Organic Biona Coconut Oil Raw Virgin - 400ml

Where are olives from? There are over 800 million olive trees planted worldwide. There are more olive trees and people in Greece. It is estimated over 170 million trees are planted in Greece, while the population is only about 10.4 million people. The average life of an olive tree is between 300 and 600 years. One of the oldest olive trees in the world is on the island of Crete in Greece. It is about 4,000 years old and is still producing olives. People who live in southern European countries like Italy, Greece or Portugal consume olives and extra virgin olive oil every day. Why olives have different colours? Olives are considered fruits from the olive tree. They can be distinguish by colour, size and shape. The olives get their colour from the moment they are picked from the tree. The olive tree always gives green olives and then they change the colour as the mature, so they become darker and softer. The colours may vary from light purple to dark purple and black. All the green olives that stay on the tree will eventually become black. Most of the olives are picked green as they are less bitter and contain more oil. Why olives have different sizes? The size of an olive depend on the variety. You will see the final shape of the fruit when the ripening period approaches. Some varieties provide fruits that are very large (even 6 times larger than the small ones) like the Sicilian variety Castelvetrano and some are just always very small like other Italian varieties Casaliva and Taggiasche. The large size olives varieties with a sweet flavour are more popular as healthy snacks. Why are olives so crucial in the Mediterranean diet? Olives are a food of an amazing nutritional value. Olives are considered fatty fruits, but 70% of this fat is healthy monounsaturated fat. Olives are packed with nutrients and have lots of health benefits: Rich in antioxidants Rich in vitamins Cholesterol-free Source of healthy mono-saturated fats Low calorie Low in saturated fats The vitamins and antioxidants found in olives may provide essential health benefits. Olives are a great source of vitamin E, which can improve skin health and help your immune system. Some studies have shown that olives may protect against osteoporosis, in which bones weaken.

Many of us took this year’s Working From Home stint to reflect on what we really want and need in our homes. Many started DIY projects. Others moved to a house with a garden. And everyone was suddenly really conscious about what they had in their pantries, cupboards and freezers. The mass-hoarding that happened at the start of the first lockdown was difficult to navigate, but thankfully there are a lot of ways to store emergency food supplies that would have prevented any worry. Here we’ll give you a list of nutritious foods that are easy to store for a long time. Grains and Flours Storing Grains is easy. Grains like bulgur, brown rice, spelt and barley keep well for months in an airtight container and are a great base for most meals. They are also great additives to vegan or gluten-free diets as many grains do not contain gluten but do contain a whole host of other nutrients to enrich a diet with. Flours, made from grains or things like almonds or soy, also keep really well in a pantry. In a clean, airtight container, they will last for several months. Flour is great to have in stock at all times; those times you crave some late-night pancakes? With flour in your house, you can whip some up in minutes! (Dried) Fruit We all need plenty of fruit in our diets. It contains many healthy vitamins and minerals and fibres. One of the notorious disadvantages of fruit is how quickly fruit goes off, and it is generally not seen as a food great for storage. How wrong we all were. There are so many varieties of dried fruit nowadays, that you never again need to worry about not having fruit in your pantry. Why not stock up on some delicious dried banana chips or goji berries? They are great toppings for oatmeal, yoghurt, and desserts, contain tons of vitamins, and last for ages in your storage cupboard! Another option is to can your fruits. It is a relatively easy process that requires a pot for boiling water, a jar (repurposed sauce jars are great), and an acidic component such as vinegar. Once the fruit is canned, it lasts months. Herbs and Spices Having a good spice rack is like having a good boiler; they are sure to improve your life for years to come. A broad selection of spices in your kitchen allows for experimental cooking, discovering new recipes, or just upgrading your current meals. As spices are dried plants, they will last for ages when stored right. Any airtight container will do just fine. And the added bonus is that herbs and spices can make even the plainest food extraordinary. Oils and Vinegar Oils such as olive oil and coconut oil are great to use for cooking and other health and beauty uses, and last for a year or longer when stored right. Generally, oil should be stored in a closed container, and kept in a cool, dry place. This is why they make a great pantry food to stock up on when you can. Vinegar or apple cider vinegar is also great for storing for long periods of time. They also should be kept in a dark, dry place. The great thing about vinegars is that they can be used to prolong the life of other foods such as fruits (see the Fruit section) or vegetables, are great for cleaning and can be used for dressings and sauces. Beans Dried beans or canned beans are both great to add to your pantry. Canned or dried they have a long shelf life at room temperature, they are a great source of protein, contain a lot of other essential nutrients, and are very filling when put in a meal. When you have dried beans, just make sure to store them in a cool, dry place, as getting them wet will shorten their shelf-life. As an added benefit, dried beans are also incredibly cheap, and super versatile. Seeds Seeds are a pantry staple. Seeds can be kept for months in a dry and dark place, preferably in an airtight container. They are great little boosts of nutrients and make great toppings for desserts, smoothie bowls, or oatmeal. Pumpkin seeds are also a great nibble on their own. If you are thinking of using all of that lovely flour you now keep in storage for some home-made bread-baking, why not use sesame seeds or poppy seeds to give your bread some extra texture and flavour? Why Should You Start Storing Foods? It is oftentimes not only time-consuming to go to the grocery store, but it can also get quite expensive. Oftentimes, buying in bulk works out much cheaper than buying little amounts every time. If you have a healthy pantry with a nice variety of products, you will always have a base for a meal on hand. You could also start your meal-prepping journey at the same time as building a food-storage. Meal prepping often works out much cheaper per meal than cooking every evening and is much less time-consuming, leaving you with more time to enjoy the little things in life. If you feel inspired by our blogs, why not sign up to our newsletter here? We will soon announce our brand-new recipe blog with loads of healthy, wholesome recipes to help you use some of the products in these blogs.

When you look at the oil shelf in a typical UK supermarket, you’re mostly seeing products that have been through a lot of stress. They’ve often been heated, chemically refined, and stripped of their natural character just to make them stay "shelf-stable" for years. But if you’re using oils from the Rawgorilla range, you’re dealing with something completely different. These are single-ingredient, cold-pressed, raw oils. Here is why that difference actually matters for your health and your cooking. 1. The ‘Cold-Pressed’ Difference The term "cold-pressed" isn't just a marketing buzzword; it’s a description of how the oil is extracted. Instead of using high heat or harsh chemicals to force the oil out of a fruit or seed, it is physically squeezed out at low temperatures. The Truth: High heat damages the delicate structure of healthy fats. By keeping things "raw," you preserve the vitamins (like Vitamin E) and the antioxidants that naturally protect the oil from going rancid. You get the nutrients exactly as the plant intended. 2. The Power of Single Ingredients In a world of "vegetable oil" blends, a single-ingredient oil is much more transparent. The Truth: When an oil is a blend, it’s often a mix of one high-quality oil and several cheaper, refined "filler" oils. With a single-ingredient oil—like pure Avocado, Walnut, or Hemp oil—you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. There are no hidden additives and no "mystery" fats. 3. Flavour That Actually Tastes Like Food If you’ve only ever used refined oils, you might be surprised to find that raw oils actually have a distinct taste. The Truth: Refined oils are "deodorised" (a process of heating the oil to strip away its smell and taste). Raw oils, however, carry the essence of the plant. A raw walnut oil tastes like real nuts; a raw hemp oil has a fresh, earthy note. This makes them a brilliant tool for adding depth to a dish, rather than just being something to grease a pan with. How to Use Them in Your Kitchen Because these oils are so high-quality, you want to treat them with a bit of respect. Don't Overheat Them: These oils are perfect for drizzling over steamed vegetables, mixing into salad dressings, or stirring into a finished soup. If you use a raw, cold-pressed oil for high-heat frying, you’re essentially burning away the nutrients you’ve paid for. Store Them Right: These oils are "alive." Keep them in a cool, dark cupboard—not right next to the hob where it gets hot—to keep those delicate fats stable and fresh. Choosing raw, single-ingredient oils is about moving away from industrial processing and getting back to basics. It’s about quality over quantity. A drizzle of a high-quality oil provides more biological benefit than a cup of cheap, refined "vegetable" oil. Shop the Rawgorilla Cold-Pressed Oil Range