Virgin Rapeseed Oil - Organic Kitchen - 500ml

Where is olive oil from? Liquid gold - that's what Homer used to call olive oil in Ancient Greece. Olive oil has always been the most important ingredient of a healthy Mediterranean diet. Olive trees have grown for thousands of years around the Mediterranean Sea in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. With hot and dry summers, the local climate of these countries is perfect for these resilient trees. Today, Greece is the biggest consumer of olive oil per capita (20l annually), following Italy (13l). Spain is the biggest producer of olive oil. However, Greece and Portugal produce olive oil of the best quality - the premium extra virgin olive oil with a rich, fruity aroma and less acidic flavour. How is olive oil made? Made from the fruits of the olive tree, olive oil is technically a juice. Harvesting takes place once a year, early in autumn, when the olives are fresh and at their best quality with low acidity levels. Then they are the most nutritious and contain the most antioxidants. The olives are crushed just like any other fruits. Olive oil, just like any juice, is best when it's cold pressed and fresh, and this is what we call extra virgin. What is extra virgin olive oil? Extra virgin olive oil is purely extracted from cold-pressed olives, and it's not blended with other oils. Non-extra virgin olive oil may include both cold-pressed and processed oils. Extra virgin olive oil means there were no chemicals used in the process of extracting the oil. When oil is cold-pressed, it means it was not heated over 27 °C during the production. This kind of olive oil contains more nutrients and vitamins. Why is extra virgin oil healthy? In recent years, the popularity of olive oil as a healthy ingredient has been growing, and many families around the world have a bottle of it in a kitchen cupboard. The fatty acid (oleic acid) in olive oil is mainly monounsaturated fat (73% while14% of the oil is saturated fat, and 11% is polyunsaturated). Olive oil contains omega-6, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E and K and lots of antioxidants which protect our cells from free radicals. The oleic acid can help reduce inflammation and have great effects on genes linked to cancer, minimising the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease. Consuming olive oil is also not linked to weight gain. How to cook with olive oil? Although you can use it in many healthy recipes, including for sauténing and frying, olive oil loses some of its beneficial properties when cooked or warmed up. The best is to use olive oil for uncooked recipes such as salads, dressings and dips or just drizzle it on top of all kinds of dishes for a finishing touch. You can now buy Greek extra virgin olive oil at Wholefood Earth and enjoy the goodness of this liquid gold. Browse our collection of healthy oils! From hemp seed oil and flax seed oil to organic coconut oil, you will find a perfect option for your cooking and baking.

We’ve all been there: it’s 6:00 PM on a Wednesday, you want a proper, healthy dinner, but the idea of peeling ginger, pounding lemongrass, and balancing spices feels like a mountain you’re not ready to climb. Usually, the "quick" option in the UK is a supermarket jar of curry sauce, but those are often loaded with sugar, modified starches, and cheap vegetable oils. The Wild Elephant Organic Curry Coconut Milk range is the answer to that problem. It isn't just a sauce—it’s a premium, organic coconut milk already infused with a master-blend of spices. By keeping a few of these in your cupboard, you’re always ten minutes away from a restaurant-quality meal. Green, Red, or Yellow: Which One for Your Kitchen? While the base is always rich, organic coconut milk, the spice profiles are designed for different moods and ingredients. 1. Organic Green Curry Coconut Milk (The Fragrant One) The Profile: This is the freshest-tasting of the three. It relies on green chillies and aromatic herbs like coriander and curry leaves. Best For: Light, crunchy vegetables. Think broccoli, sugar snap peas, courgettes, and baby corn. It’s also the perfect partner for tofu or white fish. 2. Organic Red Curry Coconut Milk (The Bold One) The Profile: Made with sun-dried red chillies, this Sri Lankan-inspired base is earthier and has a deeper, ruby colour. Best For: Heartier ingredients that can stand up to the spice. It works beautifully with aubergines, sweet potatoes, or roasted squash. If you like noodles, this is the one to use for a "Laksa" style soup base. 3. Organic Yellow Curry Coconut Milk (The Mellow One) The Profile: This is the most "comforting" tin in the range. It’s heavy on turmeric and warm spices like cumin, making it much milder and very family-friendly. Best For: Lentils (Dhal), chickpeas, and cauliflower. It has a sunny, golden glow that makes any bowl of food look instantly appetising. Why These Beat the Standard Supermarket Jar Organic Purity: Because these are organic, you aren't getting GMO ingredients or synthetic pesticides. It’s just pure coconut and real spices. Zero Hidden Sugars: Many "all-in-one" sauces use sugar to hide poor-quality ingredients. These milks rely on the natural sweetness of the coconut. The "Fat-Soluble" Secret: Many of the best nutrients in spices (like the curcumin in turmeric) are "fat-soluble." By infusing them directly into healthy coconut fats, your body can actually absorb the benefits much more effectively. Quick Kitchen Hacks You don't need a recipe book to use these—they are designed to be "plug and play." The 10-Minute Stir-Fry: Sauté your veg in a pan for 3 minutes, pour in the tin, simmer for 5, and serve over rice. Done. The Richer Rice: Use the Yellow Curry Coconut Milk as half of the liquid when cooking your basmati rice or quinoa. It infuses every grain with flavour and colour. The Leftover Hero: Have some slightly sad-looking veg in the bottom of the fridge? Chop them up, simmer them in the Red Curry milk, and you’ve turned "waste" into a gourmet lunch. Eating well doesn't have to mean spending an hour at the hob. By choosing a high-quality, organic base like Wild Elephant, you get the authentic taste of spices with the convenience of a single tin. It’s smart, honest, and the best way to keep your midweek meals on track. Shop Wild Elephant Curry Milk

Whether it is the satisfying "snap" of a dark chocolate bar or the way a rich body butter sinks into your skin, you are experiencing the unique molecular physics of cocoa butter. Known botanically as the fat of the Theobroma cacao (literally "Food of the Gods"), cacao butter is one of the most stable and highly prized fats on Earth. At Whole Foods Earth, we believe in using it in its most natural state. To understand why, we need to look at the chemistry that happens at 34°C. A Biological Miracle: The Melting Point Cocoa butter is fascinating because it is a solid at room temperature 20°C but melts almost instantly at body temperature 37°C. This isn't a coincidence; it is due to its specific triglyceride composition. It is primarily made of three fatty acids: Stearic, Palmitic, and Oleic. Because these molecules are arranged in a very tidy, crystalline structure, they hold their shape firmly until they hit the magic threshold of the human touch. This is why real chocolate doesn't feel "greasy"—it only releases its flavour the moment it hits your tongue. The Stearic Acid Factor: A Different Kind of Saturated Fat In the UK, we are often told to be wary of saturated fats. However, science shows that not all saturated fats are created equal. The Truth: Cocoa butter is high in Stearic Acid. Unlike other saturated fats, the liver quickly converts stearic acid into Oleic Acid (the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil). The Result: This makes pure cocoa butter a much more neutral fat in terms of cholesterol when compared to animal fats or chemically altered vegetable oils. Polymorphism: The Art of the "Snap" Have you ever seen chocolate that has turned white or crumbly? That is a failure of polymorphism. Cocoa butter can crystallise into six different shapes. Scientists and master chocolatiers aim for "Form V". This specific crystal structure is what gives cocoa butter its glossy sheen and that famous "snap." When cocoa butter is poorly handled or subjected to temperature swings, it shifts into Form VI, causing the fat to "bloom" (the white streaks). This doesn't mean it’s gone bad; it just means the crystals have moved! Raw vs. Deodorised: Why the Smell Matters If you buy standard supermarket cocoa butter, it is often white and odourless. This is deodorised cocoa butter. To achieve this, the fat is treated with high heat and often chemical solvents to strip away the "chocolate" smell. At Whole Foods Earth, we advocate for Raw, Unrefined Cocoa Butter. Retention of Polyphenols: Raw cocoa butter is a pale yellow colour because it still contains the plant’s natural antioxidants and Vitamin E. The Aroma: It smells like a bar of dark chocolate because the aromatic compounds haven't been "boiled" away. Skin Bioavailability: For skincare, unrefined cocoa butter retains its natural moisture-sealing properties without the need for synthetic perfumes or fillers. A Versatile Tool for a Healthy Lifestyle Because of its stability (it has a shelf life of 2 to 5 years), cocoa butter is a staple for a "clean" pantry and bathroom: In the Kitchen: Use it to make your own "raw" chocolates or add it to smoothies for a slow-release energy source that doesn't spike your insulin. In the Bathroom: It is a "barrier" fat. It doesn't just sit on top of the skin; it forms a protective layer that prevents Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL), which is essential during the dry UK winter months. Beyond the Myth Cocoa butter isn't a "magic" stretch mark cure or a "superfood" miracle—it is a stable, highly efficient plant fat that works in harmony with human biology. Whether you are eating it or wearing it, the science is clear: the less you process it, the better it works. Cacao vs. Cocoa: Is it the same thing? To clarify a common point of confusion in the UK health aisles: biologically, cacao and cocoa butter are the same thing. Both are the pure fat extracted from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree. However, in the world of nutrition and labelling, the choice of word tells you everything about the processing temperature. Cacao vs. Cocoa: The Heat Factor Cacao Butter: Usually refers to the "raw" version. The fat is extracted via cold-pressing the beans. By keeping the temperature below 45°C, the delicate antioxidants and live enzymes remain intact. This is the version we prioritise at Whole Foods Earth because it is the most chemically complete. Cocoa Butter: Typically refers to beans that have been roasted at high temperatures before the fat is extracted. While this creates a deeper, more "toasted" chocolate aroma, the high heat can degrade some of the more sensitive phytonutrients. In short: if you see "Cacao," you are buying a product that has been handled with biological preservation in mind; if you see "Cocoa," you are likely buying a product processed for flavour and mass-market shelf stability. Shop our Organic Cacao Butter Buttons