Why purchase coconut oil when you can make it?

ahewcn — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:51:19 +0000

For centuries, people of the tropics have known the coconut to be one of the healthiest and most life-sustaining foods available. Unfortunately, due to a plethora of misinformation created by manufacturers of synthetic oils and nutrient-free juice drinks, the coconut has fallen out of favor even in those countries where it is amply found.

Such is the case in Jamaica. This summer, I was fortunate enough to visit members of my extended family that I barely new existed until a few years ago. Having cousins visit from their American cousin was a big deal and the two weeks we spent there were filled with many culinary delights.

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil by SunFood

At my request, my cousin, Jackie, showed me the traditional way that Jamaicans make coconut oil — a craft she learned from her mother, but so few younger Jamaicans are familiar with as their diet gives way to margarine and “bag juice” (essentially Kool-Aid in a bag). As expected, their health is suffering from this dramatic shift. Where not very long ago Jamaicans easily lived to the ripe old age of 100+ and vibrant until the end, now they succumb to diseases such as dementia, diabetes and cancer in their 60s, 70s and 80s. In fact, we had just missed the funeral of a 70-year old aunt a month earlier.

Typically, Jamaican coconut oil is not the organic virgin coconut oil that is finally getting it’s due in North American and European alternative health circles, but it seems to be just as effective at warding off disease and curing infections, thyroid and yeast conditions. The only issue I have with Jamaican coconut oil is that it is often made in aluminum pots since aluminum manufacturing is one of its largest industries along with tourism. (Driving the countryside in the parish of St. Elizabeth, you’ll notice very red soil. This contains bauxite, the mineral which makes aluminium.)

Here are a few photos of my cousin making Jamaican coconut oil.

First, she must tear the husk from the coconut which is deep inside.
	Then, copra (dried flesh) or coconut meat (fresh flesh) must be grated.
Here, you can see the difference between the copra (left) and the fresh coconut meat (right).The copra has a slightly translucent appearance. When it is opened, there is no water left inside and it feels rather oily to the touch. This is the preferred coconut used to make coconut oil.
	In this photo, you can see the coconut being boiled. As I stated above, this does not seem to destroy the beneficial properties much at all. When the water boils off, the oil rises to the top and a piece of coal (taken from the burned hardwood at the barbecue) is thrown in for a rich, roasted flavor!

For more information on the many benefits of coconut oil, consult one of the many excellent books by Bruce Fife.

Kingston Retreat

ahewcn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:12:57 +0000

Jamaica has long had a reputation for violence as much as it does for its beautiful beaches. Kingston, the capitol, particularly conjures up images of gang wars and fighting in the streets. So I was conflicted and pretty nervous when a distant aunt invited my family to visit her in Kingston during our Jamaica trip. Of course, she had helped us tremendously by cluing us in on nice (safe) places to visit and the best methods of transportation around the island, so we felt obliged to pay her a visit. The only question I had was, would we be able to rent an apartment as we do everywhere else? Or would we be stuck in a hotel?

Our Kingston Hideaway

A quick internet search revealed that self-catering apartments were indeed available in Kingston, but the reviews were mixed and personal safety still remained a concern despite my aunt’s assurances. Then I stumbled upon the Blue Mountain Lofts, a beautiful house perched 20 minutes above the city at the foot of the Blue Mountains in a small town called Irish Town, famous for the renowned Strawberry Hill Resort owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.

For only $75/night (off season) we rented this lovely property that sleeps seven and is well-stocked with all the amenities you might need from bedding and towels to tea, rice and other staples that might help you prepare a meal. It even has warm water in the showers! A rare treat in Jamaica. Whatever else you need (meat, produce, beverages) might be found in one of the small stores along the road a mere 2 minutes walk away. If there are any specialty items you absolutely need, make sure to stock up in town before you take the taxi or bus back up the hill.

Lush gardens surround the house

If you prefer not to cook though, right in town is the Café Blue where you can get a great Jamaican meal, cup of authentic Blue Mountain coffee and one of the best cheesecakes anywhere in the world! Further down the road (probably want to take a taxi), there is another clean little hut where you can get other Jamaican specialties. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to stop there.

The caretaker, Mrs. Schroeter, and cleaning lady who lives next door are excellent hosts, seeing to your every need. You are not only left with contact numbers for each of them, but also a cell phone is left in the house to make your experience more comfortable.

Night view of Kingston from 3000 feet above

The only piece of advice I can give you is that if you are going into Kingston, especially on a weekend day, take the local bus (about 30 cents US per person) up towards the final destination a few minutes up the road. Buses on the weekend are particularly infrequent and are likely to be jam packed on the way back down, so this way you reserve your seat early. When you are coming back up from Kingston, you can take the bus or take a taxi, which runs about US$1 per person. Although some people seem to have reservations about the taxi drivers in Kingston, note that the bus may not leave for an hour or so from the main stop. These buses cram as many people as possible into them and won’t leave until they are packed to the hilt. So plan your time wisely.

If you really need to stay in the center of town, then by all means do so. But if you’re like my family and want to experience some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city with the occasional trip into town, then I cannot give a higher recommendation than the Blue Mountain Lofts home in Irish Town.

Nourishing Journeys » Jamaica

Why purchase coconut oil when you can make it?

First, she must tear the husk from the coconut which is deep inside.

Then, copra (dried flesh) or coconut meat (fresh flesh) must be grated.

Here, you can see the difference between the copra (left) and the fresh coconut meat (right).The copra has a slightly translucent appearance. When it is opened, there is no water left inside and it feels rather oily to the touch. This is the preferred coconut used to make coconut oil.

Kingston Retreat