (using up the little I had left in the jar) with the Tropical Traditions oil, I was shocked. The spoonfuls I placed on top of my old brand were pure white - I mean sparkling like freshly fallen snow. Or virgin coconut oil. The old brand has a yellowish cast to it. Now, that's not to say that the oil I had been using is a bad one. It's just not a pure and organic oil as Tropical Traditions' oil is.

My soap is now hardening in the mold and it's looking to be great. I can't wait to try this oil in some gluten-free pie crust. I had not thought of using coconut oil in pie crust until I found this recipe. You can find a good deal of recipes using coconut oil on Tropical Traditions' recipes blog at: http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com.

After doing some research, I found that coconut oil is a lot more versatile than I had thought. It can be used in cooking, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, suntan products, body lotion, and more. One time I had asked a lady at our natural foods store for some sweet almond oil. She recommended I did not purchase it because of the extras put in the oil. Instead, she told me, "I always say to only place on your skin that which you can place inside your body." Needless to say, I've remembered that for a long time and use it as a rule of thumb whenever I ponder which oils to buy.

The following video features an interview with Tropical Traditions' CEO. In it, he explains how they discovered virgin coconut oil. 




Now, I suppose you're wondering about the giveaway. I don't blame you. This contest will run from now through next Monday night (November 29, 2010). On Tuesday morning, I will choose a winner via Random.org, who will receive a quart jar of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut oil to try and enjoy for themselves. This contest is open to entrants in the United States and Canada.


In order to enter you must:


  • Tell my why you would like to win - do you use it for cooking? for soap making? something else?
  • Additionally, you must subscribe to Tropical Traditions' e-newsletter here.  
  • Let me know in your initial comment that you have subscribed.
  • Please be sure I have your e-mail address (you can spell out "at" and "dot" to confuse spammers) in the comments. I will need that to notify you of your winning status should you be chosen as winner.
 For additional entries (please use separate comments for each entry):


  1. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.
  2. Follow this blog on Blogger.
  3. Follow me on Twitter.
  4. Blog about this contest.
If you'd like to receive a complimentary copy of The Virgin Coconut Oil Book, please enter "Referred by a friend" and ID# 6682368 when you click here. It's free with your first online order.

 Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

52 comments:

A GAL NEEDS... said...

I use Coconut Oil on my hair and body. It is wonderful for that as well as cooking!
daisydoo200 at yahoo dot com

A GAL NEEDS... said...

I subscribe to TT Newsletter!
daisydoo200 at yahoo dot com

A GAL NEEDS... said...

I follow your blog!

A GAL NEEDS... said...

I follow you on Twitter @Xocaisgood!
daisydoo200 at yahoo dot com

Paula said...

I love coconut oil! I use it on my toast with eggs for breakfast, and also on my face and skin! I subscribed to their newsletter.

paula at rammnation dot com

Paula said...

I follow you on Twitter!
(LillaRosePaulaR)

paula at rammnation dot com

Paula said...

I follow TT on Twitter!

paula at rammnation dot com

Kristen said...

I'd use it in baking.

kristen_yeh at yahoo dot com

kmogilevski said...

I would like to win to use it for cooking and skin moisturizer. Subscribe to TT newsletter with kmogilevski at HOTMAIL
kmogilevski at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Follow TT on Twitter (kmogilevski)
kmogilevski at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Follow you through GFC (katie, kmogilevski)
kmogilevski at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Follow you on Twitter (kmogilevski)
kmogilevski at gmail dot com

Susan said...

My skin is so very dry this time of year I believe this is something I would like to try on my skin as well as cook with it.
herlanjohn at aol dot com

Susan said...

I subscribe to the tropical traditions newsletter! herlanjohn at aol dot com

Sue D said...

I would plan on using the coconut oil for cooking/baking. I have heard wonderful things about it. I definitely would like to try pie crust with it. I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions newsletter.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Cathy W said...

I'd love to win it because I've never tried it and want to.
I'd probably use it mainly for cooking.
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

I subscribe to TT Newsletter!
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter. @cjwallace43
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

Following you on Twitter. @cjwallace43
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

We eat coconut oil like honey -- I cook almost everything in coconut oil -- including our Brussel sprout lunch today!

thegranolamom4god at gmail dot com

oh, and I do subscribe to the TT newsletter.

Unknown said...

I follow TT on Twitter.

Unknown said...

I follow you on Blogger!

Rebekka @ Becky's Kaleidoscope said...

I use Coconut Oil for cooking, for my hair and my skin. It's such a great product. Subscribed to the TT newsletter.
rksteg at gmail dot com

Rebekka @ Becky's Kaleidoscope said...

Follow TT on Twitter (rksteg)
rksteg at gmail dot com

Rebekka @ Becky's Kaleidoscope said...

Follow you on Twitter (rksteg)
rksteg at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would use this for cooking and I subscribed to the TT newsletter

couponrn at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I follow TT on twitter @couponrn

Unknown said...

And I follow you on twitter @couponrn

ProjectHope7 said...

I subscribe to Trop trad's newsletter. I would truly love to win this Coconut oil as I use Coconut oil for many things and have only 1/4 left!! I use it in cooking, in smoothies, on my face and hands, and as a body moisturizer and hair moisturizer. It is a crucial part of my health plan as I battle life-threatening illness!

Cathy B
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
@projecthope7 twitter
http://palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com

ProjectHope7 said...

I follow tropical Traditions on twitter.

Cathy B
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
@projecthope7 twitter
http://palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com

ProjectHope7 said...

I now follow your blog on Google Friend Connect.

Cathy B
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
@projecthope7 twitter
http://palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com

ProjectHope7 said...

I now follow you on twitter.

Cathy B
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
@projecthope7 twitter
http://palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com

eclairre said...

My sister uses it as a hair conditioning treatment. So I would give it to her for Xmas.

Frugal Friend said...

I subscribed to the newsletter! We already use it for cooking but I would use it on my daughter's skin- she has eczema.

email: frugalforyou at gmail dot com

Denys said...

I started using this product a few years ago when my son had severe food sensitivities - wonderful product!! I'm almost out and would love to get some more, but so expensive!
I subscribe to TT's newsletter

denys dot gallent at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I use TT coconut oil as deodorant, moisturizer, to cook eggs, in smoothies, as oil in baking and much more I can't think of right now. I also subscribe to their newsletter.
sejotess@yahoo.com

Julie & Jeff said...

I do not currently use Coconut Oil but have read the book I received. We would like to use this in place of other cooking oils for its health benefits. We need to lower our cholesterol and read it does that. I have subscribed to the newsletter also.
Thank you for this wonderful chance!
Julie
borgz4 at yahoo dot com

Julie & Jeff said...

I am also following on your blog :-)

Julie & Jeff said...

I have blogged about this contest :-)

Ashlei said...

I like to use it for cooking, and as a moisturizer for my hands and hair.

alc4253@hotmail.com

Ashlei said...

I'm subscribed to their newsletter

Ashlei said...

following TT on twitter @the_vegster

dababyrn1997 said...

I use coconut oil all over my body to help detox and moisturize. I am hoping that it helps with the disease I have. I take lots of medicine and I heard that coconut oil is a good detoxifier. I put some in my coffee in the morning to help get things moving. lol, hey it works.

Susan said...

I follow you on twitter!
herlanjohn at aol dot com

Susan said...

I follow TT on twitter! herlanjohn at aol dot com

Susan said...

I follow your blog!
herlanjohn at aol dot com

faitcam said...

I just received their cookbook in the mail, I would be really interested in trying this out in some of the recipes, I have never cooked with coconut oil!
faitcameth (at) gmail (dot) com

faitcam said...

I am now following you on twitter!
faitcameth (at) gmail (dot) com

matt4melis said...

I use it in our smoothies and in cooking

subscribe to Tropical Traditions' e-newsletter

matt4melis at hotmail dot com

matt4melis said...

Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter. @matt4melis

matt4melis at hotmail dot com

matt4melis said...

Follow this blog on Blogger

matt4melis at hotmail dot com

matt4melis said...

Follow you on Twitter @matt4melis

matt4melis at hotmail dot com