{"title":"Cold Pressed and Wood Pressed Oils","description":"\u003cp\u003eWood pressed oil is the oldest way of pressing seed in South Asia. In Tamil it is marachekku ennai, and in the north the same slow method gives kachi ghani oil, a name most often seen on mustard oil. The press is a large wooden mortar with a heavy wooden pestle that turns inside it, grinding groundnuts, sesame or mustard seed against the walls. It works slowly, so the seed stays at a low temperature, and the oil is left to settle and filtered through cloth. Nothing is bleached, deodorised or refined. Cold pressed is the wider term for oil pressed without added heat, whether in a wooden press or a modern expeller kept cool, and virgin coconut and extra virgin olive oil belong here for the same reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnrefined oil looks and behaves differently from the refined oil in most kitchens. It is darker and sometimes cloudy, and a little sediment at the bottom of the bottle is normal. Groundnut oil smells of roasted peanuts, sesame oil is nutty, and mustard oil has a sharp heat that catches the back of the nose. These oils start to smoke at a lower temperature, so use them for tempering, dressing, drizzling and gentle cooking, and keep a refined oil for deep frying, where a neutral taste and steady heat matter more. Many Bengali and Punjabi cooks heat mustard oil until it just begins to smoke, then let it cool a little before the spices go in, which softens its bite.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach region reaches for its own oil. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gingelly-sesame-oil\"\u003eGingelly or sesame oil\u003c\/a\u003e, nallennai, goes into Tamil kuzhambu, onto idli podi and into the pickle jar. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mustard-oil\"\u003eMustard oil\u003c\/a\u003e fries fish for shorshe maach in Bengal, is stirred raw into aloo bhorta, and tempers sarson ka saag and achar in Punjab. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coconut-oil\"\u003eCoconut oil\u003c\/a\u003e finishes avial and thoran in Kerala and fries the curry leaves for a Sri Lankan curry. Wood pressed groundnut oil is the everyday cooking oil across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, and extra virgin olive oil suits salads, bread and a drizzle over roasted vegetables.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStore these oils in a cool, dark cupboard away from the hob and the window, with the cap closed tight, and pour with a clean, dry spoon or spout. Unrefined oil turns stale sooner than refined, so buy a size you will finish and use it within the date on the bottle. Virgin coconut oil sets solid in a cold kitchen; stand the jar in warm water to loosen it. For refined cooking oils and ghee, see the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oils-and-ghee\"\u003eoils and ghee\u003c\/a\u003e department.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"7ray-organic-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml","title":"7Ray Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eCold pressed in Sri Lanka from fresh coconut and sold in a glass jar, this is the grade of coconut oil you buy when you want to taste the coconut. It sets white and firm in a cool kitchen and carries a clean coconut smell into everything it touches, which is the whole point of it in a Kerala or Sri Lankan curry, and the reason it is no good at all when you want the spice to lead. For that, take the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/7ray-organic-white-coconut-cooking-oil-500ml\"\u003e7Ray Organic White Coconut Cooking Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it for the tarka, in sweets and baking in place of butter, and on toast once the kitchen is warm enough to spread it. Most South Asian homes keep a jar for hair and skin too, and this one is clean enough for both jobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eCertified organic: EU LK-BIO-149 (non-EU agriculture), USDA Organic, Control Union\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e7Ray press their oil in Sri Lanka from fresh nuts instead of refining imported crude, so the virgin grade still smells of coconut. We stock both of their grades, from \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/7ray\"\u003e7Ray\u003c\/a\u003e, in the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oils-and-ghee\"\u003eoils and ghee\u003c\/a\u003e department.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"7Ray","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54969999524179,"sku":null,"price":4.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/7ray-organic-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml-front.png?v=1790247927"},{"product_id":"ceylon-recepe-organic-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml","title":"Ceylon Recepe Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eCeylon Recepe coconut oil is an organic virgin coconut oil cold pressed in Sri Lanka, 450g net in a 500ml jar, with organic coconut as the only ingredient. It carries a clean coconut aroma and sets firm in a cool kitchen, so choose it when you want the coconut to be tasted, whether in a Sri Lankan curry or spread on toast in place of butter. If you want a coconut oil that stays neutral in the pan, the 7Ray white cooking oil is the one to pick instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSri Lankan and Kerala curries, sambols and the tarka for a parippu (dal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrying and sauteing at everyday hob temperatures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA butter alternative for spreads, baking and salad dressings, as the pack itself suggests\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHair, skin and oil pulling, the traditional uses the pack also lists\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertified organic EU LK-BIO-149 (non-EU agriculture), CU 833477\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct of Sri Lanka\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eCeylon Recepe coconut oil sits with our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coconut-oil\"\u003ecoconut oil\u003c\/a\u003e, in the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oils-and-ghee\"\u003eoils and ghee\u003c\/a\u003e department.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ceylon Recepe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54981328437587,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/ceylon-recepe-organic-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml-front_6d02f6e8-c5f2-44b9-b6c0-17ffeefc8a52.png?v=1790708073"},{"product_id":"ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-250ml","title":"KTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the 250ml bottle, the sensible size if you dress and finish with it and do not cook in it. Olive oil dulls once it is open, and 250ml gets used while it is still worth having. KTC do the same oil in 500ml and 5L.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuperior category, obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means. That is the legal wording for pressed, with no solvents and no refining.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSuitable for vegetarians\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver salad, warm bread, grilled vegetables, or a finished dal. For frying, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-extended-life-rapeseed-oil-1l\"\u003eKTC Extended Life Rapeseed Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e costs less and takes more heat. Also in \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-500ml\"\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-5l\"\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 5L\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250ml is part of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/olive-oil\"\u003eolive oil\u003c\/a\u003e range, within \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oils-and-ghee\"\u003eoils \u0026amp; ghee\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KTC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55035370045779,"sku":null,"price":2.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-250ml-front.png?v=1790172715"},{"product_id":"ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-5l","title":"KTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 5L","description":"\u003cp\u003eFive litres of KTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is a catering quantity. It suits a restaurant kitchen, a large household, or anyone who would rather decant into a small bottle than buy one every fortnight. For a domestic kitchen the KTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml keeps better.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuperior category, obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSuitable for vegetarians\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep it cool and dark and pour off what you need, since the less the main container is opened the longer it holds. Also in \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-250ml\"\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250ml\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-500ml\"\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKTC Extra Virgin Olive Oil 5L is part of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/olive-oil\"\u003eolive oil\u003c\/a\u003e range, within \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oils-and-ghee\"\u003eoils \u0026amp; ghee\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KTC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55035373584723,"sku":null,"price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/ktc-extra-virgin-olive-oil-5l-front_c6e91788-2039-48a5-ba00-b9be8c9d6e89.png?v=1790708336"},{"product_id":"ktc-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml","title":"KTC Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 500ml jar of KTC virgin coconut oil, cold pressed and unrefined, with the clean coconut smell a refined oil loses. That smell is the whole reason to buy it: it goes into the dish. For frying where coconut would be out of place, the refined \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-pure-coconut-oil-500ml\"\u003eKTC Pure Coconut Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e is the one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it for a Kerala or Sri Lankan curry, for the tarka, in sweets and baking in place of butter, and on toast once the kitchen is warm enough for it to spread. Plenty of households keep a jar for hair and skin as well, and this grade is clean enough for both.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSuitable for vegetarian and vegan\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso in \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-virgin-coconut-oil-250ml\"\u003eKTC Virgin Coconut Oil 250ml\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KTC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55046879314259,"sku":null,"price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/ktc-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml-front.png?v=1790247628"},{"product_id":"rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-groundnut-oil-1l","title":"Rigel Wood Pressed Virgin Groundnut Oil 1L","description":"\u003cp\u003eRigel’s groundnut oil is wood pressed in Tamil Nadu, crushed in a chekku mill made of vaagai wood with a little palm jaggery, the way village oil was made before steel expellers. The mill runs slowly, so the oil stays cool and keeps a deep golden colour and a strong roasted peanut smell. It is 100 per cent cold pressed and unrefined, from a farmers’ collective that sells direct.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it where you want to taste the peanut: tempering mustard seeds and curry leaves for sambar, frying appalams, or drizzling over hot rice with podi. It is also good for shallow frying vadai. Being unrefined it smokes sooner than a refined oil, so keep the heat moderate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGroundnut seeds and palm jaggery only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContains peanut; made where sesame is also pressed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold pressed and unrefined\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct of India\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a refined oil for deep frying, take the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-pure-groundnut-oil-1l\"\u003eKTC Pure Groundnut Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e. From the same farmers’ collective, try the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-sesame-oil-1l\"\u003eRigel Wood Pressed Virgin Sesame Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e. See the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundnut-oil\"\u003egroundnut oil\u003c\/a\u003e range, or more from \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rigel\"\u003eRigel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rigel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55068730982739,"sku":null,"price":4.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-groundnut-oil-1l-front.png?v=1790422031"},{"product_id":"rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-sesame-oil-1l","title":"Rigel Wood Pressed Virgin Sesame Oil 1L","description":"\u003cp\u003eRigel press this oil from black sesame seed in Tamil Nadu, in a chekku mill of vaagai wood that turns slowly enough to keep the oil cool. A little palm jaggery goes in with the seed, as it always has in village mills, and nothing is refined out afterwards. The result is a dark amber nallennai with a deep, toasted sesame smell that fills the kitchen the moment it hits a hot pan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an oil to taste. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves in it for sambar and kara kuzhambu, rub it over idli podi, or pour a spoonful over hot rice with a little salt. It is the traditional oil for mango and lime pickles, and many Tamil families still use it for an oil bath on Saturday mornings. Keep the heat moderate, as a cold pressed oil smokes sooner than a refined one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSesame seeds and palm jaggery only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContains sesame; made where groundnut is also pressed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold pressed and unrefined\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct of India\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the same farmers’ collective, try the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-groundnut-oil-1l\"\u003eRigel Wood Pressed Virgin Groundnut Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e. For a sesame oil from Tamil Nadu’s best known brand, compare the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/idhayam-sesame-oil-1l\"\u003eIdhayam Sesame Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e, or browse all our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gingelly-sesame-oil\"\u003esesame and gingelly oil\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rigel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55087107506515,"sku":null,"price":5.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/rigel-wood-pressed-virgin-sesame-oil-1l-front.png?v=1790586751"},{"product_id":"shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml","title":"Shankar Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml","description":"\u003cp\u003eRaw, extra virgin coconut oil pressed from fresh organic coconuts in Sri Lanka, certified organic to both USDA and EU standards. It has not been refined or deodorised, so it keeps the clean smell and gentle sweetness of fresh coconut. Below about 24C it sets white and firm in the jar; on a warm day, or near the cooker, it turns to a clear oil.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCook with it where coconut belongs in the dish: a Sri Lankan pol sambol, a Kerala avial or thoran, or the base of a fish curry. It bakes well in place of butter and makes crisp, fragrant roast potatoes. Plenty of people keep a jar in the bathroom too, for hair and dry skin. To loosen a set jar, stand it in warm water for a few minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle ingredient: organic coconut\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSDA Organic and EU organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo additives or preservatives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct of Sri Lanka\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the same oil in a bigger jar, take the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-1l\"\u003eShankar Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e. Compare it with the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/7ray-organic-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml\"\u003e7Ray Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e, or browse all our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coconut-oil\"\u003ecoconut oil\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shankar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55087113306451,"sku":null,"price":3.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml-front.png?v=1790586788"},{"product_id":"shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-1l","title":"Shankar Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1L","description":"\u003cp\u003eA full litre of Shankar’s raw organic extra virgin coconut oil, pressed from fresh organic coconuts in Sri Lanka and packed in a wide glass jar you can get a spoon into. It is unrefined, so it smells and tastes of coconut, and it carries both USDA and EU organic certification. This is the size for a household that cooks with coconut oil every day or uses it for hair oiling as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFry mustard seeds and curry leaves in it for a thoran, use it as the fat in a Sri Lankan kiri hodi or a Goan xacuti, or swap it for butter in banana bread. For hair, warm a spoonful between the palms and work it through the lengths before washing. It sets solid in a cold kitchen; stand the jar in warm water to soften it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle ingredient: organic coconut\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSDA Organic and EU organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHalal and Kosher Check marks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduct of Sri Lanka\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso in a smaller jar, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-500ml\"\u003eShankar Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml\u003c\/a\u003e. For a refined oil with no coconut taste, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ktc-pure-coconut-oil-1l\"\u003eKTC Pure Coconut Oil 1L\u003c\/a\u003e is the one. See our full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coconut-oil\"\u003ecoconut oil\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shankar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55087115698515,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1101\/7433\/9411\/files\/shankar-raw-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-1l-front.png?v=1790586802"}],"url":"https:\/\/chandrastores.co.uk\/collections\/cold-pressed-oils.oembed","provider":"Chandra Stores","version":"1.0","type":"link"}