| The fresh organic coconuts, imported from the Philippines are de-shelled and quickly frozen to 20 degrees F below zero. The temperature is held there and the frozen moisture is evaporated by a vacuum. Because the moisture from the coconut never goes into the water stage, but rather from a solid right into a gas, the esters and resulting flavor of the coconut meat are preserved making it very tasty. In comparison to regular flaked or shredded coconut (which are air dried) the flavor is much different. This freeze drying process really does what Folger's claimed: It locks in the flavor. Our children eat it like candy. A breakdown of the nutritional components of this product show that it contains about 60% virgin coconut oil, 27% carbohydrates (which includes all the fiber, complex carbohydrates and simple sugars) and about 6% protein. Fresh coconuts contain minerals, electrolytes, some of the B vitamins and other nutrients. These are all contained in this freeze dried product. It is sold in one pound bags and its uses are only limited by your own imagination. One nice thing about the freeze dried coconut is that, because of the low moisture value, it does not require any preservatives. Air-dried coconut has a much higher moisture content, less coconut taste, and requires sulfites to preserve it. Most air-dried coconut is dried at temperatures between 170 and 180 degrees F. On top of this, even the shredded coconut found in health food stores contains sulfites. If it did not have the sulfites as a preservative it would turn brown before it sold in most stores. This premium quality coconut is first frozen and then dried, retaining the nutrients, and minerals of the fresh coconut. This freeze drying process retains the flavor and smell of fresh coconuts, yet because of the low moisture, it has a 1 1/2 year shelf life, and will stay nice and white, without any preservatives, or chemical additives. This is just pure coconut, with nothing added. All canned coconut milks (even if they do not claim it on their labels) contain some kind of binder, like carrageen. Most shredded coconut products have preservatives along with things like propylene glycol and sugar added. Our products have none of these, and yet because of the low moisture, high oil content they keep well. |