- Coconut oil and by-products for a healthy lifestyle
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Whether it is grated coconut in a spicy sambol, creamy coconut milk in a gravy, or brightly-coloured coconut rock, the use of coconut in Sri Lankan cuisine is not something new. Coconut oil, cream, and water, as well as desiccated coconut, are products we have seen in the market for some time, while more recent products include coconut flour and freshly grated coconut.
One of the brands known for its virgin coconut oil (VCO) and by-products is Coconut Miracle, and its Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shanthini Ahangama shared the story behind the brand, as well as the health benefits of using coconut oil and by-products.
In 2010, Coconut Miracle was born quite a distance away from Sri Lanka, in West Sussex in the UK. The brand came about as a result of Ahangama’s love for her motherland and a yearning to get involved in a healthy way of life.
The following year, Coconut Miracle entered the Sri Lankan retail space and became a pioneer in organic coconut superfoods. “Since then, we have expanded our network and our organic products are available in nearly all supermarkets and organic shops and online,” Ahangama said.
The brand’s vision is to promote health and wellness through certified, organic, and 100% premium quality raw, cold-pressed VCO and by-products from Sri Lanka. “Our customers’ needs are in-built into the heart of our business strategy, and we listen, innovate, and respond,” Ahangama shared, adding that they believe in being ethical, original, and organic.
When asked about how the quality of products has been maintained over the years, she said: “We are here a decade later due to quality control measures we have taken from our inception. We do not compromise on quality, as our brand promise is maintained every step of the way.”
She explained that being organic is the heartbeat of the brand image and identity. “We believe in offering coconut superfoods towards health and wellbeing. So in a nutshell, our products are 100% natural and organic,” Ahangama further added.
According to the Founder, Coconut Miracle’s flagship product is their organic, raw, cold-pressed VCO. “However, our product portfolio includes coconut flour, coconut butter, coconut nectar, coconut water, coconut spreads, coconut aminos, healthy coconut snacks/flakes, coconut milk, coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, kithul sugar, and granola with VCO and sesame oil.” Ahangama added.
She added that there are a host of benefits to using coconut oil and by-products. “Since these are gluten-free, cholesterol-free, high-fibre products, they are popular among weight watchers and keto fans.”
Talking more about the use of coconuts in food, she said the coconut tree is known as the tree of life, with every part of the tree being used.
“The white flesh of the coconut is cold pressed, thus extracting VCO. The residue of the process is converted to coconut flour, and each part of the coconut is maximised and consumed towards a healthier lifestyle,” Ahangama explained.
Since 2010, Coconut Miracle has expanded as a brand. Ahangama said it makes her feel humbled and motivated that her vision has been fulfilled and more and more people are moving towards a healthier lifestyle. She went on to say that the brand plans to introduce new products and ideas regarding healthy habits in the future.
Recently, their extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO) was featured by Tajmeeli, a website targeting Arabic-speaking consumers, as one of the best natural skin products of the year.
“This came as a surprise from the website’s editor, and I was delighted with the exposure. It proves the versatility of VCO – antifungal, antibiotic, sports nutrition, weight control, heart health, culinary, hair and beauty, and nutrition,” Ahangama said.
