ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

COCONUT OIL • ACIETE DE COCO - Where to find COCONUT OIL in Costa Rica - Edible, Organic, Cold-Pressed and Virgin Coconut Oil




WHERE TO FIND EDIBLE COCONUT OIL IN COSTA RICA
I’m clueless on any sort of grade, etc. - just sharin’ info that I’ve gathered so far on Where to Buy COCONUT OIL in Costa Rica (and Panama).  I’d LOVE it if you find any other resources or find out what grade these are, you’d share them back with me so I can enhance the list (LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com).

Some Macrobiotics have them but few can tell you how it's processed or if it's even edible (perhaps you can find their resource???!!).

Maybe these businesses below don't have the edible grade BUT, MAYBE they MAY know where to find it!!

OR, what about contacting restaurants that seem to prepare lots of Caribbean type food or vegetarian food???

CENTRAL VALLEY

GRECIA

and shipped throughout Costa Rica

THIS is who I get MY Coconut Oil:
JUDY'S
 PURE TROPICAL ORGANIC COLD-PRESSED COCONUT OIL • ACIETE DE COCO

She's located in Grecia but she can mail it to you anywhere in Costa Rica.
Read about it at: 

(and make sure to tell Judy you found her through Vicki's blog!!)

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COCO RICO 
(http://SoaOrganics.com/eng/index.html / 2-203-3423 / 2-582-0165 / info@SoaOrganics.com)
Heat-Pressed Coconut Oil by the gallon (21,000-c), 5 gallons (78,000) and  350gr (4,000-c - all + 13% tax) - http://SoaOrganics.com/eng/aceite_coco.html  
Other Stores their products are in:  BioSalud but only 350 grams 
They also carry laundry soap, dishwashing soap, liquid soap - all with a coconut oil base though with other fragrances.
SHIPPING:  They ship around Costa Rica on Tues.
Adriana or Monica speak English
HOURS:  Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm
LOCATION:  Pozos de Santa Ana



BUENA TIERRA Coffee Shop/Organic Cafeteria and Market  (http://BuenaTierraOrganicMarket.blogspot.com  / 8-950-5930 / BuenaTierra.Organica@gmail.com)
On top of being a TASTY overall ORGANIC RESTAURANT and hosts to the WONDERFUL Organic Feria/Farmer's Market on Wed. from 8-11am (in front of the Cruz Rojo/Red Cross), they have LOTS of WONDERFUL natural/organic products like Free range chickens (hence of course - Free range eggs, homemade pastas, fresh cheeses, organic baby food, smoked fish, glueton-free products, organic cleaning products (I SWEAR by their lemon-fresh cleaning detergent and I have the organic liquid soap in all my guest bathrooms that can be used for their bodies, hair and even laundry!!) and MORE!!  If they don't have it, often they can find it (including Cold Pressed COCONUT OIL).
HOURS:  Mon-Thurs-8am-5pm,  Fri-8-6pm, Sat-9am-2pm.
LOCATION:  Escazu (Centro) - one block South/up the hill from the main entrance of San Miguel Catholic Church in Centro Escazu in the new Buena Tierra shopping center. It is a chartruse green 2-story building decorated with amazing mosaics made by artist Rebeca Fernández (who has her workshop here).



NATURA STYLE
(http://NaturaStyle.com / 2-235-7654 / 8-386-0092 / Sylvia.Escalante@NaturaStyle.com)
NaturaStyle is an Organic Home Delivery business within the Central Valley.  They carry some sort of Coconut Oil though I’m not positive what grade.  They also carry organic fruits/veges, baked goods, snacks, vitamins, herbs, meats, plants, dirt +++



BIO SALUD
They have many natural products and LOTS of imported food, vitamin and other things including Birkenstocks, Braggs Cider Vinegar (NOT cheap!!).  
Coco Rico Heat-Pressed Coconut Oil - 8 oz/350-grams jars.  WARNING:  I have called and visited them over a dozen times over the years and I NEVER have found anyone there that speaks English so if it's complicated, bring someone with you.
Unfortunately they've closed their store in MultiPlaza-Escazu BUT - they now have EXPRESS service for deliveries between Curridabat to Santa Ana - Monday-Saturday.  If you call in the morning, they may even be able to deliver it to you that afternoon - or at least the next day. 
Curridabat:  Plaza del Sol (2-234-2475) - HOURS:  Mon.-Sat. 9am-8pm, Sun. 10am-7pm
Office:   2-280-7861 - RHernandez@BioSaludCR.com  - Rebecca


ATENAS
There's a Macrobiotic store there that will order it for you by the gallon if you want (details pending). 



CURRIDABAT
There was a guy named Sternberger that sold 55 gallon drums of processed coconut oil near Curridabat (turn Left at a sign for a soap factory [Irex?]).  It was a few years ago.



GRECIA
JUDY'S PURE TROPICAL ORGANIC COLD-PRESSED COCONUT OIL • ACIETE DE COCO
This is who I get MY Coconut Oil from as it's Virgin, organic and Cold Pressed!!!  She's located in Grecia but goes to Escazu about once a month!  

Read about it at:  LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/07/JudysOrganicColdPressedCoconutOil.html 
(and make sure to tell Judy you found her through Vicki's blog!!)



PACIFIC • SOUTHERN ZONE


PLAYA ZANCUDO
The association
Beth shared her Tico friends make good edible coconut oil in Playa Zancudo.  Call Sigrid (2-776-0226) - the daughter-in-law of Lydia who makes it.


On the road from San Isidro to Dominical just 1km downhill from Platanillo - Small quantities (less than 1 gallon) of fermentation-separated, expensive Virgin Coconut Oil.


On the road between San Isidro de General (Perez Zeledon) and Dominical (closer to the latest). 100 meters from Finca Ipe. There are big signs on both direction (as well as entrance to stop). There are 2 families that sell some raw organic coco oil. Excellent quality.  They kept the bottles of different size in a big full fridge.
Smallest bottle (round orange juice bottle) = 2,500.



CARIBBEAN SIDE
Roadside stands between Puerto Viejo and Limon. 

Esterillos Oeste - Someone shared that they get a 2 liter Coke bottle size from a lady near the end of the road going to the beach at La Sirena

Puerto Viejo’s Farmer's Market

Limon Farmer's Market. 

Locally processed coconut oil at either Caribbean’s coffee shop



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PANAMA
Robert Ratliff 
Boquete, Panama sells Semi-virgin (low-heat-processed) Coconut Oil for an unbelievably very low price (obviously not making much money) and ships within Panama.  

Mini Market Three Sisters 
(http://MiniMarketThreeSisters.com / (507) 6-631-5295 / 6-590-5441 / Marisol@ MiniMarketThreeSisters.com / Bernie@ MiniMarketThreeSisters.com) 


Naturally-processed, sweet-smelling and tasting Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) that is naturally-processed in the traditional manner using fresh coconuts (it’s NOT made out of dried or baked coconuts that are processed with machinery and centrifuges, etc. The difference between this coconut oil and commercially processed oil is as evident as the difference between traditionally processed sauerkraut and the commercial stuff)
COST:  $3.15/12 ounce re-sealable, re-usable, easy-access plastic tub

They also carry NATURAL SEA SALT with NO ad
ded Prussian yellow, silica, fluoride, or any of the other chemicals that are added to commercial sea salt.  
COST: 95¢/12 ounce re-sealable, re-usable, easy-access plastic tub

HOURS:  Sunday-Friday
SHIPPING:  Inside of Panama via Fletes Chavale
LOCATION:  Volcan, Chiriqui



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WHAT COCONUT OIL IS GOOD FOR

Here's a GREAT site that lists "101 Uses for Coconut Oil":

I'm now using Coconut Oil for many things so I'm excited to find a decent priced Organic Cold-Pressed coconut oil! 


TOOTHPASTE:  My main thing is making my Toothpaste which is just Baking Soda, Therapeutic-Grade (ingestible) Essential Oils (I ONLY use doTerra [which I'm now selling - Account #489996 - SarongGoddess) - Peppermint for flavor, Melaluca (aka Tea Tree) to help my gums and sometimes I add some Lemon and a few other things depending on what's going on in my mouth/gums plus the key ingredient is Coconut Oil!  On top of the fact it's WAYYY cheaper than store bought toothpaste - but this is actually good FOR you!! 

FACE CREAM:  It's the ONLY "face cream" I'm now using and it's AMAZING how the wrinkles are smoothing out.  Plus I'm using it on my whole bod!!  

ATHLETES FOOT:  You can also use Coconut oil as a traditional topical ointment as it is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal and you don't have any worries about chemicals causing long-term damage to your body's systems.  I've just started using it on my feet with some Melaluca/Tea Tree and my Athletes Foot is FINALLY clearing up after YEARS (ahhhh all the bacteria we're exposed to living in the tropics!!).

BROWNIES:  Last week I used Coconut Oil instead of regular oil in my Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownies (from PriceSmart)!!  Everyone went CRAZY over them!!

SMOOTHIES:  I'm adding some in my Smoothies and that helps the taste pop more plus I know it's good for me!!!! 

MASSAGE OIL:  This is really the best massage oil providing the perfect rubbing traction (not to slippery) and do not stain. And of course could be consumed by spoonful...

HAIR TREATMENT:  Great for the hair too.

COOKING:  You can use Coconut oil for cooking as it enhances the flavors of the cooked food. 

WEIGHT LOSS:  Because it is a medium-chain triglyceride, it digests easily and actually helps you to lose weight, because it is digested and turned into energy, not stored as fat.



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COCONUT OIL is also GREAT for your 
PETS • DOGS and CATS:





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What do YOU use Coconut Oil for•with?
I'd LOVE for you to "Share" in the Comments below!!!



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Has this post been helpful to you and/or given you more Ease?? 
Has it brought you clients • Helped your business?

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making a
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(since this is Vicki's ONLY source of "income" currently)
Details on how to do it are at the top right corner of this page.

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ENJOY and please tell them you heard about them from Vicki's Living Life in Costa Rica blog and "Comment" below•report back to me if you used one of these products with a Review - at LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

.

1 comment:

Marisol de Besherse said...

Hi Vicky,

My name is Marisol de Besherse and I own Mini Market Three Sisters in Volcan, Province of Chiriqui, Republic of Panama.

Thank you so much for blogging about my small, but growing, store. I appreciate you publishing the picture of our coconut oil in its 12 oz. container.

Please contact me anytime.

Marisol de Besherse
Tel: (507) 6631-5295 or 6209-8343
http://www.minimarketthreesisters.com
skype: marisol.besherse