When oil is refined, it loses a lot of nutrients but cold pressing it in a rotary extractor ensures that you retain all of it.

Traditionally, Kerala was known for using rotary extracted oil. Bullocks were led around the ‘chakku’, turning the wooden crusher to extract oil. It was sold loose and people would head to the mills with containers to collect it. Later, industrialized, refined oils took over the market, but now the wheel seems to have come full circle, with people heading back to the ‘chakku’.

Cold pressing is a technique in which the oil is mechanically pressed from the seeds at temperatures not exceeding 120F. The nutrients, which are usually destroyed by heat while refining, are retained in this method. Pure cold-pressed oil is not refined, processed or deodorised. It is also rich in antioxidants, which boosts immunity. Cold pressed coconut oil also retains lauric acid, which has plenty of therapeutic benefits.