Monday, January 10, 2011

Virgin Palm Oil from Tropical Traditions {Review and Giveaway}

 Lately I have been trying out something new to me- virgin palm oil. Tropical Traditions kindly sent me a jar of it to review. I hadn't done much studying up on it before it came and I was a little surprised by it. First off it is a bright orange. Second it isn't a runny oil, it is more like soft butter. Third it has some texture in it- not perfectly smooth (though you don't notice that in the baked goods).

 I wasn't sure what I should use it in so my first experiment was to put it in biscuits (which we were having with soup and I put some shredded cheese on top). I didn't expect the orange color to spread so thoroughly throughout the dough but that is just what it did. It is like food coloring or curry powder- the color is very strong! The color doesn't affect how it works however and the biscuits were just fine. There is a slight flavor to the palm oil but it isn't offensive.

 I also used it in cookies. I used this recipe from the Tropical Traditions site. They are Orange (in flavor as well as color!) Coconut Cookies and they turned out very nice. This oil is very nice for cookie baking as long as you don't mind the bright color.

  What is really cool about this oil however is that it is quite good for you too! Palm oil is full of Vitamin E it also is one of the richest natural plant sources of carotenoids with concentration of 500–700 ppm. It has 15 times more carotenoids than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes.

  Would you like to try this oil too?

To Buy it: Visit Tropical Traditions and place an order. Be sure to use the referred by a friend and enter my
User ID: 6527139 and you will receive a free book on using coconut oil. (I will also get something.)

To Win it: Please leave a topic related comment (not just "I want to win!") and I will enter your name in the drawing. If you would like an additional chance please subscribe to Tropical Tradition's Newsletter and leave me another comment telling me that you did.

This contest will close on Sunday January 16th. I will try to announce the winner next Monday.
This contest is open to those in the USA and Canada*. Be sure to leave an e-mail address or have your e-mail address easy to find on your blog so that I can contact you if you should win.


. 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.


*Note for Canadian bloggers: Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this Tropical Traditions sponsored blog giveaway.




42 comments:

  1. I would like to experiment with an alternative to canola oil in my baking, but am intimidated by the number of choices. Palm oil would be a start!

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  2. Your palm oil cookies look very much like baked products that I make using squash. I think the Orange Coconut Cookies sound good. I will have to try it.

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  3. I just read an article in the WORLD magazine about plantations in Indonesia where they produce palm oil. I think I will go back and take a look at that again. It seems some folks didn't approve because they were cutting down rain forests to do it but the other side was that it is making many job opportunities also.

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  4. I've tried the coconut from Tropical Traditions and really like it. It would be great to try another product.

    kristen_yeh at yahoo dot com

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  5. I just started using coconut oil several months ago. I've been reading up on using other types of oils instead of the traditional corn, canola oils i've been using all my life. I'd like to try this palm oil to see what it's like.

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  6. I've been too cheap to buy it but would love to try the coconut oil too.
    rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

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  7. I've been wanting to try more healthy oils like their coconut oil but the palm oil looks intriguing too. I think I can get past the orange color.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  8. I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions newsletter.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  9. What an interesting oil. The Virgin Palm Oil Bread on their blog looks good too.
    cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

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  10. I'm a TT newsletter subscriber
    cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

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  11. I am in the process on redoing my pantry/my family's diet. I have been reading up about the differences between oils, but have not tried palm oil yet. Your recipe with photos of the process/finished dish was very helpful (on my list to try now). hoshawj@bellsouth.net

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  12. I am a subscriber to Tropical Traditions!
    hoshawj@bellsouth.net

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  13. Wow I had no idea Palm Oil was so good for you. It is interesting to see how orange your biscuits really did become. I would be interested in trying it in some baked items like Banana bread.
    Sunshineofautumn@yahoo.com

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  14. I am a follower of Tropical Traditions newsletter. Thank you for the extra entry
    sunshineofautumn@yahoo.com

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  15. I subscribed to their news letter.

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  16. I have not tried Palm Oil yet. I have used shortning (same thing?) I have also tried Palm Sugar. I am already a subscriber to Tropical Traditions (which is who I found this blog). I was intrigued to look because it said Proverbs 31. If I use my google account, does it automatically give the email address?

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  17. I would love to be entered. We just found out my son is allergic to gluten, wheat, dairy (all), and peanuts. Many recipes call for the palm oil, and I'd love to win some!!

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  18. I have been using TT products for years and love them! I especially like the coconut oil for deep fat frying!

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  19. I recently purchase palm shortening. I choose it because it doesn't have the red coloring. My son likes to deep fry and I thought it was a healthier alternative. I use coconut oil all the time in my cooking.

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  20. Very interested in your blog,as well as trying the palm oil! I'm a TT Newsletter subscriber.
    God's abundant blessings to you & your family.

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  21. I would love to try this oil, I have been trying to get on the Tropical Traditions web site for months and it won't let me go there. I buy most of my organics at health food store but wuld love to be able to buy from TT. If you can help me figure out how to get on the site it would be so appreciated. Thanks for the great site you put up.

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  22. I love your website! I have so enjoyed using coconut oil for cooking, and for oil pulling (I'm seeing a difference in my gums after just 5 days). I've also been making my own homemade coconut milk and I purchased some dried, organic coconut, put it in the food processor and 10 minutes later had a whole jar of YUMMY coconut butter - for about $4.00! I melted it down a bit, put it in the coconut meat I had leftover from making the coconut milk, stirred it up and made coconut balls. My girls eat them with their fresh fruit for breakfast.

    I look forward to trying out the Palm oil as well. Thanks for reviewing it and giving us some ideas!

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  23. LOVE coconut oil. Have not tried tropical traditions yet but actually just placed my first order yesterday. Would LOVE to win some for my mother. Thanks for this contest!

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  24. I am a subscriber for tropical traditions. and i forgot my email address earlier.

    gringa7ape@yahoo.com

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  25. So far I have tried their coconut oil and love it. I just received my first shipment of their bar soap. We are just using up our store bought brand and will then open our first bar.
    jhall80@stny.rr.com

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  26. I subscribe to Tropical Traditions.
    Anne
    jhall 80 @stny.rr.com

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  27. Mine came in the mail today! I already subscribe to the newsletter. I haven't yet tried the palm oil in cooking (just a bit on a spoon when it first arrived) but I'm soooo excited to try it.

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  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  29. Jeanne here- forgot to leave an email address since I don't have a blog. It's Moominmamma6@gmail.com

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  30. Having fun looking through your posts and learning new things. TT is an awesome company with quality products.

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  31. Subscribes to TT newsletter :)

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  32. I use TT coconut oil, both kinds. Havent tried the palm oil. I wasn't sure about the taste. So glad you posted your results. Would love to win some. lana050@sbcglobal.net

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  33. I am wanting to try the Palm oil I use the coconut oil already and didn't know about how good Palm oil was until I read your post. Thanks!

    pamtolkki@gmail.com

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  34. I am a big fan of Tropical Traditions but haven't tried this yet, but I'd love to try it.
    cathypurdue at hotmail dot com

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  35. i love to cook healthy but i don't have the budget for it so i am always trying to win TT's products so i can!

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  36. i sub to TT's newsletter

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  37. I love coconut oil for cooking and skin care. Not I am interested in trying palm oil in both. Thanks for the newsletter.Carrie

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  38. I'd love to try this oil. I read this about palm oil on the TT website: "Tropical Traditions Virgin Palm Oil comes from West Africa, NOT South East Asia. Palm oil is native to the tropical areas of Africa, where it grows wild. It is a traditional oil used for more than 5000 years in African countries"

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

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  39. subscribe to Tropical Tradition's Newsletter

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

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  40. As a family my parents and I have recently decided that all "bad for you vegetable and hydrogonated oils" are officialy outlawed from our home. So I have been looking for alternatives other than butter and lard which we have been useing exstensively, ( shortening is out as well as all vegetable oils except extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and palm oil) I've done lots of research on the subject and am now trying to get into the practical application.

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  41. I am a subscriber to the Tropical Traditions newsletter.

    Blessings,
    ~Katelynn

    bluebackedbird@yahoo.com

    http://katelynnscreations.blogspot.com

    ( sorry I forgot to sign off and give you my email on the last entry...oops)

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  42. Greetings,
    I would like to try the peanut butter, I have used the Palm Oil and loved it! Very healthy too!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I really enjoy it when you join in the conversation.

If you have a question please feel free to ask and I will attempt to answer it (if I can!) as I have time.

Abbi