Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil–Review and Giveaway
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
Note to any lawyers who happen to be reading this: 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.
It’s actually been a while since I received my complimentary jar of Tropical Traditions Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in the mail–so long, in fact, that I’ve already used up my jarful, and had to rely on the site’s photo to show you what it looks like (empty jars of coconut oil are not the most photogenic subjects).
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you already know that I love cooking with coconut oil and use it frequently. Yes, it is a (mostly) saturated fat, but sat fat has been maligned for too long. As Dr. Joseph Mercola explains here, coconut oil has frequently been confused with hydrogenated oils in the past, but virgin coconut oil isn’t the same as the old, trans-fat laden types. In addition, coconut oil contains lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that can help combat viruses and bacteria (hence its use as an anti-candida food). Mercola also lists some of the other possible benefits of coconut oil, including ”promoting heart health. . . supporting your immune system health. . . supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland” and “helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking.”
Sure, it’s great when food can help maintain or promote good health; but its use as a cooking oil was my primary focus when I first dug my spoon into that glassy white surface in this jar. And I was delighted with what I found inside!
As a cooking oil, coconut oil is ideal in many ways: with a melting point of 76F (24.5 C), it remains firm at room temperature (great when using as a butter substitute, either in baking or spread directly on a piece of toast or muffin). Precisely because of its structure as a saturated fat, it’s a very stable oil and is one of the few considered safe at higher temperatures. You can sauté or bake with coconut oil without fear–it won’t damage easily like polyunsaturated fats (hemp, flax, corn, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower or sesame oil, for example). And–depending on the brand of coconut oil–it tastes really, really good. Happily, Tropical Traditions falls into the “great tasting” category, too.
[I used my coconut oil to make this fudge. What would YOU make?]
Although I used to dislike the taste of coconut when I was a child (it must have had something to do with my mother’s penchant for Roly Poly, a gooey, sickly sweet monstrocity that contained a combination of strawberry jam, Turkish Delight, and shredded coconut), I’ve come to love it in recent years. It took me a while to try out virgin coconut oil (I had been using the refined, albeit organic stuff), but once I did, I was besotted. I found the Tropical Traditions brand to offer a subtle, yet discernible coconut flavor, with an almost sweet scent. It worked well in all the recipes I’ve tried, from cookies to stir-fries to this incredible fudge.
Even though the flavor of this Black Bean Fudge (original recipe courtesy of my multi-talented SOS partner, Kim at Affairs of Living) isn’t meant to be specifically “coconut,” I found that the coconut oil was essential here for the proper texture and the creamy mouthfeel that is so important in a true fudge. The recipe was a godsend when I first began the ACD, as it satisfies the need for something rich and decadent without actually being rich and decadent. And if you can eat chocolate, try it with the cocoa option. Something about the coconut oil and cocoa in combination makes for a magical outcome.
Next time you’re looking for something irresistible yet virtuous (yes, all you single folks out there, I know it’s tough to find), go for this unusual treat.
[Hey. You want a piece of me?]
Black Bean Fudge, adapted from Affairs of Living
1 ounce (30 g) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped, optional (for ACD Stage 1, use unsweetened carob chips)
1-3/4 cups (420 ml) cooked, drained and rinsed black beans (canned beans work best for this recipe)
3 Tbsp (45 ml) coconut oil, soft at room temperature (if it’s really solid, melt it before using)
1/4 cup (60 ml) natural smooth almond butter
1/2 cup (60 g) carob powder
2 Tbsp (30 ml) cocoa powder (for ACD Stage 1, use more carob)
2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp (30 ml) yacon syrup, agave nectar or vegetable glycerin
15-25 drops plain or vanilla stevia liquid, to taste
pinch fine sea salt
Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and set aside.
Place chocolate in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until crumbly (there should be no large pieces visible). Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Without washing the processor bowl, add remaining ingredients to the processor and blend until very smooth. Mixture will be thick. Sprinkle with the reserved chocolate and pulse until combined. (If the fudge is too thick to combine the chocolate this way, turn the mixture into a bowl and stir it in by hand).
Transfer fudge mixture to the loaf pan and press down to compress it and push out any air bubbles. Allow to set in the refrigerator for an hour, then cover the top with more plastic and refrigerate until very firm, 2 hours or up to overnight. Slice into squares. Store in refrigerator up to 5 days. May be frozen (defrost overnight in the refrigerator–attempting to defrost this in the microwave will melt the oil and result in a near-liquid mess!).
Diet, Dessert and Dogs (http://dietdessertndogs.com)
And guess what? You can win a mega-jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut oil for your own kitchen! The kind folks over at Tropical Tradtions have offered to send a one-quart jar (32 oz or 1 liter) to one lucky reader of Diet, Dessert and Dogs. I can’t wait for you to try it!
THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
How to Enter:
To make it as simple as possible , here’s all you need to do:
* The contest is now closed. Enter the contest by leaving a comment below, telling me what you’d most like to cook up with your coconut oil (of course, you could always use it as a skin softener/moisturizer, too!) Please be sure that your name is connected to a valid email address, or else be sure to check back on my blog on Friday, September 3rd, in case you win!
* Earn bonus entries any or all of the following ways–each one counts as ONE entry:
- Subscribe to Tropical Traditions’ newsletter, here.
- Post about this giveaway (with a link to this page on Facebook or twitter; please include @rickiheller in your tweet so I will see it)
- “Like” the DDD fan page on Facebook, here.
- “Like” the Tropical Traditions page on Facebook, here.
- Follow me on twitter, here (I will receive an email telling me you did so)
- Follow Tropical Traditions on twitter, here.
For bonus entries, PLEASE leave an additional comment for each one telling me that you’ve done so. I know it’s a bit of a drag to have to re-comment, but it really helps me with tabulating and selecting a winner. Thanks! 
The contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered! The contest runs until midnight on Thursday, September 2nd. I’ll choose a winner at random and announce the winner on Friday, September 3rd.
Good luck, everyone! 
I also tweeted about this giveaway, “liked” DDD and Tropical Traditions on FB, and am now following TT on Twitter too… was already following you!
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I’m subscribed to TT’s newsletter.
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I tweeted your giveaway, too!
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I really want to put it on top of scones!
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Black bean fudge? Oh Ricki, you are a genius!
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I think I’d have my bf give me a foot rub with it!
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I subscribe to TT’s newsletter
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I “like” TT on FB
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I follow TT on Twitter…
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And now I follow YOU on Twitter! @AlmostVeganBlog
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Once I’m back to eating fruit again, I’d like to use this to make my favorite coconut oil dish: black beans, pineapple, & cinnamon sauteed with coconut oil. YUM.
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I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions newsletter.
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I tweeted about the contest. (www.twitter.com/thevegankitchen)
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I “like” DDD on Facebook.
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I “liked” Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
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I follow you on Twitter.
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I am following Tropical Traditions on Twitter.
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i LOVE coconut oil! it makes my body feel great and takes away some of the guilt. and when you bake with it? FORGET IT! get ready to be complimented on your treat by just about everyone who gives it a try. mmm peanutbutter & coconut oil on toast? a muffin? yum.
totally signed up for the TT & DDD newsletter and am now following all the twitters
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I heart coconut oil. I use it for stir-fries sometimes and roasting veggies, but I love using it most for no bake treats.
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I already “like” DDD on facebook!
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I need to make these! Hmm I like making macaroons and green smoothies w coconut oil
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As much as I’d like to use it for brownies or scones, Im starting to lean towards making that fudge! I love using coconut oil in baked goods instead of dairy free margarine.
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I love using it to make coconut vanilla almond butter. Mmmmm.
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Love, love, love coconut oil and coconut flour. I’d like to use the coconut oil next in a shrimp dish….oh, now I’ll have to. Thanks for the great blog!
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I did the like DDD thing on FB.
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I was already a ‘liker’ of Tropical Traditions on FB
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I tweeted the contest…and put @rickiheller in my tweet.
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I am simplifying my email inbox, so I shan’t subscribe to the newsletter. I think I get all the same info on the fb page.
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Now I want fudge, and I don’t even love fudge. Ha ha. The power of images.
I love coconut oil and coconut butter!
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I love coconut oil! love! love! love it! I would make waffles or scones!
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Would it be trite to say I’d make that fudge right there? Because I really would!
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Yum Ricki! Yeah, I could live on this stuff too.
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Ricki Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 5:51 pm
It really is one of the best-tasting coconut oils I’ve ever had!
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[...] The recipe for Chocolatey Fudge from Ricki at Diet, Dessert and Dogs was intimidating. It sounded easy and yes, so yummy, but could it really be that [...]
Hi Ricki,
This is a great recipe that I’m now making all the time. I reviewed it over at my blog. Thanks so much for the great recipes!
http://www.rawlawyer.com/2011/11/were-still-not-sure-what-is-causing-my.html
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I absolutely love fudge… but not black beans
Either way, as I read on a comment on another page, they pass as normal fudge for some people. So I might try these 
Thanks for the healthy fudge recipe!
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Ricki Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Suzanne, I really love this fudge. It may not be like “real” fudge (clearly, not as rich!) but the texture is great and it totally satisfies my urge for something sweet and chocolatey. And, by coincidence, I just made a huge batch of it this very morning!
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[...] as some find its tangy flavor a little too strong. My favorite yacon-sweetened recipes are this Black Bean Fudge and these Raw Gingersnap Cookie Bon [...]