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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review (And Giveaway!)

If you've been following my food adventures for awhile now, you know I've been experimenting with coconut oil in my cooking, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to review Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.  First I used it in granola bars, and then replaced part of the butter in my favorite banana bread recipe (see below).  In both, the coconut oil added a bit of sweetness that was really good.  So good, in fact, that our family ate an entire loaf of banana bread in less than 12 hours!  It also seemed like the texture of the banana bread was a little bit smoother and fluffier.  All perfect qualities for baked goods. 

Banana Bread Recipe
(makes 2 loaves)

Ingredients:
  • 4-5 ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, smash peeled bananas. In microwave safe bowl, melt butter and coconut oil together.  Add to smashed bananas and stir to combine.  Mix in sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs.  Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined.  Pour into two greased loaf pans.  Bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown on top and knife inserted into bread comes out clean.

Since I'm kind of a coconut oil newbie, I've only tried one other brand.  However, the Tropical Traditions coconut oil seems smoother and more consistent than that other brand so far.  My next step is to try frying (and maybe even branch out into non-food uses, like homemade cosmetics), but I haven't gotten there yet.  There are so many uses for coconut oil besides baking - I've only just scratched the surface.

I also like how easy it is to order online from Tropical Traditions.  The coconut oil is offered in several sizes, so you can start small if you're just trying it out, and order bigger once you know you like it (and I really think you will).  They have an awesome referral program too - you get a $25 credit for each new customer who orders through your link!

Some of the links in this post are my referral links. 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.

And now it's your turn!  Tropical Traditions is generously giving away a jar of coconut oil to one of my readers!

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 32 oz. 
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?


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 a website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

To enter to win, sign up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter, and leave me a comment telling me you've done so.  This is the mandatory entry, as dictated by the giveaway sponsor.

For an additional entry, like Tropical Traditions on Facebook, and leave me a separate comment telling me you do.

This giveaway will close on Monday, May 6 at 12:00pm CDT.  The winner will then have 48 hours to respond to my email with contact information to get their prize.  If I do not hear from the winner within that time frame, I will choose an alternate winner.

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.  All opinions expressed are my own.

64 comments:

  1. I was already signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter (to this - other! different! box: annazed10 [at] yahoo [dot] com) I hope that counts.

    I've been baking a lot with coconut oil, it's awesome. I have a GREAT muffin recipe made with coconut oil, email me if you want to post it.

    margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook too

    margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I signed up for their newsletter

    Joni.Moldstad@blc.edu

    ReplyDelete
  5. I liked them on facebook.

    Joni.Moldstad@blc.edu

    ReplyDelete
  6. I subscribe to the TT newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I subscribe to the TT newsletter.

    kristen_yeh at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like TT on FB.

    kristen_yeh at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have signed up for the newsletter! Thanks for a great giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I liked Tropical Traditions on FB :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm subscribed to the TT newsletter- kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the giveaway :)

    Signed up for the newsletter: cr4mpz @ live.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Liked Tropical Traditions on FB as Bat Evans.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Signed up for their newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm signed up for Tropical Traditions emails.
    - Cristel Green

    ReplyDelete
  18. I also like them on FB :)
    - Cristel Green

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Email: cristelr@aol.com
      -Cristel Green

      Delete
  19. I'm signed up for Tropical Traditions' newsletter and am fans with them on Facebook, too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Already like them on facebook!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi, love reading about coconut oil and its many uses, i love to get a jar for free, i signed up for the Tropical Traditions email news letter..
    =)
    THANKS!

    lol259928@yahoo.com

    -Brandy Weaver

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also liked Tropical Traditions on Facebook
      =)

      Delete
  22. I signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter.

    nancyrobster at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Like Tropical Traditions on fb

    Anne Taylor

    nancyrobster at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I liked Tropical Traditions on FB

    ReplyDelete
  25. I also signed up for the newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter

    ReplyDelete
  27. I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook

    lssj1223 @ msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I subscribed to Tropical traditions newsletter.

    Bridget

    ReplyDelete
  29. I signed up for the Tropical Traditions email newsletter! Looking forward to it!

    Dor.turner@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
    Dorrie Turner

    ReplyDelete
  31. I subscribed to their newsletter at dailydealsjc1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm already a subscriber of their newsletter!
    wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like them on FB (liz Newsome)
    wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  34. I signed up for their newsletter. frugalistamommy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I like tropical traditions on FB (Constance Zimmer)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I subscribe to Tropical Traditions newsletter.
    (same email as signed in with for comment)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
    deborah neal


    thank you for hosting the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm already a subscriber of their newsletter :)
    tullis120 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Amazing product! I had already "Liked" Tropical Traditions on FB (SueLittlefield) and a subscriber to the email newsletter (darkestfallenangel_99 at yahoo.com)

    ReplyDelete
  40. signed up for their newsletter. ran02004@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. liked TT on fb. ran02004@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. suscribed to tropical tradtions

    ReplyDelete
  43. liked tropical tradtions on facebook

    ReplyDelete
  44. I am a newsletter subscriber

    ReplyDelete
  45. I like Tropical Traditions on facebook

    ReplyDelete
  46. I am subscribed to TT Newsletter. zekthezookeeper@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I like TT on FB: rozy nozy

    zekthezookeeper at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. i subscribe to the newsletter eaglesforjack@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete